HRFU

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DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

2.0      TROJANS RUGBY SECTION CODE OF CONDUCT

3.0      OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY

4.0      APPROPRIATE PENALTIES

5.0      PROCEDURE FOLLOWING A SENDING-OFF IN SENIOR RUGBY AND COLTS.

6.0      PROCEDURE FOLLOWING A SENDING-OFF IN YOUTH/JUNIOR /MINI RUGBY

7.0      ABUSE OF THE REFEREE WHILST ON CLUB PREMISES.

8.0      ANY OTHER BREACHES OF THE CLUBS CODES OF CONDUCT

9.0      PROCEDURE FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF A RULE 5.12 NOTICE.

10.0     APPEALS PROCEDURE.

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1      This procedure covers all players, members and supporters and applies –

1.1.1    When a Trojan Player is dismissed from the Field of Play

          1.1.2    When a Match Official reports a Trojan Player, Club Official or Club Member for abuse during the

                    game or after it while on Club Premises.

1.1.3    A Report of misconduct breaching Rule 5.12.

1.1.4    When the Executive Committee believes a Trojan Member has demonstrated a prima facie case of a breach of the Trojans Codes of Conduct.

1.2      The principal contact for Trojans Rugby Club on all matters appertaining to Discipline shall be the

           Rugby Section Secretary.

1.3       Contact with Schools on disciplinary matters will also be made by the Rugby Section Secretary.

2.0              TROJANS RUGBY SECTION CODE OF CONDUCT

2.1     “All members shall, in the playing or supporting of Rugby Football, observe the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play, in particular, no member shall indulge in any un-sporting behaviour or activity which could blemish the good name of the Club, or bring the reputation of the game in to disrepute.”

2.2     In observing the above, further regard shall be given to the Trojans Rugby and the Trojans Club Code of Conduct.

3.0       OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY

3.1     The Rugby Section Secretary in conjunction with the Rugby Section Chairman shall appoint a Disciplinary Panel to deal with all matters of discipline following any reported incident arising from playing the game or any transgression of the codes of conduct.

3.2     Following a Disciplinary hearing, the Disciplinary Panel shall have the power to suspend any player, or other member, from playing and/or training or to recommend to the Trojan Club General Committee that the person’s membership should be suspended or terminated.

3.3     Suspension of all players for playing incidents will be in strict accordance with the rules and tariffs set down by the Rugby Football Union for all Players over the age of 17 and in accordance with the English Rugby Football Schools Union for all Players under the age of 17 at the time of the incident.

3.4     Trojans Rugby Club will support all Trojans players called to a HRFU/RFU Disciplinary hearing with appropriate supporters knowledgeable in the RFU Disciplinary Procedures.

3.5     Where the Club is charged an administrative fee by a HRFU Disciplinary hearing where a Trojan Member has been found guilty of an offence the Player will be invoiced the full amount of any fee levied. Failure to pay this invoice will become a further disciplinary issue.

4.0       APPROPRIATE PENALTIES

4.1       These apply to cases not subject to HRFU or RFU disciplinary procedures.

4.2       Where the alleged offence is admitted or has been proved the disciplinary Panel shall have the power to impose the following Penalties:- 

•  In the circumstances the sending off was sufficient punishment for the offence.

•  That the Player be cautioned/ reprimanded or severely cautioned/ reprimanded as to future conduct

•  That a period of suspension from Playing be imposed (See RFU and ERFSU Tariffs in Appendix A and B of    these Procedures)

•  That a period of suspension from Playing and Coaching is imposed

•  That a period of suspension of Membership of the Club is recommended to the General Committee.

•  That termination of Membership of the Club is recommended to the General Committee.

5.0       PROCEDURE FOLLOWING A SENDING-OFF IN SENIOR RUGBY AND COLTS

Includes all Male and Female Members, Players, Coaches, Administrators and supporters aged 17 and over

This applies irrespective of whether or not the referee is a member of a referee’s Society.

5.1       DISCIPLINARY PANELS

5.1.1    Senior Rugby

The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of the following three members.

a)      The Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel shall be a member of the Rugby Executive Committee nominated by the Rugby Section Secretary or, in his absence, the Section Chairman.

b)      Two Members of the Rugby Committee selected by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

Also in attendance -

c)      The Player / Member concerned plus

d)      A Personal Representative nominated by the player / member concerned if the player/member so desires.

5.1.2    The Colts

(U18 to U19 when playing in Colts Games)

The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of the following two members.

a)      The Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel who shall be a member of the Rugby Executive Committee nominated by the Rugby Section Secretary or, in his absence, the Section Chairman.

b)      One Member of the Rugby Committee selected by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

Also in attendance -

c)      The Colts Manager OR The Principal Coach of the Colts.

d)      The Player / Member concerned plus

e)      A Personal Representative nominated by the player / member concerned if the player/member so desires.

6.0       PROCEDURE FOLLOWING A SENDING-OFF IN YOUTH/JUNIOR /MINI RUGBY  

All players under 17 years of age

6.1       Wherever possible a disciplinary panel should meet to consider the sending off of any young player as soon as possible after the incident and ideally on the day of the offence wherever possible.

6.1.1    All Players aged 11 to 16 on the 1^st September at the start of that season.

The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of three members as follows:-

a)      The Chairman of the Panel shall be the most senior member present on the day (under the recommendation that the hearing should be held on the day of the incident if possible) in the order of the Chairman of Youth Rugby, or the Chairman of the Junior Rugby Playing Committee or a Member of the Executive Committee or a member of the Rugby Committee or a member of the Youth Committee.

b)      Two other members from the list under (a) but to include a member of the senior section wherever possible.

Also in attendance -

c)      The Player concerned

d)      The Player's Parent or Guardian

e)      The Player's Principle Coach or Attending Coach (on the day of the incident)

6.1.2    All aged 6 to 10 on the 1^st September at the start of that season.

The Disciplinary Panel shall consist of three members as follows:-

a)      The Chairman of the Panel shall be the most senior member present on the day (under the recommendation that the hearing should be held on the day of the incident if possible) in the order of The Chairman of the Mini Rugby Playing committee or the Chairman of Youth Rugby or any other Member of the Youth Committee or Mini Rugby Playing Committee .

b)      Two other members from the list under (a)

c)      A Principal Coach of another age group in Mini or Junior Rugby

Also in attendance –

d)      The Player concerned

e)      The Player’s Parent or Guardian

f)        The Player’s Principle Coach or Attending Coach (on the day of the incident)

PROCEDURE FOR NON PLAYING INCIDENTS

7.0       ABUSE OF THE REFEREE WHILST ON CLUB PREMISES

This relates to incidents where a member of the Club is reported by the referee for abuse whilst the referee is on club premises.

7.1       Referee’s Actions

The referee shall within 7 days of an incident of Abuse by members or officials at a Rugby Club will issue a report on the incident to both the Hampshire RFU Disciplinary Officer and The Hampshire Referees Society. The Hampshire RFU Disciplinary Officer will then pass this on to the Rugby Section Secretary at Trojans.

7.2       Trojans Club Actions

7.2.1    The Rugby Section Secretary will review the report and in conjunction with the Chairman of the Section appoint a suitable Disciplinary Panel to Review the Incident.

7.2.2        Following the completion of a disciplinary panel the Chairman of the panel will issue a formal written report to the Rugby Section Secretary describing the circumstances of the incident, the details of the hearing along with details of the Panel’s decision.

7.2.3        Wherever possible the standard form of report as included in Appendix A will be used for this purpose.

7.2.4    The Rugby Section Secretary will review this report and when satisfied issue it to the County Disciplinary Secretary for consideration by the County Disciplinary sub-committee.

8.0       ANY OTHER BREACHES OF THE CLUBS CODES OF CONDUCT

This relates to any incidents where a Rugby Member; Associate Member or Guest of a Rugby Member breaches the Codes of Conduct of the Rugby Section or the Club

8.1              Reporting an Incident

Any Member of the club or any other outside body may write to the Rugby Section Secretary or Chairman at any time to report a breach of the “Codes of Conduct” by a Rugby Member; Associate Member or Guest of a Rugby Member. 

8.2              Trojans Club Actions

8.2.1    The Rugby Section Secretary will review the report in conjunction with the Chairman of the Section and the Executive committee if appropriate to confirm that the incident if proven will form a breach of the “Codes of Conduct” and lies within the Jurisdiction of these Disciplinary Procedures.

8.2.2        Following confirmation that these Procedures apply the Rugby Section Secretary in conjunction with the Chairman of the Rugby Section appoint a suitable Disciplinary Panel to Review the Incident.

Wherever possible the Disciplinary Hearing will be held within a week of receiving the written report.

8.2.3    Following the completion of a disciplinary panel the Chairman of the panel will issue a formal written report to the Section Club Secretary describing the circumstances of the incident, the details of the hearing along with details of the Club’s decision.

Wherever possible the standard form of report as included in Appendix A will be used for this purpose.

8.2.4    If the Panel decides that suspension or termination of membership is appropriate it must pass its recommendation to the Trojans Club General Committee for consideration and action.

9.0       PROCEDURE FOLLOWING RECIEPT OF A RULE 5.12 NOTICE

DEFINITION

“Rule 5.12 – Allegations of misconduct in the Playing Enclosure which are not the subject of a sending off or a citing may be referred in writing to the appropriate Constituent Body for Disciplinary Action under rule 5.12”

A Rule 5.12 Notice can be received from Hants RFU should a named person in the game provide sufficient evidence in writing, which in the opinion of the HRFU Disciplinary Officer, demonstrates a prima facia case for a breach of RFU Rule 5.12.

Should such a notice be received this shall be addressed as though it is a breach of the Codes of Conduct and actions taken as described above ( See 8.0 above).

10.0     APPEALS PROCEDURE

10.1     Should a Member be aggrieved by the decision of the Panel (but not General Committee decisions) he/she shall have the right to request an appeal hearing.

10.2     Within 48 hours of a Panel award the member shall write to the Rugby Section Secretary on requesting a review of the decision by the appeal panel.

10.3     An external legally qualified officer of a Hampshire Rugby Club will chair the appeal panel and will sit with two executive members of the Rugby Section who have not been involved in the Case previously.

10.4     They will review the documentary evidence from the case along with the report of the disciplinary hearing and will inform the applicant if a hearing is necessary.

10.5     If necessary a hearing will be undertaken with evidence being taken from the applicant and the Disciplinary Panel Chairman.

10.6     The review panel will then award it’s decision which will be:- 

• The decision of the Disciplinary Hearing Stands.

• The facts were not proven to an acceptable standard of proof and any Penalties are removed.

• The Penalty imposed was inappropriate and a more lenient or more severe penalty should be imposed.

10.7     Any Penalties imposed by the Hampshire Disciplinary Officer can be appealed using the RFU appeals procedure. See Section 15 of the Disciplinary Procedure in the RFU Handbook.

Appendix A

RFU Tariffs for Disciplinary Incidents in Senior Rugby (Applicable to Players Aged over 17)

Appendix B

ERFSU Tariffs for Disciplinary Incidents in School Aged Rugby

(Applicable to Players Aged under 17)

E-Mail  web@trojansrugby.co.uk or phone the Club on 023 8061 2400 (Bar) 023 8061 3068 (Admin)      

This page last updated:  13 August, 2010