East Midlands Rugby Union

Helping to promote, foster and develop the game of Rugby Union

EMRU Disciplinary Procedures 2023/24


Discipline is one of the core values of rugby. We strive to ensure that rugby is a game of controlled physical endeavour & that it is honest and fair. The RFU Disciplinary regime reflects World Rugby Regulation 17. It exists to penalise players whose foul play or misconduct is other than purely accidental.

Core Values (englandrugby.com)

One of its most important principles is to prevent the risk of injury to other players in a dynamic and physical sport. Players have an obligation and duty of care to ensure that they do not cause injury to opponents.

N.B. in the information and documents here the term “Club” shall cover not only EMRU Clubs but also representative sides, schools, colleges and universities within the CB. Also the term “Player” shall cover not only players but also coaches, officials, members, spectators and parents/guardians of any CB organisation.

Below is a precis of the Disciplinary Procedures, for full details see RFU Regulation 19:

https://www.englandrugby.com//dxdam/5e/5e9637c0-e5fa-4cda-84b4-a9d005d2274c/Regulation%2019.pdf

If a club, representative side, school, university or college have a player sent off* it is YOUR responsibility to report the dismissal to the EMRU Discipline Secretary by e-mail or phone (see contact details below) within 48 hours of the offence. Details of the player’s Date of Birth AND his/her RFU ID number MUST be included, and whenever possible the match and match official’s details.

(To confirm that ALL dismissals by ANY referee at ALL levels (from Under 13s upward) MUST be reported in the first instance to the EMRU Discipline Secretary).

As per World Rugby Regulations: ‘Players Ordered-Off” or Cited* by a Citing Commissioner shall be provisionally suspended pending the hearing of the case’ i.e. no player can play until the case has been considered & dealt with by the EMRU Disciplinary Panel.

N.B. If a Club is considering making a Citing of an opposition player or club it is highly advisable to make contact with the Discipline Secretary for advice beforehand. Note any player cited via a Club may continue to play until that citing is heard by a CB &/or RFU Panel.

The player’s club, representative side, school, university or college must carry out its own hearing with the player. The full Procedures and Sanctions to follow are in Regulation 19 in the RFU Handbook (or via the RFU website). Other relevant documents & procedures are in the Discipline section of the EMRU website.

The EMRU Discipline Secretary should then be advised of the Club’s hearing outcome via a completed Short Judgment Form (see separate completion instructions for this).

For further help and advice please contact the EMRU Discipline Secretary.

Discipline Secretary: Bish Seymour 07540 704936 pb.seymour@emru.co.uk

N.B. no cases shall be heard or considered by a Panel unless this step is completed.

If the EMRU Panel deem the Club has applied the correct verdict/sanction, OR that the offence is of ‘a not very serious nature’ the Panel may decide the player does not need to appear at a hearing and that the decision can be confirmed in his/her absence. The offer to hear the case in the player’s absence does not preclude the player requesting to attend a Panel hearing in the usual way if he/she so wishes.

When a player appears at an EMRU disciplinary hearing at least one senior Club official should always accompany him/her. A player who appears at a hearing has the right to request the Match Official’s attendance – however any expenses incurred by the Match Official shall be met by the player or the Club.

If a player does not request the referee to be present at the EMRU Panel Hearing it will be deemed to have accepted the referee’s report as an accurate account of the incident(s) and may therefore only plead mitigating circumstances for his/her actions.

A player or Club which fails to appear at a hearing without good cause or reason will be expected to pay the administration fee for the cancelled hearing and for the consequent meeting which has to be arranged to hear the case.

EMRU Disciplinary Committee 2023 – 24

Chair: Paul McGuckian 07904 371658        gucksofturvey@btinternet.com

Secretary: Bish Seymour 07540 704936    pb.seymour@emru.co.uk

Proposed Disciplinary Meeting Dates (all Thursdays): All hearings scheduled to be held in the Larry Webb Room, Bedford Blues RFC, Goldington Road, Bedford MK40 3NF

Note: every effort shall be made by the Panel to ensure that all hearings are held within 14 days of the sending off in order that no player is unduly punished by missing matches unnecessarily.

Costs
Clubs are responsible for paying all costs charged against any person who appears in front of a panel arising from an incident. Costs will be invoiced by EMRU and must be paid within 14 days of invoice.

SENIOR: Disciplinary hearings £40. For failure to report or late notification (more than 48 hours post match) an additional £20 fee is applied

AGE GRADE (under 13s – 18s) : Disciplinary hearings £20. For failure to report or late notification an additional £10 fee is applied

ALL CITINGS: £125.

Appeals
Players and clubs have the right to appeal decisions of an EMRU panel by following the procedure set out in the current RFU rules and regulations, subject to a fee of £125.