MMT Cup Rules
MMT CUP/BOWL/VASE KO COMPETITIONS REGULATIONS
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1.1 The MMT Knock-out Competition for those Teams competing in the Premier Division & Division 1 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 Division only of the MMT Competition shall be known as the MMT Bowl.
1.3 The MMT Knock-out Competition for those Teams competing in the Third division only of the MMT Competition shall be known las the MMT Vase
- 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.
2.6 Where Middlesex Regulations do not cover a specific issue, we will defer to RFU Regulation 6 for Adult Competition which can be found here
- 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.
- ELIGIBILTY OF PLAYERS
4.1 Teams may only select registered members of their Club and players who play at least 25% of the season for the team selected in Premier & Division 1 and 50% of the season for Division 2 & Division 3. You are not allowed to bring players from your higher teams for games to increase your chances of winning the game; however, should a player be returning from Injury, as long as he has not played for a higher team in the 2 weeks before this week’s fixture, then he is eligible to be selected for this team this week.
Any player(s) that you wish to use on match day that don’t meet the criteria need a legitimate reason as to why you want to use them, and must be agreed in writing with the competition organiser before kick-off. Should clubs be challenged, they will be required to provide evidence to show that the player(s) have played at least 25% of the rugby for Premier & Division 1 in the Merit leagues & 50% of the rugby for Division 2 & Division 3 in the Merit leagues that he has played in the 2025/26 season for that side. The same rulings apply if your higher merit team plays rugby outside of the Middlesex Merit leagues.
Failure to comply with this regulation will see the offending side punished with a- 10 10-point deduction and the reversal of the match result, with the win being awarded to the opposition, or removal from the competition if a Cup/Bowl/Vase or Play-off game. Brand new players who have not played any games for the club in the merit competition are not allowed to be used for the semi-finals & finals of the Cup/Bowl/Vase & Play-off competitions, including those returning from Injury from a higher team or who do not meet the eligibility criteria.
- STRUCTURE
5.1 There shall be three MMT Knock-out Competitions known as the Cup, Bowl and Vase.
5.2 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.
5.3 All stages of the MMT Knock-out Competitions up to and including the semifinals shall be played at the home ground of the first named team in the draw subject to 5.2 above.
5.4 First Round matches of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on Saturday 20th September 2025.
5.5 The Quarter Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on Saturday 25th October 2025
5.6 The Semi-Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on Saturday 31st January 2026
5.7 The Finals of each MMT Knock-out Competition shall be played on Saturday 11th April 2026. at Wasps FC, Twyford Avenue, Acton.
- 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.
- 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 including any parking charges.
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.
- 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.
- UNPLAYABLE PITCHES
9.1 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.
9.2 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.
- NOTIFICATION OF RESULT/POSTPONEMENT
The home team is responsible for notifying the Organiser of the result or of the postponement/abandonment/cancellation of the match by 12 pm on the Sunday following the match. Failure to report the result or the postponement/abandonment by the due time shall, except in exceptional circumstances, lead to the team losing the right to a home game in the next round of the competition.
Email result, including number of tries per team to mmt@middlesexrugby.com
The home team is responsible for notifying the Organiser of the result or of the cancellation of the league Cup/Bowl/Vase match by 12:00 pm on the Sunday following the match
- REPLACEMENTS
11.1 Up to and including the semi-final teams will be allowed a maximum of five replacements.
11.2 Up to and including the Semi-Final, teams must have four players in their squad capable of playing in the front row.
11.3 Up to and including the Semi-Final teams are required to be able to replace any position in the front row on the first occasion that a replacement is required.
11.4 In the Final of the Cup, Bowl & Vase competitions, teams will be allowed a maximum of seven replacements
11.5 In the Final of the Cup. In Bowl & Vase competitions, teams must have five players in their squad capable of playing in the front row.
11.6 In the Final of the Cup. In Bowl & Vase competitions, teams are required to be able to replace any position in the front row on the first & second occasions that a replacement is required.
11.7 Once front row replacements are exhausted, Regulation 16 from the main merit league regulations applies.
- PLAYER INTERCHANGES
MMT League Regulation 15 applies.
- UNCONTESTED SCRUMS
MMT League Regulation 15 applies.
- APPEALS
MMT League Regulation 17 applies.
- Core Values Applies
MMT League Regulation 18 applies.
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