Club Discipline Examples

 It is very unfortunate when Clubs become involved in disciplinary procedures and this luckily is a rarity. Here are two recent episodes, which are published here as examples to raise awareness of the particular circumstances.

 Playing an under-age player in adult rugby.

 Club "A” selected a 17 year-old prop for one of their adult teams in a knock out competition. This is expressly forbidden in the RFU Regulations. Whilst 17 year olds can play in adult XVs they cannot do so in the front row until their 18^th birthday.

 Club “A” was disqualified from that competition for their action and the incident was referred to the RFU Schools & Youth Governance Sub-Committee. They felt the matter important to prosecute further. Subsequently several key Club Officials admitted breaches of the Regulations at a CB Disciplinary Hearing at which they received Reprimands. The Club was directed to ensure that procedures were in place to avoid this inadvertently happening again and their CB will monitor this. It was accepted they had acted inadvertently rather than deliberately flouting the Regulation.

 Controlling unruly touchline behaviour

 Club “B” has a vibrant youth sector with a large supporter following composed mainly of parents who were not steeped in rugby's traditions. A number of incidents involving their supporters at youth matches led to complaints to Club “B"s” CBRDP who have since worked with the Club to help instil a better ethos in their membership. Such situations are not easily or quickly resolved.

 The CBRDP engaged actively with senior Club Officials as well as personnel in the Youth Section. The Club has had to take tough measures: banning coaches for not controlling their team’s spectators; banning players and whole teams for their abusive conduct. More importantly, they have called meetings to educate parents and coaches on the touchline behaviour code. They put in place a system of duty club members to monitor the touchline behaviour at their youth matches.

 The success of this incomplete story is that this Club which was in danger of being brought before the CB Disciplinary Committee (where their youth section may have faced closure) as well as finding other clubs were becoming unwilling to play them. It is now empowered and is setting it’s own higher standards and enforcing them - irrespective of any short-term considerations. They will need to keep working at it, but they are rescuing their reputation and will we all hope soon have a much happier clubhouse.

 Nigel Orton

RFU National Schools & Youth Disciplinary Secretary