All disciplinary procedures are set out in RFU Regulation 19 [LINK]
Sanctions are at appendix 2 for adults LINK and appendix 6 for age grade players [LINK[]
Adults
When a player is sent off, the club Discipline Secretary or Secretary should notify Pamela Clarke
as Secretary to the Disciplinary Panel as soon as possible and in any event within 48 hours, ideally 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
• Indicating if the player will plead guilty or not guilty to the offence [this may not be possible without the referee’s report]
We appreciate that not all of this information may be available, but providing as much as possible will speed the process.
Upon receipt of the referee’s report for an adult player, a club should carry out their own disciplinary process following the guidance of the RFU which can be accessed via LINK
The player remains suspended until the CB panel has issued their decision.
Straightforward matters may involve the adoption by the CB panel of a properly reasoned club sanction; but everything will be on a case-by-case basis.
If for any reason Pamela Clarke is unavailable, the point of contact should be Declan Gallagher.
If neither Pamela nor Declan are going to be available, a senior member of the panel will assume their roles and we will post an addendum to this section.
Age grade rugby
The procedures for age grade rugby differ slightly. Schools and clubs have responsibility for carrying out the disciplinary process following one of their age grade players being sent off or cited. The Eastern Counties Age Grade Disciplinary Secretary must be informed of their decision for his review. The CBAGDS in Eastern Counties is Pamela Clarke.
Pamela should be notified of a red card within 48 hours and if the notification does not include an outcome, we ask that an outcome with reasons is notified within five days in any event. The reason for the rapid turnaround is the potential frequency of age grade fixtures.
Guidance for age grade disciplinary procedures can be found here [LINK]
Citings
For most cases within our jurisdiction, citings must be made within seven days of the event. It is advisable to contact the Discipline Secretary as soon as possible if you anticipate making a citing. Follow Appendix 4 of Rule 19 in any event. LINK
Deterrent sanctions
We will maintain until further notice our right to apply a deterrent sanction for those who disrespect or abuse referees. This applies to players, coaches, clubs and anyone else falling within our jurisdiction. Such offences will always require a live hearing and the presence of a senior club officer. For further background refer to the Discipline section of the EC annual report
Regulation 5.12
Eastern Counties 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 brings the game into disrepute. Sanctions are at large and at the discretion of the Discipline Panel, subject to natural justice and fairness.
Clubs accumulating a poor disciplinary record
19.3.1 Where Players or members of a Club appear before a Disciplinary Panel on five or more separate occasions in any one season, that Club may be charged by the RFU Head of Discipline or Constituent Body Disciplinary Secretary and summoned to attend before a Disciplinary Panel on the basis that it has a bad disciplinary record. When dealing with a Club under this provision, the Disciplinary Panel has the power to impose sanctions as set out in Appendix 2.
Costs/payment
Case dealt with on papers £50.00
Any live hearing £125.00
Citing fee [refunded if citing accepted or made out after hearing] £125.00
ECRU Bank Account details for bacs payments
Account No: 20346500
Sort Code: 20–97-40
Please use payment reference: Ref 2324 nn
*nn (The last two numbers relate to the specific case number, which will be found on the relevant case notes.) First double numbers 2324 = (relate to Years of the playing season).