WOODFORDES MERIT TABLE CLUB COMPETITION

1. The full title of the competition shall (unless amended by resolution of the Norfolk Rugby Union) be ‘The Club Competition’. Every reference by Clubs to matches in the competition shall include the full title.Clubs are expected to honour their sponsorship obligations to the fullest extent.

2. All matches in the competition shall be played under the laws of Rugby Union Football and shall comply with the bylaws, resolutions and regulations of the Rugby Football Union. In the event of a match having to be played wholly or in part with uncontested scrums the other relevant regulations of the National Leagues will apply. The management of the competition shall be vested in the Competition Sub-Committee of the Norfolk Rugby Union, who shall be responsible to the General Committee for organising the competition and shall have full powers to deal, in cases of disagreement between clubs, on the interpretation of these rules or on any matter not covered by these rules in connection with the competition and its decision on any matter shall be final and binding.

3.The numbers of teams in each division shall be limited to 10 (ten).

4.The position of teams in a division shall be established by awarding three points for a win and two points for a draw and one point for a loss.The winner will be the team with the highest points awarded. In the event of equality, positions will be determined by the team with the most wins.

5. Each team must play two competition matches against every other team in its division.The Clubs shall agree the venues, taking into account the need to keep a balance between home and away matches.The Sub-Committee shall have the power to switch venues to maintain this balance.
Where a competition match, for any reason, is not played or is abandoned before no side, it must be rearranged and the new date notified in writing by BOTH clubs to the Competition Secretary within 7 days of the date of the original match.Where a competition match has been cancelled and is not being rearranged, this must be notified in writing by BOTH Clubs to the Competition Secretary within 7 days of the date of the original match.Where one of the teams is considered to be responsible for the cancellation, the match shall be awarded to the team not responsible with the score of 15–0 and 3 competition points All Competition matches shall be played on Saturdays unless prior permission has been obtained from the Sub-Committee.

6.The referee for a competition match shall be appointed by the Norfolk Rugby Union Referees’ Society. Referees on exchange may be appointed through the Norfolk Society and the Eastern Counties Referees’ Society. Should the appointed Referee fail to arrive at the ground or be unable to complete the match for any reason, another may officiate with the agreement of both captains. Each team should provide a Touch Judge. Result cards, which will be supplied to the Home Side should be given to the referee who will send them in to the competition secretary.

7. One team from each division shall be promoted and one relegated. If the winner does not wish to be promoted the second placed team will be promoted.

8. All competition match arrangements shall be made as for a normal Saturday.

9. (a) Clubs may enter more than one team.

(b) Having nominated a team, the Club shall ensure that such team shall, consist of players who would normally be expected to play for that team, if the opinion of the Sub-Committee, any Club fields an unrepresentative team in any competition match, that team shall forfeit any competition points gained in that match plus another two points. If the other side in that match gained no competition points, that side should be awarded two points.

10. If, as a result of a new Club or team entering the competition or of the
resignation of a Club or any of its teams from the competition, or for other
reason, the pattern of the divisions is changed, the Sub-Committee shall be empowered to revise the numbers of promoted or relegated Clubs to bring divisions to the required number.

11.The Sub-Committee shall have the power to expel or suspend any team or Club from membership of the competition or impose such other penalty as considered appropriate for breach of these regulations. The committee has power to deduct points for poor disciplinary record and or abuse of the referee by players and or supporters.

12. In the event of a dispute of complaint, objections must be received within 48 hours of the event causing the dispute. Objections should be sent to the Competition Secretary or,only in the event of the Hon. Secretary.The dispute or complaint shall be heard by the President of the Norfolk Rugby Union and 2 officials of the Union appointed by him.A representative of each Club involved may be invited to attend and be heard.The decision of this Committee regarding the dispute or complaint shall be final and binding.

13. Games should not be cancelled unilaterally and only with the agreement of senior officials from both clubs involved.

14. If there is a shortage of players, games should be played with no side starting with a numerical advantage of more than one. If there are insufficient front row forwards then the matches should be played with uncontested scrums. In either of these situations the result and score will stand