Tribute CRFU Cups

(Super Cup, Senior Cup, Club’s Cup, Senior Duchy Cup

Competition Rules – Amended 2023

1. The Competition shall be called “The Cornwall Rugby Football Union Tribute Knockout Cup Competition” (“the Competition”). The Competition shall be organised by the CRFU Competitions Standing Committee (“the Competitions Standing Committee”).
2. All matches in the Competition shall be played under the Laws of Rugby Football and comply with the Bye-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Rugby Football Union (“the RFU”) and the Cornwall Rugby Football Union (“the CRFU”) in particular the Intermediate Clubs Knockout Competition Regulations (“the Intermediate Cup Regulations”). Where the rules of the Competition conflict with the Intermediate Cup Regulations, the rules of the Competition shall prevail.
3. The Competition shall be open to clubs who are affiliated to the CRFU, competing at Levels 6 to 8 in the RFU Clubs Championship.
4. Eligibility of Players
   No player may represent a club in the Competition either as a player or selected replacement unless he holds effective registration with that club. A player may not represent a club in the Competition either as a player or selected replacement if, in the same season, he has played or been selected as a replacement for another club in any round of the Competition, the Cornwall Rugby Football Union Tribute Super Cup Competition (“the Cornwall Super Cup Competition”), the Cornwall Rugby Football Union Tribute Knockout Cup Competition (“the Cornwall Knockout Cup Competition”) or the National Cup competitions or if he is under Contract to or any other arrangement requiring him to play for another club. In the group and and all other rounds including the semi final and final of the competition a club shall be permitted to select not more than six replacements players. In the group and all other rounds including the semi final and final of the competition including replacements a club must have at least five players capable of playing in the front row. A club with any doubt or question concerning player eligibility shall apply to either the Chairman or Secretary of the Competitions Committee for a decision which shall be binding on that club. The RFU Regulation permitting rolling substitutions shall apply to this Competition. Prior to commencement of the Competition each season the Secretary of each participating club shall supply the Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee with an up to date list of the eligible players registered with that club with the RFU. Note – Restriction on number of foreign players permitted now deleted.
5. In the event of a dispute, a Disputes Committee consisting of the Chairman, Secretary and two other members of the Competitions Standing Committee shall decide on the matter, subject only to a right of appeal to the Management Board of the CRFU (“the Management Board”) whose decision shall be final and binding. Any such appeal to the Competitions Standing Committee must be accompanied by the payment of a fee of £25.00 and any such appeal to the Management Board must be accompanied by the payment of a fee of £50.00 which is refundable in the event the appeal is upheld unless the Competitions Standing Committee or (as appropriate) the Management Board decide otherwise. Any cheque, bankers draft, postal or money order in payment of an appeal fee shall be made payable to the “Cornwall RFU Limited”.
6. Any breach of the rules of the Competition shall disqualify the offending club from taking any further part in the Competition for that season and may result in that club being deprived of any financial benefit from it and the Competitions Standing Committee shall have the power to reinstate a club in the Competition where it has been eliminated by such offending club. This power shall cease shall cease to apply at 2.00 pm two days before the date when a further round of the Competition, immediately following that when the breach of the rules was committed, is scheduled to be played.
7. The draw for the Competition shall be made by the Competitions Standing Committee. To allow for extra time, kick off times shall, unless mutually agreed, be 30 minutes earlier than the recommended kick off time in the CRFU Byelaws. The first named club to be drawn in any round shall be considered to be the home team and unless mutually agreed the venue for the match shall be the ground of such home club. Rounds shall be played no later than the fixed dates or fixed weekends laid down by the Competitions Standing Committee. If a weekend is fixed and the two clubs cannot agree on which day to play, the match will be played on the Saturday. In the event of a disagreement, Paragraph 5 of the Competition rules shall apply. For all rounds (other than set dates) Club Secretaries shall immediately notify the Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee and the Appointments Secretary of the Cornwall Rugby Referees Society (“the Referees Society”) of the agreed date upon which the match is to be played. If mutually agreeable, a normal fixture between the Clubs may count as the Competition match, provided that prior written notice has been given to the Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee and the Appointments Secretary of the Referees Society. Any difficulty in arranging a match in accordance with these regulations shall be referred to the Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee.
8. Grounds and Match Management
   8.1 The home club shall be responsible for correctly and clearly marking its pitch. In addition, it must make proper provision to ensure that (with the exception of the touch judges, the fourth official (if appointed) and others permitted by the rules of the Competition) all spectators replacements and officials are kept at a reasonable distance from the field of play by a permanent or semi permanent barrier.
   8.2 The home club shall in addition make provision for two “technical areas” one for each team competing in the match (each of which areas shall not exceed 10 square metres and which shall be at least one metre from the touchline of the pitch). The “technical areas” when occupied must not in any way impede the touch judges or fourth official (if appointed) undertaking their responsibilities). The “technical areas” must be clearly designated between the touchline of the pitch and any perimeter or pitchside fencing or other barrier as being that to which all those permitted within the pitchside or perimeter fencing (i.e. not more than two medical staff responsible for administering treatment to players and not more than two persons carrying water for the players) are to be restricted during the match other than periods of half time or (if appropriate) between full time and any replay and any half time interval during such replay.
   8.3 Participating clubs in a match must ensure that team replacements and coaching staff are not permitted within the pitchside or perimeter fencing or other barrier (unless there is a permanent or semi permanent “dugout” in place in which case team replacements and coaching staff must confine themselves to the “dugout” or keep without the pitchside or perimeter fencing or other barrier) other than when a replacement is about to replace a player on the pitch, when a player is temporarily suspended or at and for the extent of half time or (if appropriate) the period between full time and any replay and any half time interval during such replay.
   8.4 Not more than four water carriers per team (including medical staff) are permitted within the pitchside or perimeter fencing or other barrier and water carriers may only be permitted onto the playing area for the purpose of taking water to the players at such times as shall be approved by the Referee (on any other occasion players must come to the touchline to get water).
9. Postponed Matches
   If weather or ground conditions prevent a match being played or a match is abandoned because of such conditions, with less than sixty minutes having been played, it shall, if possible, be played or replayed within seven days of the date originally fixed. If this is not possible, the matter shall be referred to the Competitions Standing Committee for a decision. If a match is abandoned because of such conditions, when sixty or more minutes have been played, the score at the moment of abandonment shall stand and be deemed to be the final score in the match. The Referee’s decision as to the necessity for abandonment and the number of minutes played at the moment of abandonment shall be final.
10. Notification of Results
    The Secretary of the home club shall be responsible for informing the Lee Maher of the Competitions Standing Committee of the result of the match within TWENTY FOUR HOURS of the final whistle and in writing not later than first post three days after the match is played. Failure to telephone in the match result and/or send in the completed official match result card within the time limits laid down will incur a fine for each offence of £25.00. Any Club wishing to appeal must follow the procedure laid down in Paragraph 5 of the Competition rules.
11. Drawn Matches
    11.1 In all rounds except the final, if after forty minutes of play each way, the scores are still level, there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams, of ten minutes each way with a one minute interval. If the scores are then equal the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward to the next round. If this does not produce a result the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall go forward to the next round. If the scores still be equal and the goals from tries still be equal, the visiting team shall go forward to the next round.
    11.2 In the final, if after forty minutes of play each way, the scores are still level, there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams, of ten minutes each way with a one-minute interval. If the scores are then equal, the team that has scored the most tries shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If no result is then achieved, the trophy shall be shared between the finalists. There shall be no replay. Unless otherwise arranged by the Competitions Standing Committee the final shall be played on a neutral ground and the winning finalist shall receive the BBC Spotlight Trophy. Prior to 1 March in the following season the Hon. Secretary of the winning finalist shall be responsible for returning the trophy to either the Chairman or Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee suitably engraved with the name of the winning club, cleaned and in good condition. Any club returning the trophy late, un-engraved, unclean or damaged shall be liable to a fine of £25.00 or shall bear the actual cost of engraving, cleaning or repair whichever shall be greater. The winning finalist shall be responsible for the security of the trophy whilst it is in its possession.
12. Matches shall start at the agreed time; any delay may be reported by the non-offending club to the Competitions Standing Committee and may lead to the disqualification of the offending club from that season’s Competition.
13. Referees and Assistant Referees
    Referees for all matches in the Competition and Touch Judges for the semi finals and final shall be appointed by the Referees Society.
14. Replacements
    Subject to Paragraph 4 of the Competition rules, replacements are permitted according to Regulations of the RFU.
15. Clash of Colours
    In the event of clubs having similar or clashing colours the home team shall be responsible for changing its colours. For the final, the home team shall be decided by the toss of a coin by the Chairman or other nominated member of the Competitions Standing Committee.
16. Finance
    16.1 The home club shall be responsible for the proper promotion of the match. The match shall be ALL PAY except for children under the age of sixteen years. The gross gate and programme receipts, less programme and referees expenses, (the gross gate meaning the charge or charges made for entry to the field and, if appropriate, stand or stands, and excluding any charges for car parking, which must be detailed separately) for all matches except the final, shall be shared between the two competing clubs and the home club shall, where possible, pass the appropriate share to the away club on the same day of the game, but in any event not more than seven days after the match. The proceeds of the game shall be counted at the end of the game by one person from each club. The home club shall bear the match expenses and the visiting club shall pay its own travelling expenses.
    16.2 At the conclusion of the Competition the receipts from the final and the sponsorship income shall be apportioned by the Hon Treasurer of the CRFU. The total income shall be divided equally between all participating clubs in the Competition, the Cornwall Super Cup Competition and the Cornwall Clubs Cup Competition that qualify under Paragraph 16.3.
    16.3 Any club that does not fulfil a fixture in the Competition may not receive a share of that season’s Competition income.
17. Terms and Conditions of Participation
    17.1 Each club by agreeing to enter the Competition and/or by commencing its first match in the Competition agrees is has entered into a legally binding obligation with the CRFU and as separate obligations with each other club in the Competition and with any sponsor of the Competition that it will:-
    17.1.1 fulfil its fixtures in the Competition and comply in every respect with the rules of the Competition
    17.1.2 play in each game in the Competition for which it qualifies
    17.1.3 at all times comply with each and every obligation and requirement entered into by the CRFU with third parties, including but not limited to any sponsor of the Competition under the terms and conditions of any sponsorship agreement provided that details of any such obligations and requirements have been notified by the CRFU in writing to the participating clubs by 31 July each year
    17.1.4 permit access to its premises during before or after the match to any person authorised by the Competitions Standing Committee (with or without prior notice) to check compliance with all and/or any of the rules of the Competition and to provide to any such person such documentation and information as might reasonably be required to identify any player in any match in the Competition and produce evidence of such player’s effective registration with the club
    17.2 Each club by commencing its first match in the Competition agrees it has entered into a legally binding obligation with the CRFU and as a separate covenant with each other club in the Competition, Referee, Touch Judge or Match Official involved in any match in the Competition or cancellation or abandonment thereof that it will not hold liable or make any claim against such official, the Competitions Standing Committee, the Management Board or the CRFU:-
    17.2.1 for any loss cost charge compensation or expense arising out of or in connection with any kind of death occurring to or injury or illness suffered by any player, spectator or other person (insofar as is permitted in law)
    17.2.2 for any damage to property of any kind
    17.2.3 for any other loss cost charge expense or damages be it for loss of profit expense incurred or otherwise and whether directly or consequential or in relation to the result of any match arising out of or due to any decision or action that such official may take under the Laws of Rugby Football, the rules of the Competition or any other rules or regulations published by the RFU or the CRFU or which have been properly introduced by the RFU or in respect of the normal procedures to hold, play, control, cancel or abandon a match.
    17.3 Any club selected to play in the Competition agrees that:-
    17.3.1 if it fails to honour a fixture or withdraws having previously agreed to take part therein or
    17.3.2 if in the opinion of the Competitions Standing Committee (subject to the club’s right of appeal set out in Paragraph 5 of the rules of the Competition) it should not be permitted to take part in a future RFU cup competition it shall not be eligible to participate in any cup competition organised by the RFU in the following season
    17.4 Each club by entering the Competition agrees with each other club in the Competition and the CRFU that the Competitions Standing Committee has the absolute and unfettered discretion to decide on matters not provided for in and in the interpretation of the rules of the Competition and/or make any further or alternative rules or regulations for the Competition where there is a requirement therefor. The decision of the Competitions Standing Committee is final and binding save for any club’s right to appeal to the Management Board utilising the procedure set out in Paragraph 5 of the rules of the Competition) provided such appeal is lodged with the appropriate appeal fee within 48 hours of any action taken by the Competitions Standing Committee under this Paragraph 17.4 being made public or the club having been advised thereof (whichever shall be the later).

Notes

1. Normal gate charges in the Competition should be a minimum of Four Pounds (£4.00) per person with children under sixteen years free. Where applicable, additional charges for entry to the stand or stands shall apply.
2. All results in the Competition must be reported to the Secretary of the Competitions Standing Committee on the official match result cards supplied not later than first post three days after a match is played.