Discipline

Discipline – Staffordshire Rugby

Promoting rugby’s values, maintaining standards and supporting fair disciplinary procedures.

Discipline is an essential part of rugby, helping to protect players, match officials, coaches, volunteers and everyone involved in our game.

Staffordshire Rugby is committed to upholding the game’s core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship (TREDS) and ensuring that disciplinary matters are dealt with fairly, consistently and in accordance with RFU regulations.

This page provides guidance on disciplinary procedures, reporting requirements and the contacts responsible for managing discipline within Staffordshire Rugby.

RFU Discipline and Regulation 19

The Rugby Football Union governs disciplinary matters through RFU Regulation 19 – Discipline.

This sets out the procedures and responsibilities relating to:

Red cards and sending-off offences.
Player and non-player misconduct.
Disciplinary hearings and sanctions.
Appeals against disciplinary decisions.
The responsibilities of clubs, players, coaches and match officials.

All those involved in rugby should familiarise themselves with the relevant requirements.

Official RFU Information

RFU Discipline – Information and Guidance

RFU Discipline Forms and Guidance

RFU Regulation 19 – Discipline

Reporting Red Cards and Disciplinary Incidents

Match officials have an important responsibility to report sending-off offences and other incidents requiring disciplinary attention.

For incidents involving Staffordshire clubs or players, reports should be submitted to the Staffordshire Rugby Discipline Secretary, Kevin Cantrill, in accordance with the applicable RFU reporting requirements.

Referees should also:

Complete the appropriate RFU disciplinary report form.
Provide a clear, factual account of the incident.
Submit the report within the deadline prescribed by the current RFU regulations.
Send a copy of the red-card report to the Staffordshire Rugby Referees Society at secretary@srusr.co.uk.

Important: Where a report concerns a player from outside Staffordshire, it should be directed to the appropriate Constituent Body Discipline Secretary, with the relevant referee society notified as required. They can be found here: CB Discipline Secretaries

Reports should be completed promptly, accurately and objectively.

What Happens Following a Red Card?

Following receipt of a disciplinary report, the relevant disciplinary authority will consider the matter in accordance with RFU Regulation 19.

Depending on the circumstances, this may involve:

Reviewing the match official’s report and any relevant evidence.
Notifying the player and club of the disciplinary proceedings.
Arranging a disciplinary hearing or other procedure permitted by the regulations.
Determining whether an offence has occurred and, where appropriate, imposing a sanction.
Advising the parties of the outcome and any applicable appeal rights.

Players and clubs must comply with disciplinary decisions and any sanctions imposed.

For detailed procedures, timescales and appeal requirements, please refer to the current RFU regulations.

Staffordshire Rugby Discipline Contacts

Discipline Secretary – Kevin Cantrill

Telephone: 07825 000584

Kevin is the principal contact for disciplinary matters administered through Staffordshire Rugby, including the receipt of disciplinary reports and enquiries about local procedures.

Discipline Chair – Iain Haley

Telephone: 07920 290557

The Discipline Chair supports the operation of the Staffordshire Rugby disciplinary process in accordance with RFU regulations.

For general enquiries, clubs and match officials should contact the Discipline Secretary in the first instance.

Staffordshire Rugby Referees Society

Email: secretary@srusr.co.uk

Red-card reports should also be copied to the Referees Society in accordance with the local reporting arrangements.

Club Responsibilities

Clubs play an important role in maintaining standards of conduct and supporting the disciplinary process.

Clubs should ensure that:

Players, coaches, officials and spectators understand the standards of behaviour expected of them.
Disciplinary correspondence is dealt with promptly.
Players and other individuals cooperate with disciplinary proceedings.
Any sanctions or suspensions are properly observed.
Concerns about misconduct are reported through the appropriate channels.

Good discipline is not simply about responding to incidents. It is about promoting a positive rugby culture, both on and off the field.