Rules and Regulations
World Master Games 2002 Melbourne
Rules of the Competition
(Revised Edition as at 27 September 2002)
1. All Team Sheets shall be presented at the Registration Desk at least 60 Minutes prior to the commencement of their first Match on each day of the Tournament.
2. No changes shall be made to a Team Sheet once that Teams first match has commenced. Any Team found in breach of this Rule by playing an unlisted and/or unregistered player, shall lose any competition points (or Final) gained for those match/es with the opponent/s being accredited maximum points or the Final.
3. Registered Team players shall not be permitted to play for another Team without the prior approval of the Tournament Manager. Such approval shall only be granted in extenuating circumstances.
4. All teams shall take the field at the allotted match time OR immediately upon conclusion of the preceding match - at the direction of the nominated Ground Marshall. All teams shall vacate the field of play immediately upon conclusion of their match.
5. Players sustaining injury during the course of a match and not in a condition to continue, even if temporary, shall be replaced at the next stoppage in play.
6. Each Team shall provide its own medical support staff & and equipment. A Tournament Medical Officer shall be present on the day.
7. Each Team will be responsible for the safekeeping of its playing gear and equipment. No clothing or equipment shall be left in Club change rooms and no responsibility shall be accepted by the World Masters Games Organisation and its Rugby Committee for clothing or equipment misplaced or stolen.
8. Players shall be required to play a minimum of one match of the Round Robin to be eligible for the Finals. Players shall commence in the starting lineup and shall play a minimum of 20 minutes to be eligible.
9. Match Playing The Laws and Tournament By Laws
9.1 All matches will be conducted in accordance with the Laws of Rugby Football and rulings thereon recognised by the Australian Rugby Union.
10 Team Numbers and Composition
10.1 A Team shall be comprised of an unlimited number of registrations, as approved at Registration acceptance, but there shall be no restriction to the number of nominated players for each match, including the match of the finals.
10.2 The nominated Match Day Team shall include a minimum of 5 suitably experienced front row players unless injuries and extenuating circumstances do not permit.
10.3 A maximum of 15 players per Team, including a minimum of 3 experienced front row players, shall participate on field at any time during the Match.
10.4 A minimum of 11 players per Team, including 3 front row players, shall take the field to commence each Match. The scrum shall have a minimum of five players to start the Match.
10.5 The failure of any Team to comply with a minimum of 11 players to commence the Match as listed in 10.4 above shall result in a forfeit of its Match to the non-offending Team.
10.6 The exception to Rule 10.5 above is that teams shall be permitted to commence the match if 11 players are available but with less than 3 suitably experienced front row players. In such circumstances scrums shall be non-contested in accordance with the Laws of Rugby.
11. Length of Matches
11.1 All matches Premier Grade: 20 minute quarters, 4 minute Intervals injury time added on.
11.2 All matches A Grade 16 minute quarters, 4 minute intervals
injury time added on.
12 Player Replacement in each match
12.1 A player shall only be permitted to be replaced or substituted in accordance with Law 3 - the Laws of the Game.
12.2 An interchange system of replacement shall not be permitted.
13 Sideline Management
13.1 Barrier Controls shall exist on both sides of the field and on the preferred side shall include the area within the playing enclosure defined as the Coaches Area.
13.2 The only persons permitted inside the playing enclosure are as follows:
13.2.1 Match Officials, including Referee Liaison Officer.
13.2.2 Coach and Assistant Coach.
13.2.3 Team Manager.
13.2.4 Players including reserves.
13.2.5 One Runner - returning to the Coaches Area when not active.
13.2.6 Up to two medical aid attendants - with all equipment as close as practicable to the ropes or in the Coaches Area when not in use.
13.2.7 Four ball boys two each sideline.
13.3 A maximum of three reserves, wearing a provided coloured vest to distinguish them from players, can be used at any one time as water carriers - provided they return to the Coaches Area immediately upon completion of their task. Water carriers shall only be permitted to enter the field during the following stoppages:
13.3.1 Immediately after a Try is awarded.
13.3.2 When the playing time is stopped for injury.
13.3.3 At the discretion of the Referee depending on match conditions and circumstances.
13.4 Coaches and Assistant Coaches shall remain within the Coaches Area or retire to areas outside the Barrier Control at all times during their match, except at the quarter times, half time and full time when they may enter the playing field to address their players.
13.5 Managers are to remain within the Coaches Area unless liaising with Match Officials or assisting with the removal of an injured player from the field of play.
13.6 Reserves are to remain within the Coaches Area, unless warming up, and shall not be permitted to be barracking or yelling instructions while warming up.
13.7 Coaches and Assistant Coaches are not permitted on the field of play once the Match has commenced, except at half time and full time.
13.8 Coaches must not seek to communicate with match officials during any stoppage in play, including the half time interval, unless to communicate with the Touch Judge regarding the interchange and replacement of players.
13.9 Other team management members are also not permitted to communicate with the match officials at half time. This does not preclude normal communication between the Team Captain and the Referee.
14. Code of Conduct
14.1 Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Managers are expected to abide by their Code of Conduct at all times, particularly with their behavior towards match officials.
14.2 Incidences of verbal abuse and threatening behavior towards match officials shall be the subject of a Report and referral to the VRU Judiciary for investigation of Misconduct.
15 Playing attire
15.1 Players shall be attired in correct Team playing strip, including shorts and socks.
15.2 Playing jerseys should be numbered consecutively e.g. 1-30, with three blanks for bloodstain replacement. Under no circumstances shall there be duplicate playing numbers or players replaced/substituted exchanging jerseys.
15.3 All protective clothing (e.g. shoulder pads, headgear etc) shall conform to IRB Regulations as modified by ARU Directions 2002.
16 The Scrum
16.1 The Scrum shall have eight players from each team and be played under the Laws for Under 19 Rugby, with the following exception:
16.1.1 The Scrum Half of the defensive team shall remain behind the middle line of the scrum next to where the ball is being put in - until the ball exits the scrum; unless taking a position in the defensive line under the normal provisions of Law 20, part 12 (c) and (d) Offside at the Scrum.
16.2 There shall be equal numbers in the scrum, from each team, at all times. The Referee shall manage Cautions and Send offs accordingly by ensuring that the non-offending team reduces its scrum numbers accordingly (i.e. standing players out.
16.3 Non-contested scrums shall be implemented if there is less than three suitably experienced front row players available in each team at all times during the Match.
16.4 Non-contested scrums shall not requested as a tactical ploy when the minimum number of suitably experienced front row players are available. Such a request is contrary to the spirit and intent of the Laws of the Game.
17 Yellow and Red Cards
17.1 A Player who receives a Yellow and/or Red card during any match of the Tournament shall incur the following penalties:
17.1.1 Yellow Card: 10 minutes in Sin Bin.
17.1.2 Yellow Card in another Match - 10 minutes in Sin Bin, with automatic one match penalty, if further match is to be played.
17.1.3 Red Card: Sent off for rest of Match and subject to Judicial Hearing.
17.2 A player who receives a Caution (Yellow Card) shall not be replaced during the Sin Bin period.
17.3 A player who receives a Red Card shall not be replaced for the duration of the Match and that player shall not participate in any further matches of the Tournament until the matter is investigated and determined by a Judicial Committee (See Rule 21 Judicial Committee).
17.4 The Interchange Rules shall be used if a Front Row player is sent off (Yellow or Red Card), providing the offending Team plays with a reduced number of players on field i.e. less the number of players sent off.