Discipline

Procedures for club secretaries

All disciplinary procedures are set out in the RFU Regulation 19 which can be found in the RFU Handbook or online here.

Red Cards

The procedures to be followed in the event of a player being sent off are set out in Appendix 1 below. A player is banned immediately upon being sent off and cannot play again until the matter is dealt with by a discipline panel.

Club Disciplinary Procedures

Clubs must have a disciplinary sub-committee, which should formally consider all discipline matters at club-level and convene for red card hearings, applying the appropriate sanction as set out in Appendix 2 of RFU Regulation 19. The club disciplinary committee should be proactive and meet regularly to review and implement policies relating to club discipline in general, setting expectations for the behaviour of the club’s players, officials, members and spectators. The club Discipline Secretary’s details must be kept up to date on the RFU’s GMS system.

Following a red card issued to a club member, a club discipline hearing must be arranged to hear the case as soon as possible.  The County Discipline Secretary will provide the red card report to the club within 48 hours.  The hearing should follow RFU process and the minutes must include

• Date of hearing.
• Names of panel members.
• Names of other persons present.
• Player’s plea to charge and statement/apology.
• The evidence considered by the club panel including any formative witness statements.
• Sanction imposed by club panel to include the entry point and the factors which informed the decision as to entry point (Low, Mid-range, Top end – see Regulation 19 from 19.4.47 and deterrent sanctions covered below.
• Mitigating factors considered and the impact those factors had on the sanction – matches removed.
• Aggravating factors considered and the impact those factors had on the sanction – matches added.
• Details of the matches to which any suspension will relate.

The minutes and results of a club hearing must be sent/emailed to the County Discipline Secretary immediately following the club hearing to avoid delay in the player returning to play.

Deterrent sanctions

Middlesex County RFU will continue to reserve the right to apply a deterrent sanction for those guilty of disrespect of referees or verbally abusing referees. As the number of such cases continues at an alarming level, the deterrent sanction will remain in force for the current season and shall be: ”any person found guilty of disrespecting or abusing a referee can expect to have his or her sanction increased according to the RFU policy document published January 2024 with up to 4 matches added to any such sanction. This applies to all involved in rugby union within Middlesex including players, coaches and spectators”.

Further deterrent sanctions will also apply to incidents involving Young Match Officials and for adults sanctioned under 5.12, who are involved with age-grade teams increases of between 50% and 100% may be applied in such cases.

Please ensure that all within your club are aware of this.

County Panel Hearings

Following the club hearing the County Discipline Secretary and Chair of Discipline will review the club hearing results and sanction to decide if a county hearing is required.
County Hearings are either in-person or on-line.  In-person hearings are normally held on Mondays as required and the venue will be confirmed by the County DS at the time.  Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the hearing. A hearing fee will be payable as indicated on the charge sheet.  Details of fees are shown at Appendix 2 below including bank details.

All in-person MCRFU hearings have a smart dress code, no jeans, tracksuits, t-shirts, shorts, etc. smart business attire please.  Please ensure your player knows this and appears correctly dressed. 

Ensure the player has seen the referee’s report. If it is to be challenged you must request the attendance of the referee at the hearing. Request his attendance (via Middlesex’s Disciplinary Secretary – do not contact the referee directly) as soon as possible after the sending off. The club will be liable for the referee’s expenses.

If a player decides to plead not guilty and the next scheduled hearing is not before the next scheduled match, the club may request an emergency hearing (at the discretion of the County DS) to deal with the case.  The venue for a non-scheduled hearing can be a suitable local club.  Any fees and costs involved in staging such an ‘ad hoc’ hearing must be met by the player and/or the club.

Citings

Citings must be made within seven days of the event. Procedures are set out here. It is advisable to contact Middlesex’s Discipline Secretary as soon as possible if you anticipate making a citing.

Age grade rugby

The procedures for age grade rugby differ slightly.  Middlesex’s Schools and Youth Disciplinary Secretary (CBAGDS) must be informed immediately of any endings off/citings.  Schools and clubs have delegated responsibility to carry out the disciplinary process following one of their age-grade players being sent off or cited. However all decisions must now be finalised following consultation/ratification by the CBAGDS.  

Schools and clubs must notify the CBYDS of all red cards issued and send a copy of their decisions relating to these to the CBYDS within one month of the incident. There is a fee of £25 for failing to follow this process.

The CB’s Youth Discipline Secretary (CBYDS) in Middlesex is Caron Evans-Evans.

Regulation 5.12

The County has the power to discipline any player, official, member, or employee of a Member Club or a Rugby body (or any other person or body that submits to Rugby Football Union’s jurisdiction to discipline them) for any matter that the County considers brings the game into disrepute.

Further Information

If you have any queries relating to general disciplinary procedures or if you need any advice on specific cases relating to your club, please contact:

Disciplinary Secretary: John Orr
Email: moc/ybgurxeselddim//enilpicsid

CB Schools & Youth Disciplinary Secretary: Caron Evans-Evans
Email: Youthdiscipline@middlesexrugby.com

Appendix 1 – Red Card Notification

If a player or any other person from your club is ‘ordered off’ you must within 48 hours tell the disciplinary secretary, by e-mail confirming:

• The date of the fixture
• The location of the fixture
• The teams in the match
• The player’s name, date of birth and RFU registration number.  If the player is not registered then the club must register the player within 48 hours of the red card
• The referee’s name
• Will the player plead guilty or not guilty to the offence?

Appendix 2 – Hearing fees

Hearing fees are payable by electronic transfer to:

• Middlesex County RFU
• Account no 01066848
• Sort Code 30-92-82

The fees are as follows:

Attendance at a Hearing:  £125
Second hearing after failure to attend without good reason:  £125
Remote/Online hearing:  £75
Cases on Papers only:  £50
5.12 Hearing:  £125
Citing: £125
Failing to notify Discipline Secretary about a Red Card by 9:00 a.m. on the second day after the fixture: £40

Please note any cry-offs by players or clubs after 9pm on Friday prior to a hearing will incur the £125 fee.