1. Description
The HOB u14s Waterfall Cup, U16s League, U18s League Girls competitions are run under RFU regulations and GAME ON Principles apply and are run by Berkshire RFU. They are invitational leagues.
2. Berkshire Youth Competitions Manager
The competitions are run by the Berkshire Youth Competitions Manager (BCM), Adam Gillings – areg23@hotmail.com
3. Fixtures
| Entry Deadline | 30th May 2024 |
| Fixtures Issued by | 17th July 2024 |
3.1 The designated home club is in charge of finding a suitable playing surface, all match day arrangements and organising the referee as detailed in the relevant section below. They may move it to a neutral venue and retain the home status or may offer it to be moved to the away club, who will then take over the responsibilities.
3.2 Kick-off for all matches must be between 10.30 -13.30 on the allocated Sunday, Matches may be played on a Friday evening, of the same weekend, with the express consent of both sides.
3.3
Kick-off times are the responsibility of the home team and must be declared by 12.00 on the Tuesday prior. The away team may request an alternative but cannot decline a kick-off time if it is within 3.2. Failure to provide a KO time can result in a walkover being awarded. The kick-off time can be altered post this deadline but not by more than 1 hour.
3.4 If a club withdraws from the league then all of their results are expunged.
3.5 Match results should be sent in, with the number of tries, to the relevant email address within 48 hours. Both sides should send in the result and failure to submit results can lead to the game being voided.
4. Unplayed, Postponed or Abandoned Matches
4.1 The principle of “Play or concede” will be applied to remove grey areas and therefore, no fixtures may be moved except for the following reasons:-
| Acceptable reason to postpone | – Welfare Issues or Weather related issues – A tour approved by relevant CB prior to 1st September 2024 – A clash with an officially sanctioned club National Cup game or an U18s CB match as marked in the National Playing Calendar |
| Unacceptable reason to postpone | – Player availability or Injuries – Lack of Referee – Friendlies or other competitions |
4.2 If a fixture has to be postponed then it must be played on the next Sunday, excluding Sunday 24th & 31st December 2024. Failure to make yourself available for any reason not referenced above would be taken as conceding.
4.3 Failure to fulfil a fixture or accept one on the following Sunday, subject to 4.1, will result in a walkover result awarded.
4.4 If a match is abandoned due to weather/conditions and it has passed half-time, the result at the point of abandonment will stand.
4.5 If the home team has an acceptable reason to postpone but the away team can host then this can be offered but it does not have to be accepted unless the fixture has been postponed once already.
5. Club Positions
5.1 Where a table is formed and displayed via England Rugby website. Points will be awarded as per the table:
| Item | League Points |
| Win | 4 |
| 4 tries or more | 1 |
| Losing by 7 match points or less | 1 |
| Draw | 2 |
| Walk over | 5 |
If teams are tied on the same number of league points then the following tie-breakers will be used to determine positions:
| Rank | Item |
| 1 | Match Points difference (a 50-0 points difference will be manually given for walkovers; please note GMS does not do this) |
| 2 | Results of the head to heads |
| 3 | Highest Match Points Scored |
| 4 | Tied Position |
5.2 Regulation 15 clearly states the maximum points difference allowed at each age group. Any result exceeding this will be marked as a 0-0 draw without further warning. Once the game reaches the maximum points difference the game must cease with the score recorded. Should you wish to continue playing then the score must not be recorded and the conditions of the game altered to provide development opportunities and a more balanced fixture.
5.3 These competitions have a maximum points difference of 36 points, should a side record a score of greater than this then the score will be adjusted and warnings issued. If it occurs again, the score will be marked as a 0-0 draw without a second warning.
6. League Choices
There will not be seeding and the teams will be allocated by the BCM. It is expected that there will be two pools, depending on numbers. If there are two pools in a league competition then there will be a final between the winners of each pool.
7. Players
7.1 All players must be bona fide members of the club, registered on GMS and of the correct age as per Regulation 15. Anyone playing out of age group must have the appropriate CB approval and be declared 48 hours in advance.
7.2 A player can only play for a maximum of 1 side in the competition. An expunged side is still counted.
7.3 Any player who does not meet 7.1 & 7.2 will be deemed ineligible and if they played, the result will be declared as a walk over and 50-0 score line. More than one player will also result in the team losing 4 league points for every player. If it occurs in a knockout game then a Walkover is given to the non-offending teams.
7.4 As per the table in Reg 6, there are player restrictions and breaking these will result in a walkover and 50-0 result will be awarded. If any team does not declare their 10 players then the same sanction will apply for each match they do not. There are also player restrictions as per regulation 6.
8. Playing Regulations
8.1 Game on applies and therefore the minimum number of players is 10 per side and there is no punishment in requesting uncontested scrums. We do however encourage contested scrums when safe and suitable. Where applicable, on uncontested scrums, the number 8 cannot pick and go.
8.2 Unless a side is reduced due to sanctions applied by the Referee, sides must match numbers.
8.3 Sides cannot elect to reduce numbers and have substitutes. As long as the Half Game Rule is met, there is no maximum squad size.
8.4 Clubs may enter two sides in the same competition but if they do this, they MUST list 7 players who cannot play on the other side. This list must be sent prior to the first game, is fixed for the season and any side not doing this will forfeit each match.
8.5 Any team dropping below 10 will concede the match as a walkover, except in the instance that foul play caused it, as deemed by the referee. In this instance, the match will be abandoned and replayed. An example of this would be a concussion caused by a high tackle.
8.6 The RFU regulations will be used for playing regulations and the matches will be played at the maximum allowed. Where sides reduce below 12, at 15 a side, then the pitch should be narrowed as deemed by the Referee and the number in the scrum should be adjusted accordingly. Likewise, if the number of players goes below 12 then the referee may reduce playing time but should declare what it will be at the point it becomes 11. It should factor in welfare and not the score.
8.7 Any team posting a score in excess of the maximum points difference as set out in RFU regulation 15, will have the result changed to a 0-0 draw.
8.8 In any knock-out matches no extra time is allowed. If it is a draw at full time then the team who scored the first try will win. If it is a 0-0 draw then the away team will win. If it is a final then both teams are designated as the away team and the event of a 0-0 draw means the trophy is shared.
9. Referees
9.1 The responsibility of appointing the referee falls initially on the home side. We are aware that there is a shortage of referees and there is no requirement for the referee to be a society ref. It is preferred but unrealistic to require it.
9.2 For the benefit of this section, neutral means that they are not a player, parent or coach within the age group. It is very difficult to get truly neutral refs and a coach from a different age group / section of the club is considered neutral.
9.3 For the benefit of this section, qualified means having taken an RFU referee course and highly qualified means having taken the ERRA.
9.4 The appointment by the referee is as per the below flow chart. We strongly recommend that sides invest in upskilling and training referees so that they can ensure matches are played. No Ref = No Game.
- Home side must find a Neutral and Highly Qualified Ref and declare it by Midday on the Wednesday Prior.
IF THEY CANNOT - The away side must find a neutral and qualified Referee and declare by the midday on the Saturday prior.
IF THEY CANNOT - The home side must find a neutral and qualified Referee and declare 3 hours prior to kick off.
IF THEY CANNOT - The away side must find a referee that is safe to referee the game and declare 30 minutes to kickoff
IF THEY CANNOT - The home side must find a referee that is safe to referee the game.
IF THEY CANNOT - The match is void and 0 league points are issued. If it is a cup match then a zoom call will take place with the toss of a coin being decided who progresses. The away team call.
It is hoped that we never get to the point where we have to void matches.
9.5 It is the responsibility of the home side to brief the referee on any competition specific regulations such as the reduction of numbers, not allowing pick and go from uncontested scrums.
9.6 Whilst the referee is the sole arbiter of fact, they must apply the laws as per Reg 15 and other appropriate regulations. They may not remove age grade regulations, such as pushing 1.5m at a scrum or allowing squeezeball etc… It is the responsibility of the home side to ensure that the referee is correctly briefed on all age grade regulations.
10. Behaviour of Non players
Both sides have a responsibility for not only their players and coaching team but also the non players (supporters and third parties). We reserve the right to deduct league points or award walkovers based on the behaviour of non-players.
11. Disputes
The regulations will never cover every situation that arises and therefore the BCM has the right to alter, add or remove regulations as long as they are within the spirit and ethos of the competition. This would be briefly summarised as the purpose of the competitions is to try and create more playing opportunities, increase and develop players, being supported by the competitions and trying to be equitable for all. Game on and, except for the specific reasons given, play or concede given are also the overriding decision principles.
Any breach of the regulations may incur the sanctions of a warning or expulsion but the default position should be assumed to be a walkover and 50-0 points difference.
All disputes must be logged within 7 days of the incident or they will be dismissed.
12. Appeals
The ultimate jurisdiction for this competition falls to the BCM and any decision can be appealed once. If you feel that the BCM is compromised in the decision-making and their judgement cannot be impartial then the decision will be made solely by the Berkshire Youth Chair.
13. Fees
Entry fees are £40 per team in a league and £60 per team in a cup (with the difference being due to trophy costs). They are payable by 1st September 2024. Payment details will be supplied by the League Organiser.
Updated 1st June 2024
