Section 5.11 Rugby Union State Championship Rules
Amended 2021
Divisions: open
5.11.1
(a) Refer to General State Championship Rules.
(b) All teams competing at the State Championship will have twenty two (22) players with a minimum of five (5) players able to play in the front row.
(c) Conduct of competition
The State Championship will be conducted under the current U12 Pathway,
Laws of Rugby, as played in NSW. Therefore students turning 13 years of age
in the year of competition are ineligible. Other laws include no lifting in the lineouts, observance of the ARU's 2 year window law and compulsory
wearing of mouthguards.
Full round robin
(1) Where there are seven (7) teams or less a full round robin will be played.
(2) Each team shall play each other at least once.
(3) The team scoring the highest number of competition points shall be the winner.
(4) Where a complete round robin is played and two (2) teams or more finish in equal first place the result of the match between them will determine first place. If a draw was the result, then they will be declared joint premiers.
(5) Where two teams finish level on points for second or lower places, places shall be determined by:
(a) The result of the match; or
(b) Determined on percentages if the match was a draw ie,
Points scored for/points scored against x 100/1
In pools
(1) Where there are more than seven (7) teams and less than twelve (12) teams, a two (2) pool championship will be played.
(2) The competing teams shall be drawn equally into two (2) pools. Placings to be decided on the results of the previous year.
For example:
Pool A – 1, 4, 5, 8, 9
Pool B – 2, 3, 6, 7, 10
(3) In each pool each team shall play each other at least once.
(4) In the event of teams finishing level on points in a pool, the placings will be determined by:-1. Results of match between them
OR 2. If the match was drawn, then the placing will be determined on percentages, as indicated above.
(5) Once the placings in each pool have been determined, two (2) semi-finals will be played:
Winner pool A vs runner up pool B
Winner pool B vs runner up pool A
The winning teams of each semi-final will meet in the final. In the event of a drawn final, joint premiers will be declared.
(6) The losers of the semi-final shall meet to decide 3rd and 4th place and the other teams will playoff to decide the remaining places:
3rd in each pool will meet to decide 5th and 6th places;
4th in each pool will meet to decide 7th and 8th places;
5th in each pool will meet to decide 9th and 10th places;
Played in (4) pools
(1) Where there are twelve (12) teams, the championship will be conducted in four (4) pools of three (3).
(2) The competing teams will be divided into four (4) pools. Placings to be decided on the previous year’s results. For example:
Pool A – 1, 8, 9
Pool B – 2, 7, 10
Pool C – 3, 6, 11
Pool D – 4, 5, 12
(3) On the first day each team will play the others in their pool. At the completion of the day, teams will be ranked in order from 1st to 3rd in each pool. If teams finish on the same number of points, then percentages will be used to determine positions.
(4) On the second day cross-over pool matches will take place between the 1st and 2nd placed
Match 1 – winner pool A vs runner up pool B
Match 2 – winner pool B vs runner up pool A
Match 3 – winner pool C vs runner up pool D
Match 4 – winner pool D vs runner up pool C
Then the cross-over matches would again take place as follows:
Semi-final 1 – winner match 1 vs winner match 4
Semi-final 2 – winner match 2 vs winner match 3
Match 5 – loser match 1 vs loser match 4
Match 6 – loser match 2 vs loser match 3
(5) The teams that finish third in each pool would then play another round robin amongst themselves to determine 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th positions. Playing two (2) games as follows:
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool B
3rd pool C vs 3rd pool D
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool C
3rd pool B vs 3rd pool D
(6) On the final day the matches will be as follows:
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool D
3rd pool B vs 3rd pool C
The team with the highest points tally for the Round Robin to be awarded the Convener's Shield.
7th and 8th positions – loser match 5 vs loser match 6
5th and 6th positions – winner match 5 vs winner match 6
3rd and 4th positions – loser semi-final 1 vs loser semi-final 2
1st and 2nd positions – winner semi-final 1 vs winner semi-final 2
(7) If a drawn cross pool match occurs on the second day, or a position play-off match on the third day, then:
(a) First (1st) scorer in games is the winner OR IF NIL ALL
(b) Team with most wins leading up to this game OR IF STILL A TIE
(c) Points for and against expressed as a percentage.
(8) Where there are thirteen (13) teams, the Championship will be conducted in four (4) pools. Three (3) pools of three (3) and one (1) pool of four (4).
(a) Placings to be decided on previous year’s results. For Example:
Pool A – 1, 8, 9, 13
Pool B – 2, 7, 10
Pool C – 3, 6, 11
Pool D – 4, 5, 12
(i) The thirteenth (13th) team to be place in a Pool different from the previous year, in descending order.
ie: 2005 in Pool A, 2006 in Pool B, 2007 in Pool C, 2008 in Pool D, 2009 in Pool A etc.
(b) On day one, teams will play as follows:
Pool with four (4) teams – 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 2 v 2, 3 v 4, 1 v 3, 2 v 4. All games to be thirty (30) minutes.
Pool with three (3) teams – 1 v 3, 2 v 3, 1 v 2. All games to be forty four (44) minutes.
At the conclusion of Day 1, teams will be ranked from 1st to 3rd in Pools with three (3) teams, and 1st to 4th in the Pool with four (4) teams.
If teams finish on equal points, then points differential will be used to determine position.
(c) Points differential is points scored for LESS points scored against.
(d) On day two cross-over pool matches will take place between the 1st and 2nd placed teams as follows:
Match 1 – winner pool A vs runner up pool B
Match 2 – winner pool B vs runner up pool A
Match 3 – winner pool C vs runner up pool D
Match 4 – winner pool D vs runner up pool C
Then the cross-over matches would again take place as follows:
Semi-final 1 – winner match 1 vs winner match 4
Semi-final 2 – winner match 2 vs winner match 3
Match 5 – loser match 1 vs loser match 4
Match 6 – loser match 2 vs loser match 3
(e) The teams that finished 3rd and 4th in each pool would then play another round robin amongst themselves to determine 9th through 13th positions.
On day two:
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool D
3rd pool C vs 3rd pool B
4th pool A vs 3rd pool D
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool C
3rd pool B vs 4th pool A
On day three:
3rd pool A vs 3rd pool B
3rd pool C vs 4th pool A
3rd pool D vs 3rd pool B
4th pool A vs 3rd pool A
3rd pool C vs 3rd pool D
The team on the highest points tally be awarded the Conveners Shield.
(f) On day three the following play-off matches to take place:
7th and 8th positions – loser match 5 vs loser match 6
5th and 6th positions – winner match 5 vs winner match 6
3rd and 4th positions – loser semi-final 1 vs loser semi-final 2
1st and 2nd positions – winner semi-final 1 vs winner semi-final 2
(g) If a drawn cross pool match on day two or a drawn play-off match on day three occurs then:
(i) First scorer in games is the winner or if nil all
(ii) Team with the most wins leading up to this game or if still a tie
(iii) Points differential over whole championship.
(9) Points to be allocated in the following manner:
Four (4) points for a win
Two (2) points for a draw
Nil (0) points for a loss
However, if a loss is by seven (7) points or less – one (1) point.
A bonus point is scored if four (4) or more tries are scored.
5.11.2
(a) Where one Association presently participating combines with a new Association to enter the State Championship:
or
(b) Where new Associations not previously participating wish to combine to enter a team in the State Championship:
then
(c) Those Associations with the approval of the Manager, School Sport Unit make application through their respective Association PSSA to the NSWPSSA to combine and compete as one Association team.
5.11.3 Uniforms
Jumpers shall be numbered one (1) to twenty-two (22) and shall not to be interchangeable.
5.11.4 Footballs
Football used shall be of specific school size.
5.11.5 Teams shall assemble on the ground side lines at least five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled starting time.
5.11.6 Duration of matches
The duration of all matches shall be twenty-two (22) minutes each way with a five (5) minutes break at half time with the following exception
(a) On the first day the Pool that has four (4) teams will play matches of fifteen (15) minutes each way with a five (5) minute break at half time.
5.11.7 Interchange
Seven (7) players may be used on an interchange basis throughout the match. However, if a player leaves the field injured, after the referee has stopped play for that injury, the player cannot be used as an interchange player for the remainder of the match in progress, unless the officially appointed first-aid attendant, in consultation with the coach and manager of the particular association, gives permission.
5.11.8 In the event of an Association being unable to field a side through injury to specialist scrummaging positions, viz. Front row, the game will be allowed to commence or continue with uncontested scrums. (No pushing). Where an infringement requires a scrum, the team feeding the scrum will be allowed to win the ball. Number 8 will still be allowed to pick up the ball and run from the back of the scrum.
5.11.9
(a) There shall be no time off for injuries up to and including the semi-finals. If moveable, injured players should be removed from the field.
(b) In the Final, the referee will be the timekeeper and will allow time off for injuries.
5.11.10
(a) When a scrum is played, the defending halfback must stay at the mid-point of the scrum until the ball has come out.
(b) Any rules not covered above shall be according to the laws of the New South Wales Rugby Union.
(c) Only the Coach and Manager are permitted on the field to address the team at half time.
5.11.11 Drawn semi-final
In a drawn semi-final the system to eliminate a tie
(a) First scorer in games is the winner or if nil all
(b) Team with the highest pool placing or if still a tie
(c) Points for and against expressed as a percentage
5.11.12 Disciplinary committee
A three (3) person Disciplinary Committee consisting of the Convener, Championship Manager and Association Sports Coordination Officer or his/her nominee deal with any player sent from the field, ie sent 'off'.
5.11.13 Protests
Protest shall be dealt with by the Disputes Committee consisting of the host Association Sports Coordination Officer, Championship Manager and one other appointed person.
All protests shall be lodged, in writing, by the team manager (who must be a teacher) with the committee within fifteen (15) minutes of the conclusion of the match.
5.11.14 Sin bin
(a) If a player is sin-binned twice during the duration of the championship, that player will appear before the discipline committee, for further action.
(b) If a player is sin binned during the course of a pool game, semi-final or final, the duration of this sin bin time will be 5 minutes.
5.11.15 Football boots/shoes
Football boots/shoes with screw-in Nylon Studs are banned. Boots with aluminium studs, moulded rubber soles or blades are acceptable.
5.11.16 Referee appointments
At the selection meeting on day one of the championship the appointment of referees for the semi-finals on day two will be discussed. At the selection meeting on day two of the championship, the appointment of referees for the play-off game between 3rd and 4th and the Final on day three will be discussed. The decision of the appointments of referees will be made in consultation with the Rugby subcommittee and the championship organising team at this meeting.
5.11.17 Mouthguards
Mouthguards must be worn in the following circumstances: all selection trials and games organised for Rugby Union by the schools, school’s sporting zone, association and/or state sporting association.