CANDY League

Rules of The Candy Leagues
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1.	All games shall be played in accordance with the "Laws of the Game of Rugby Football" and the rules and regulations of the Rugby Football Union.

2.	Clubs participating must pay a £50 bond to the league, which will be held and returned at the end of the season unless a fine has been issued.

3.	There will be two leagues. League One will play each other three times and League Two will play each other twice.

4.	The position of a Club in a league shall be established by awarding four League points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat. In addition, one bonus point will be awarded to a team on each occasion it scores four or more tries in a League game and on each occasion it loses a League game by seven points or less.

5.	If a game is called off for weather, it shall be deemed a draw and the teams awarded 2 points each. If the 'away' team have a pitch suitable for play then the game must be switched.

6.	If, at the end of the season any Clubs have the same number of League points, the league positions shall be determined firstly by the number of wins. If Clubs have the same number of points and the same number of wins, then the team with the larger points shall be placed higher. Should two Clubs have the same number of League points and an equal number of wins and the same match points difference, the Club having scored more match points ‘for’ shall be placed higher in the League than a Club having the lesser number of match points ‘for’. If this still does not establish the positions then the Clubs involved shall be ranked according to the number of matches won, excluding the first League match of the season. If necessary this process shall be extended to exclude the second match, third match and so on until the final positions are established.

7.	Kick off times to be arranged by participating clubs.

8.	Any bona-fide member of a club shall be eligible to play in league matches. A player who has played for the 1st XV is eligible to play for the 2nd XV the following week and thereafter, providing that his 1st XV have a game on that same weekend. (With the exception of ‘squad/bench’ players, after informing the opposition). No club shall be allowed to play any member or members of another club in order to strengthen their own team for league matches. The exception to this rule may apply to front row players only, who with the permission of the opposition club, may be brought in when that club has insufficient such players, to allow a game to go ahead. In the case of any particular hardship arising from this Rule, application may be made to the League Secretary.

9.	Up to six replacements are allowed in any game, one (preferably two) of those replacements must be capable of playing in the front row. Rolling substitutions are allowed in all games. Before a game commences if there is a shortage of front row players, the game starts with uncontested scrums, and four league points will be awarded to the team with the full compliment. Should the team unable to field a front row win the match they will receive 2 points and any bonus points that may be won. If a game goes into uncontested scrums after the start normal rules apply. All games involved in uncontested scrums must be reported to the League Secretary.

10.	The appointment of the referees will be made by the home club through their local Referees Society.

11.	Any side unable to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than the weather forfeits the game, except under exceptional circumstances and agreed by the committee.

12.	Any team which concedes four games in the course of a season will be expelled from the league and their records expunged. Any team expelled from the League for failing to fulfil fixtures will not automatically be re-admitted the following season. If a team is expelled they will have to apply to the committee for re-entry the following season and will lose their bond.

13.	If a team cries off the game on match day, the opposition can claim £25 of the bond to cover costs.

14.	Where a Club does not fulfil its away fixture, it must forego its home fixture and travel away to play the opposition.

15.	Score must be checked with the referee. Both sides will be responsible for reporting the results to the League Secretary and must be received by Sunday 9.00pm. It can be done by text, telephone, fax or email. Failure to send in results by either side will involve a £5 penalty. Fines will be taken from the bond and which will need to be topped up if necessary before the following season.

16.	In the event that the Committee become aware that a member club has materially misled or deceived them to gain an advantage the Committee reserves the right to impose such disciplinary action as they deem fit including expulsion from the league. All complaints received by the Leagues Secretary re conduct of other teams/clubs must be in writing and received within 10 days of the incident/s occurring. Such complaints must be accompanied by documentary evidence including any referee’s report and written statements from officers of the complainant club. On receipt of the complaint the Secretary shall forward details of the complaint to the club the subject of the complaint, who shall respond within seven days. The Committee shall then issue their findings within 10 days. If the club is dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee they may then appeal against such decision.

17.	Should a team wish to appeal against a decision of the Committee notice of the appeal must be forwarded to the League Secretary within 7 days of the Committee decision. The matter will then be considered by a panel appointed by the Northumberland Competitions Committee.

Note 1	Results will be posted on twitter – ubs_candyleague

Note 2	All results and tables will be posted on the league website. Clubs must take their own copy for publication on notice boards from the website.("http://www.ubscandyleague.co.uk/").

Note 3	The contact details for the League Secretary are Craig Johnston (07525614337, 01434 607696) or jcraigj@sky.com.