RFU Alternative Sanctions Trial Yorkshire RFU 2023/2024 Season
Background
The RFU have been trialling/ explore alternatives to straight forward sanctions that work in the English game. In the first instance this was trialled during the 21/22 season and expand to include additional CBs in the 22/23 season.
Following encouraging and positive feedback Yorkshire CB have agreed to take part in the trial. .
Key Principles
- Child centric – keeps young people in the game.
- Core Values need to be upheld.
- CBs to set own process but follow guiding principles.
- Clearly understood by all parties
- Consistent approach across schools/ clubs and colleges
- Available to all pleas guilty and not guilty
Process
- When a junior player playing in an Under 18 match sent off by a Society Referee, Association Referee or Club Referee the following information must be sent to the CB Age Grade Secretary Paul Dyer.
- o Player's Full Name /Date of Birth /RFU No (if known)
- o Referee Report
- Please note the player is immediately suspended from all rugby including schools until the CB Age Grade hearing.
On receipt of the notification and the referee’s report, the CBAG (Paul Dyer) will forward the same to the appropriate club/school/academy contact who will arrange for a hearing to be held ideally within 7 days of the offence.
Hearing:
Hearings will be undertaken by the individual clubs/schools/academy as has previously been the case. However, prior to the hearing (if there is potential for an alternative sanction to be recommended/agreed with the player) it maybe helpful to discuss the same with Paul Dyer to ensure there is a degree of consistence of approach both within Yorkshire and other Counties participating in the trail
Sanction
RFU Regulation 19 – Discipline (Appendix 6) will be the starting point/basis of the sanction. The Panel is not bound by normal regulations on suspended sentences, mitigation, aggravation
- - Sanctions can be suspended
- - Sanctions can be a mix of non-playing and match ban and can go below the 50% threshold.
- - Non-playing sanctions – can be wide – clubs/schools/colleges will be encouraged to come up with their own sanctions.
Judgements – there will be a new judgement form provided with the referees report.
Referees – this revised approach will be shared with Yorkshire Referee Society. There will be no change in how the referee engages with both the panel and the club.
Schools/Colleges: all Yorkshire schools and colleges will be made aware of the pilot and will be included.
Should there be any queries as to the enclosed please email Paul Dyer at youthdisciplinesecretary@yorkshirerfu.co.uk
