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Middlesex RugbyMMT Cup Regulations : Middlesex Rugby

MMT Cup Regulations

2019 – 2020
MMT CUP/BOWL/VASE KO COMPETITIONS REGULATIONS
1. NAME
1.1 The MMT Cup/Bowl/Vase Knock-out Competition for those Teams competing in
the Premier & First Division of the MMT Competition shall be known as the MMT
Cup.
1.2 The MMT Knock-out Competition for those Teams competing in the Second &
Third Division of the MMT Competition shall be known as the MMT Bowl.
1.3 The MMT Knock-out Competition for those Teams competing in the Fourth &
Fifth Division of the MMT Competition shall be known as the MMT Vase.

2.  ADMINISTRATION
2.1 The MMT Knock-out Competitions shall be managed and supervised by the
Middlesex Rugby (Middlesex County Rugby Football Union Ltd) who shall
appoint an Organiser (the Organiser) to administer the MMT Knock-out
Competitions and to whom Middlesex Rugby may delegate such powers as it
deems appropriate.
2.2 The Organiser shall administer the MMT Cup/Bowl/Vase Knock-out Competitions
and make such decisions as he deems appropriate to run an efficient and fair
competition provided only that any such decision must not be contrary to these
regulations, the rules and regulations of Middlesex Rugby, the rules and
regulations of the Rugby Football Union or the Laws of the Game.
2.3 The Organiser shall have the power to alter or amend these regulations, as he
deems necessary in order to run an efficient and fair competition, provided only
that no regulations may be changed, other than in exceptional circumstances,
once the competition has started.
2.4 Any decision of the Organiser will be final and binding on all Clubs and teams in
the MMT Cup/Bowl/Vase Knock-Out Competitions subject to any Clubs right to
appeal in accordance with MMT Regulation 17.

2.5 Teams in these competitions have the right to play under some or all of the new
RFU GAME ON Regulations provided both sides in the match agree to play by
some or all of the regulations before the match commences. If agreement is not
reached between the two sides the match will be played under these MMT
Cup/Bowl/Vase Regulations.

3. ELIGIBILITY OF CLUBS
Only Clubs that are competing in the current season’s MMT competition may enter a
MMT Cup/Bowl/Vase Knock-out Competitions.
4. ELIGIBILTY OF PLAYERS
A team may only select players who would normally play for that team in the current
season’s MMT competition. Failure to comply with this regulation will see the side
removed from this competition.

5. STRUCTURE
5.1 There shall be three MMT Knock-out Competitions known as the Cup, Bowl and
Vase.
5.2 A Club may have more than one team in each of the MMT Cup/ Knock-out
competitions.
5.3 If a Club has two teams in one of the MMT Knock-out Competitions they shall be
placed in different halves of the draw.
5.4 A team that plays in a lower division of the MMT Knock-out Competition shall
have home advantage at all stages of the competition up to and including the
Semi-Finals if drawn to play a team in a higher division.
5.5 All stages of the MMT Knock-out Competitions up to and including the semi
finals shall be played at the home ground of the first named team in the draw
subject to 5.4 above.
5.6 First Round matches of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on
Saturday 5th October 2019 with a preliminary round on Saturday 7th September
2019.
5.7 The Quarter Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on
Saturday 4 th January 2020
5.8 The Semi-Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on
Saturday 29 th February 2020
5.9 The Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on Saturday 4 th
April at a ground to be determined by the organsier.

6. DRAWN MATCHES
6.1 If at the end of normal time in a Final the scores are level, there shall be a two-
minute break. After this break, the teams will change ends and there shall be a
period of extra time between the teams of 10 minutes each way, with a one-
minute interval.
6.2 If the scores are then still level the teams will change ends and ‘sudden death’
will be played. Play will continue with the teams changing ends every ten
minutes. The team scoring first during ‘sudden death’ will be deemed the
winner.
7. FIXTURES
7.1 The Organiser shall arrange the draw and notify the teams.
7.2 Double header matches (whether league/league or league/knock-out) shall be
permitted provided both sides are in agreement and permission is obtained from
the Organiser prior to the match. Where there is no agreement between the sides
or permission is not obtained from the Organiser the fixture will not be played as
a double header.
7.3 The home team shall be responsible for organising the referee and paying his
expenses.

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7.4 The home team shall use its best endeavours to secure the services of a referee
from the London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees (“LSRFUR”).
7.5 In the event of the LSRFUR being unable to appoint a referee the home team
shall be responsible for providing a competent referee.
7.6 The home team shall be responsible for informing the referee of these
Regulations.
7.7 If in the opinion of the referee there is a colour clash the home team shall change
its shirts.
7.8 The Organiser’s permission must be obtained for any match to be played at a
ground, which is not the home ground of either of the teams involved.  The
Organiser’s permission will not be withheld unless he believes that the choice of
venue unreasonably disadvantages the away team.
7.9 All other arrangements shall be made as for usual Club fixtures.
8. ABANDONED MATCHES
8.1 Weather Conditions (which shall be deemed to include bad light in the sole
opinion of the referee)
Less than 50 Minutes Played
a. In the event of the abandonment then both teams will use their best
endeavours to ensure that the match is played at the earliest possible date.
If the teams cannot agree, the match shall be played at time, date and
venue as specified by the Organiser.
50 or more Minutes Played
b. If a match is abandoned because of weather conditions when fifty or more
minutes have been played, then the score at the moment of abandonment
shall stand and be deemed 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.

8.2 Other Reasons
If the Referee finds it necessary to abandon a match for any reason other than
weather conditions, then, irrespective of the number of minutes played, the
result of that match shall be reviewed and determined by the Organiser who may
order the match to be replayed and/or impose such other sanction as he deems
appropriate.
9. UNPLAYABLE PITCHES
1. A match shall only be postponed if either captain regards the pitch as
unplayable.  The referee’s opinion may be sought, but it is the captains’ decision
whether to play the match or not.  If the captains cannot agree then the match
shall not be played and the matter shall be reported, by the home team, to the
Organiser. If in the Organiser’s opinion a Captain unreasonably refused to play
then the Organiser may award the tie to the other team. In reaching his decision
the Organiser may consult the referee.

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2. If a match is postponed then both sides will make every reasonable effort ensure
that the match is played at the earliest date before the next round. If sides cannot
agree then the match will be played on a date, time and venue as specified by the
organiser. This can include a neutral venue and a midweek match under
floodlights A failure by either side to honour the fixture once specified by the
organiser shall be taken that they have forfeited the match and the non-offending
side will be deemed to have won the game and will progress into the next round
of the competition
3.
10. NOTIFICATION OF RESULT/POSTPONEMENT
The home team is responsible for notifying the Organiser of the result or the
cancellation of the leagueCup/Bowl/Vase match by text to 07776 478201 by 9.00pm on
the evening of the match.

11. REPLACEMENTS
11.1 Up to and including the Final teams will be allowed a maximum of four
replacements.
11.2 Up to and including the Final teams must have four players in their team capable
of playing in the front row.
11.3 Up to and including the Final teams are required to be able to replace any
position in the front row on the first occasions that a replacements is required.
11.4 If both sides in the final agree the number of replacements can be increased to
five provided that the team(s) have five players capable of playing in the front
row and that they replace any position in the front row on both the first and
second time of asking
12. PLAYER INTERCHANGES
MMT Regulation applies
13. UNCONTESTED SCRUMS
MMT Regulation 15 applies and not MMT Regulation MMT 15 A
14. APPEALS
MMT Regulation 17 applies.
End

Middlesex Rugby

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