National Cup Rules Season 2007-2008

1. Description: The Competition shall be called THE KONICA MINOLTA CUP

2. Form: The Competition shall be played on a ‘knock-out’ principle.

3. Eligibility to Participate: 

(I) Clubs:

a) All eligible Clubs in Membership of the Welsh Rugby Union Ltd
b) Such of the Welsh District Rugby Union Clubs to qualify by the 2006/2007 WDRU Cup Competition which do not so other qualify as Probationary Members of the Welsh Rugby Union.

(II) Players:

a) No player may represent a Club in the Competition unless:

i)  He is a registered or a dual registered member of that Club, or registered with a Regional Academy

ii) He is on loan to the Club, or

iii) a permit has been granted for him to play by his parent Club

b) In addition a Player who has suffered concussion shall not participate in any match or training session for a minimum period of three weeks from the time of injury, and may then only do so when symptom free and declared fit after proper medical examination. Such declaration must be recorded in a written report prepared by the person who carried out the medical examination of the player.

c) A player may not represent two different Clubs in successive rounds of the competition in a season.

NB. Disqualification from the competition shall be automatic for any Club which plays in its team an ineligible player –see rule 16

d) Subject to current criteria issued by Work Permits (UK) a  Club may register 2 Overseas Players at any one time who will be eligible to play in the Competition (i.e. if one or both overseas player(s) leave the Club he / they may be replaced providing the number of overseas players does not exceed 2). However, a work permit application for a Professional Rugby Player has to be supported by the Union in which the player proposes to play. The WRU will not support a work permit application for Professional Rugby Players other than those who wish to register with a Regional Team or a Premier Division Club. The numbers of overseas players which may be registered by Regional Teams is governed by the Participation Agreements between the WRU and Regional Members.

(Premier Division Clubs – also see Player Registration & Transfer Regulations re Financial penalty for registering more than 2 non Welsh qualified players)

e) Clubs in the Premier Division which run only one senior team will be limited to registering up to 32 players who will be eligible to play for the Club in the Competition. Clubs in the Premier Division which run two or more senior teams, the second team which plays at least 16 matches a season, will be allowed to register more than 32 players.

f) No player is eligible to play for a Club in the Competition if he transfers, or is registered, after 31st January in any season, unless such player is:

i) A player, registered with that Club’s Youth team, who has attained the age of 18 and is subsequently registered as a Senior player with that Club.

ii) A Player who is subject to a permanent residential relocation from another area where extensive travel (in excess of 100 miles round trip) precludes the player continuing to play for his former Club (applies to Divisions 1 – 6 only). Before such a player may play in WRU Competitions the player’s registration must be sanctioned by the Union’s Regulatory Committee.

iii) A Player not previously registered with any other rugby Club. Before such a player may play in WRU Competitions the player’s registration must be sanctioned by the Union’s Regulatory Committee.

g) A player who transfers in the period between the end of the previous season and 31st January will be eligible to play for his new Club in the Competition provided the properly completed transfer and registration forms are received within the Union’s offices as follows:

i) At least 7 days prior to the match kick off time if the player is transferring from another Club and the registration / transfer form has not been countersigned by his previous Club and that Club has been given the opportunity to countersign the form.

ii) At least 2 days prior to the match kick off time if the player has not been registered with another Club or if, transferring from another Club, the registration / transfer form has been countersigned by his previous Club. For avoidance of doubt, the deadline to allow a player to play in a Saturday fixture is 12 noon on the Thursday prior to the fixture; for a Wednesday fixture the deadline is 12 noon on the Monday prior to a fixture and so on.

However, if he has played for another Club in the previous round of the Competition within the current season he must miss the round immediately after the date of his transfer within the current season before he becomes eligible to play.

h) PLAYER LOAN SCHEME: Details of the Player Loan scheme are outlined in Regulation 6 of the Player Registration and Transfer Regulations.

i) PLAYER PERMITS: The player permit scheme will operate as follows:

i) In any match in the Konica Minolta Cup Competition, a Club may play up to 4 players (maximum) on permit in any position.

ii) A player may not play on permit for another Club if he has played for his Club in the previous round of the current season’s competition.

A player may not play for his Club if he played on permit for another Club in the previous round of the current season’s competition.

No overseas players may play on permit unless that player is registered with a Regional Team.

iii) Regional Team and Regional Academy players placed on permit with a Club will have to have made a minimum of 5 appearances with that Club in the current Season to enable them to participate in the Konica Minolta Cup or successor Competition.

iv) A Regional Team player may play on permit for a Premier Division Club.

v) A player who is registered solely with a Regional Academy may play on permit for a Club in any Division. The requisite permits may be granted only by the Director of the Regional Academy, or nominated deputy, and lodged with the Union’s Operations Administrator and the Union’s Elite Performance Unit (for monitoring purposes) before the match takes place.

vi) Permits may be obtained as outlined in the following table:

vii) A permit must be sought for each match in which a player plays and such permit may be granted for a match at any time in the season. Any permit issued must be made in writing (via fax, posted letter or email), by both the Club with which the player is registered, and the Club with which he is to play on permit and lodged with the Union before the match takes place. In exceptional circumstances, where a permit is agreed during WRU office closure hours (e.g. a Saturday), the permit may be lodged by telephoning 02920 822407 or 02920 822404 and leaving a voicemail message. The written confirmation must be sent to the Union as soon as possible after lodging the voicemail message.

viii) A Permit is a letter of permission written by an Official of the Club with which the player is registered. All permit requests will be acknowledged in writing by the Union. (see Player Registration and Transfer Regulations)

ix) Team sheets submitted to the match official prior to the start of a match must identify players on permit, loan or dual registration and their parent Club.

j) DUAL REGISTRATION SCHEME: Details of the Dual Registration Scheme are outlined in Regulation 8 of the Player Registration and Transfer Regulations.

A player may not play for his Club if he played on dual registration for another Club in the previous round of the current season’s competition.

A player may not play on dual registration for another Club if he has played for his Club in the previous round of the current Season’s competition.

k)  Replacements:

i) In the Preliminary Round and Round 1, no more than 4 replacements may be named. If a Club does name 4 replacements, there must be 5 (five) players who are suitably trained and experienced who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.

ii) In Round 2, no more than 5 replacements may be named. If a Club does name 4 or more replacements, there must be 5 (five) players who are suitably trained and experienced who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.

iii) In Round 3 onwards, up to 7 replacements may be named for any competition fixture provided, of the 22 named players and replacements, there must be 5 (five) suitably trained and experienced players who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.

A Club may play without any named replacements. If that Club names 15 players only there is no need to name more than 3 suitably trained and experienced front row players. For clarification the Laws of the Game state:

Each player in the front row and any potential replacement(s) must be suitably trained and experienced.

When 16, 17 or 18 players are nominated in a team there must be four players capable of playing in the front row.

When 19,20,21 or 22 players are nominated in a team there must be five (5) players who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.

The replacement of a front row forward must come from suitably trained and experienced players who started the match or from the nominated replacements.

If after a front row player has been sent off or during the time a front row player is temporarily suspended, and there are no further front row players available from the nominated team, then uncontested scrums will be ordered.  It is not the responsibility of the match official to determine the suitability of trained front row replacements nor their availability, as this is a team responsibility.

4. Entry Condition: All Clubs participating in the Competition shall agree to abide by the Rules of the Competition.

5. Responsibility for Organisation: 

a) All matches from the Preliminary Round to Quarter Final (inclusive) - Home club

b) Semi Finals and Final - WRU

c) The Final will take place on a day designated by the WRU.

6. Match Officials

a) Match Officials will be appointed by the Union’s Manager of Match Officials for all matches.

b) Touch Judges:

  i) Appointed by competing Clubs for all matches up to, and including, the Fifth Round.

  ii) Appointed by the Union’s Manager of Match Officials for the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final.

7. Duration of Play: 80 minutes each match (40 minutes each half) plus any time permitted for delays. At half time an interval of not more than 10 minutes is allowed. If scores equal at full time - see Rule 12.

The match official is to be the sole judge of the amount of time played (rule 14.b).

8. Venue: Except by mutual agreement of the respective competing Clubs, all matches in the Preliminary Round to Quarter-Final Rounds, will be played on the grounds of the Clubs drawn first in respect of each match. This Club will be the Home Club - see Rule 14.

The Semi-Finals will be played on a ground or grounds selected by the WRU.

The Final will be played at a Ground to be determined by the WRU.

9. Draw: The draw for all rounds of the Competition will be the responsibility of the WRU and will take place as follows:

Preliminary Round - By 31st July 2007
Round 1 - By 3rd October 2007
Round 2 - By 31st October 2007
Round 3 - By 21st November 2007
Round 4 - By 19th December 2007
Round 5 - By 30th January 2008
Quarter Final - By 20th February 2008
Semi Final - By 9th April 2008

10. Cup Format: In 2007/2008 the Competition will be structured as follows:

Clubs participating: 240 Clubs plus 8 WDRU Clubs less 12 Clubs disqualified in last Season’s Competition because of non fulfilment of fixtures less 4 University Clubs which declined entry. Clubs entered 232

14 Premier Clubs exempt until Round 3
24 Division 1 Clubs exempt until Round 2
23 Division 2 Clubs exempt until Round 1

11.  Dates for Cup Rounds: The dates for Rounds of the Cup:

Preliminary Round - 29th September 2007
Round 1 - 27th October 2007
Round 2 - 17th November 2007
Round 3 - 15th December 2007
Round 4 - 26th January 2008
Round 5- 16th February 2008
Quarter-Finals - 5th April 2008
Semi-Finals - 26th April 2008
Final - 17th May 2008

12. Declaration of Winners:  Winners of the matches in each tie will be:

a) The Club which has scored the greatest number of points at the end of the match.

b) In the event of an equal number of points being scored by each Club at the end of the match, winners will be declared in the following priority:

i) The Club which has scored the greater number of tries.

ii) The Club which has scored the greater number of goals (converted tries).

iii) If after (i) and (ii) have been applied no clear winner has emerged, extra time of 20 minutes (ten minutes each way) will be played and the winners declared in accordance with (a) or (b), (i) and (ii).

iv) If the result is still a tie the club playing away from home will be declared the winner, except in the case of the Semi Finals where a replay will take place, such replay to be played within 14 days. If the result is still a tie then the winners will be decided on the toss of a coin. In the Final the result shall be declared a draw and the Konica Minolta Cup held by each Club for six months.

c) If a Club elects to take uncontested scrums in a tie the matter will be reported by the Match Official to the Regulatory Committee. The Regulatory Committee will hold a post match inquiry into why passive scrums had been necessary during a match. It shall be a matter for the Club which opted for passive / uncontested scrums to explain at the inquiry why it did so. The Regulatory Committee may apply any sanction it deems fit if not satisfied with the Club’s explanation or allow the result to stand.

13. Notification of Winners: The appointed Match Official will notify the Welsh Rugby Union of the result of each match up to and including the Semi-Finals, within three days after the matches have been played. Each notification must be accompanied by team lists, which must be completed by Officials of each Club and handed to the Match Official prior to the kick-off.

14. Postponed or Abandoned Matches

a) Postponed Matches: Must be played within 10 days (extended to 14 days in the case of the 5th Round) after the original specified date (see Rule 11), either at the original venue or at a venue and time determined by the Home club.

b) Abandoned Matches: All matches must be played to full time. The Match Official is to be the sole judge of the amount of time. If a match is abandoned before full time it must be replayed within 10 days (extended in the case of the 5th round to 14 days), either at the original venue or at a venue and time determined by the Home Club. However, if both Clubs agree then the Union may permit the score, at the time of the abandonment, to stand.

NB: If a Club elects to take uncontested scrums it will be subject to an inquiry by the Regulatory Committee. (see Rule 12(c) above).

15. Protests and Disputes: Protests or disputes arising out of the competition or the Rules relating thereto must be made in writing to the Group Chief Executive, Welsh Rugby Union Ltd and accompanied by a fee of £100.00 which may or may not be refunded. No protests or disputes relating to matches already played in the Competition will be entertained if made more than ten days after the match in question has taken place.

16. Disqualification: Disqualification shall be automatic for any Club which plays in its team an ineligible player. Ignorance of fact will not excuse. Disqualification for any other reason will be at the discretion of the Adjudicators.

Should a Club withdraw prior to the start of the competition, or fail to complete a tie in the Competition, that Club will be barred from entering the Cup competition the following Season and £500 will be deducted from the Club’s core grant for that Season. 

17. Adjudicators The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Regulatory Committee shall form the Adjudicating Panel and shall have absolute discretion in dealing with any matters relating to the competition whether or not provided for in the Rules and their decision shall be final.

18. Security of Trophy: When the winning Club shall have been ascertained, the Konica Minolta Cup shall be handed to such Club, which will be responsible for its safe custody and subsequent return to the Group Chief Executive, Welsh Rugby Union Ltd, by 1 April each year.

Whilst the Konica Minolta Cup is in the possession of the Winning Club the Club will insure the Cup and ensure that it is kept in good repair and condition.

19. Accounting Issues

a) Financial Statements - These must be produced in respect of all matches played in the 3rd and subsequent  rounds of the Competition, irrespective of whether a profit has been made, and forwarded to the Operations Administrator of the Welsh Rugby Union as follows:

i) Round 3 to Quarter Finals (inclusive) - by the Home Club concerned

ii) Semi Final - by the Club at whose ground the match is played; - by the Welsh Rugby Union if match played at Millennium Stadium

iii) Final - by the WRU

b) Timescales - These financial statements are to be produced as follows:

Round 3 to Quarter Finals – not later than 21 days after the date of the match.
Semi Finals / Final – not later than 28 days after the date of the match.

c) Financial Distributions

Preliminary Round to Round 2: Gate receipts will be retained by the Home Club. The Union will make payment of the sum of £100 to each of the participating teams.

NB.  Where a Club fails to fulfil a fixture, the sum of £100 will be deducted from the Club’s Distribution monies from the Union and will be forwarded to the opposition Club by way of compensation – see also Rule 16 of the Competition re. further financial penalty for failing to complete a fixture in the competition.

The Union will pay the travelling expenses of all Away Clubs. Clubs called upon to travel to or from North Wales, District J, may claim the cost of one night’s accommodation up to a maximum of £1,000 gross inclusive of the cost of one meal en route for a party up to a maximum of 26, provided that the journey exceeds 150 miles round trip.

Home Clubs registered for VAT must account for VAT on all relevant income and expenditure and certify on the statement that they have been so accounted.

Rounds 3 to 5: Gate receipts will be shared equally and must be paid to the visiting Club within 21 days. The Union will make payment of the sum of £200 to meet the Home Club’s expenses.

The Union will pay the travelling expenses of all Away Clubs. Clubs called upon to travel to or from North Wales, District J, may claim the cost of one night’s accommodation up to a maximum of £1,000 gross inclusive of the cost of one meal en route for a party up to a maximum of 26, provided that the journey exceeds 150 miles round trip.

Home Clubs registered for VAT must account for VAT on all relevant income and expenditure and certify on the statement that they have been so accounted.

Quarter Finals: Gate receipts, after deduction of allowable expenses of the Home Club incurred in staging the match and the travelling expenses of the visiting Club (including the cost of one night’s accommodation up to a maximum of £1,000 gross inclusive of the cost of one meal en route for a party of up to 26 in respect of Clubs called upon to travel to or from North Wales, District J), will be allocated within 21 days as follows:

Clubs participating .... 40%
Competition Reserve Fund .... 20%

Where gate receipts are insufficient to cover allowable expenses, claims for deficits should be submitted to the Union by the Home Club.  Home Clubs registered for VAT must account for VAT on all relevant income and expenditure and certify on the statement that they have so accounted.

Semi-Finals: Gate receipts from the semi-final matches, after deduction of expenses incurred by the Union in staging the match and travelling expenses for Clubs participating, will be divided as follows:

Clubs participating …. 50% (12.5% each up to a maximum £20,000)
Competition Reserve Fund …. 50% (plus balance if any)

Final: Gate receipts, after deduction of expenses incurred by the Union in staging the match and travelling expenses of Clubs participating, will be allocated as follows:

Clubs participating …. 50% (25% each up to a maximum of £50,000)
Competition Reserve Fund …. 50% (plus balance, if any)

Allowable Expenses: Expenses incurred in staging the match will be limited to normal actual expenses, and accounts will be examined so as to exclude unauthorised expenses and those of an unreasonable nature.

Invoices must be obtained for significant items such as long coach journeys, or overnight accommodation and submitted with the claim to the Union. (See above restriction/ “ceiling” of a maximum of £1,000 gross inclusive of the cost of one meal en route for a party of up to a maximum of 26 re. Clubs called upon to travel to or from North Wales (District J) provided that the journey exceeds 150 miles round trip)

Non Allowable Expenses:

a) Expenses incurred with arrangements for special training

b) Payment to players or the payment of players’ expenses to point of assembly or the expenses of players not travelling by official transport

c) Hire of additional spectator refreshment facilities

d) Expenses of Match Officials and touch judges which are to be claimed in the usual way

e) Payment of bar staff

f) Any excess over the maximum £1,000 gross for one night’s accommodation inclusive of the cost of one meal on route for a party of up to a maximum of 26 in respect of Clubs called upon to travel to or from North Wales, District J

Programmes: Receipts from separate programme sales may be retained by the Home Club. Similarly, any loss sustained in the production of a programme shall be borne by the Home Club and not included in the match account. These provisions shall not apply to Semi Finals and Finals where net receipts shall be included in the match account. Where admission is by programme the whole net receipts shall be regarded as gate money.

Ticket Allocation Home Clubs are obliged to offer their visitors a minimum of one third of available Grandstand Tickets.

Admission Charges: Admission charges for ties played in the Quarter Finals and onwards in the Competition shall be determined, from time to time, by the Union.

d) Penalties

i) Clubs who fail to comply with these timescales (at b above - Timescales) and / or to make due payments to their opponent Club (as set out in c above - Financial Distributions) will be excluded from the next round of the Competition which falls after the expiry of the respective timescales. If the next round of the Cup for which the offending Club is eligible in which to compete is the first round of the following Season’s competition then the Club will be debarred from entry to the Draw for the Cup Competition in that season and the financial penalty recorded in Rule 16 will apply.

ii) In the event of a Club continuing to owe monies after the expiry of these timescales, the Welsh Rugby Union Ltd may withhold ALL payments to the defaulting Club pending:

- Filing of outstanding financial statements; and
- Payment of monies due to the opposing Club(s)