LAWS & RULES

IMPORTANT: Any team fielding an under 16 player, should advise the Secretariat!!

The Tournament will be played under the Laws of the Game of Rugby Football as framed by the International Rugby Board and adopted by the R.F.U., with the following amendments:
1. Each side shall comprise 10 players selected before the start of playand a maximum of 3 replacements or substitutions + a competent person to run touch for all games except for semi finals and finals of the “Cup” and “Plate” competition (where assistant referees will be appointed).
2. Five players from each team shall be required to form a scrum
3. A team may change its players from game to game. Any player who has left the field (other than blood bin), and has been replaced may not play again in the same game. A maximum of 3 players may be changed during one game.
4. Kicks:
a) After a try has been scored, there will be no conversions. b) Following a score, the scoring side will restart with a drop kick from the centre of the halfway line.
c) Kick-offs and restarts after a score always a drop kick taken from the centre of the halfway line.
d) All penalty kicks at goal must be drop kicks (and not place kicks).
5. Any unsatisfactory kick-off, or restart from the centre after a score, will result in a free kick awarded to the non-kicking team at the centre of the halfway line. Temporary Suspension (yellow card) will be used throughout the Tournament. Players temporarily suspended shall stand behind the dead ball line of the opposition's In-Goal area for 5 minutes of “actual playing time”.
All players sent off for foul play which incurs a straight red card will not be allowed to play again in the Tournament. The player's name and team will be reported to the “Games Secretariat” by the match referee.

Competition Format

1. All decisions regarding seedings of teams shall be sole responsibility of the Tournament Organisers. The Tournament Organisers is comprised of 2 secretariats, a “tournament secretariat” handling all logistics of the tournament and a 'game secretariat' handling all sporting issues.
2. Play will commence with teams in each pool playing against each other in their respective pool.
3. In each pool game 3 points will be awarded for a win, 2 points per team in the event of a drawn game and 1 point for a loss. When a team is not ready on time for the kick-off or is forfeiting the game, no points will be awarded.
4. In pool games, there will be no extra time to determine a winner.
5. A team, which is qualified for the "cup"-competition, must submit at the latest by Sunday morning 10:00 a players-list at the secretariat with indication of the names of their players. Only those players who are mentioned on this list can play in the specified team. On Sunday a player can only be on the list of one particular team and therefore cannot take part in games of other teams.
6. In deciding the most successful team in each pool at the end of pool games, if two or more teams in any pool have the same number of points, the winner shall be decided as follows:
a) Points difference: the team with highest difference of points "for" minus the points "against" in their pool games shall be the winner. If after (a) the teams are still tied then;
b) the team, which has scored the most points in their pool games, shall be the winner. If after (b) the teams are tied then;
c) the winner of the game contested between the two teams shall be the winner. If after (c) the teams are still tied then;
d) the team with the less number of red cards
e) the team with the less number of yellow cards
f) the winner shall be decided by a toss of a coin.
Teams that want to withdraw from the tournament, for whatever reason, MUST first inform the “game secretariat” ASAP in order to get prior approval. This is especially important not only prior to day 1 but also prior to day 2 when a new tournament schedule is produced.

Playing time

1. All games excepting finals will be 12 minutes per half with a 1-minute break.
2. The duration of all finals will be 15 minutes per half with a 2-minute break.
3. In the semi finals and finals of the Cup and the Plate competitions, a minimum of 3 officials (1 referee and 2 assistant referees) will be appointed for the games.
4. During “knock out” phases, when there is a drawn match and extra time is required, the extra time is played in periods of five minutes. After each period, the teams change ends without an interval. The team that scores points first is immediately declared the winner, without any further play.

Injuries

1. A team, which can only field 10 or less than 10 players because of injuries or other circumstances, may borrow players or reserves from other teams or the reserve pool of players (available at the “game secretariat”) except if it concerns a game for the "cup" competition.
2. Such substitute players must be registered at the game secretariat. Article 5 (of the competition format) will be applied during the "Cup" competition on Sunday.

Old Boys (Veterans)

1. Open to everyone over 35 but it is important to keep in mind that open and enjoyable Rugby is the aim. No over-vigorous play and unsportsmanlike behaviour.
2. No team shall field a player under 35.
3. Each team must submit a list of players, to the secretariat, with indication of the names, dates of birth and passport N°, Id or players licence of all their players. Only these players will be able to play during the tournament. Any changes to the list during the tournament, must be reported to the Secretariat.
4. Unlimited substitution is permitted. Substitutions can only be made when the ball is dead and after informing the referee, substituted players may return.

Behaviour, Exclusions, Reserve Players

1. The tournament organization preserves the right to forward a referee report to the relevant national rugby organization of a player penalized (red card) during the tournament.
2. Given the size of the tournament, the relative presence of Rugby-players in the town of Dendermonde is substantial. We do not want to compromise the hospitality, and therefore the organization preserves the right to exclude teams from participation to future tournaments who have misbehaved in a way that has impacted this great hospitality. The team in question, as well as their union or federation, will be informed in writing, including substantiation of the decision.
3. The “game secretariat” will keep a list of “spare” players available to play for teams that have suffered injuries or that have become incomplete. All these ”spare” players should report to the “game secretariat”.

All decisions other than THOSE mentioned above, shall be sole responsibility of the Tournament Organisers.