DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS

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DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS OPERATIVE FROM THE
1st. SEPTEMBER 2005.
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CITING
THE HEARING
SANCTIONS
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CITING
THE COMMUNITY GAME. AT PRESENT A PLAYER MAY BE
CITED ONLY WHEN THE ACT OF FOUL PLAY ALLEGED HAS
NOT BEEN DETECTED BY THE MATCH OFFICIALS.
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FROM THE 1st. SEPTEMBER 2005, A PLAYER MAY
BE CITED FOR ALLEGED FOUL PLAY, WHEN THE
MATCH OFFICIALS HAVE DETECTED THE ACT AND
ACTED UPON IT IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN A
RED CARD.
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WHO CAN CITE?
THE UNIONS OR AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS (
clubs in membership of the RFU) PARTICIPATING IN
THE MATCH.
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OR AN ACCREDITED REFEREE ASSESSOR/ADVISER OFFICIAL
LY APPOINTED BY THE RFU REFEREE SOCIETY OR
FEDERATION.
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THE HEARING

• The hearing of the evidence before the
  disciplinary shall be in the manner in which it
  has always been.
• However, the procedure then differs, when a
  guilty verdict is found.

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DISCIPLINARY PANELS SHALL UNDERTAKE AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PLAYERs
CONDUCT. THIS SERIOUSNESS SHALL BE CATEGORISED
AS LOW END MID-RANGE TOP END.
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In order to determine the ENTRY POINT there are
nine areas to be considered.

• The offending was deliberate

• The offending was reckless

• The gravity of the players actions.

• The effect upon the victim.

• The effect upon the game.

• The vulnerability of the victim.

• The level of participation and premeditation.

• Whether the offending was completed or was an
  attempt.

• Any other features relevant to the offending.

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SANCTIONS
HAVING IDENTIFIED THE APPLICABLE ENTRY
POINT, THE PANEL SHALL IDENTIFY ALL RELEVANT
AGGRAVATING FACTORS TO DETERMINE THE PERIOD OF
SUSPENSION, IF ANY.
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THESE AGGRAVATING FACTORS WILL INCLUDE

• ANY LACK OF REMORSE

• THE PLAYERS STATUS AS A
• PERSISTENT OFFENDER

• THE NEED FOR A DETERRENT

• ANY OTHER OFF FIELD AGGRAVATING
• FACTORS

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THEREAFTER THE PANEL SHALL IDENTIFY ALL
MITIGATING FACTORS.

• THE PRESENCE AND TIMING OF AN
• ACKNOWLEDGE OF GUILT

• A GOOD RECORD.

• PLAYERS AGE AND EXPERIENCE

• PLAYERS CONDUCT

• REMORSE TO THE PLAYERS ACTIONS AND
• THE VICTIM

• ANY OTHER OFF FIELD MITIGATING
• FACTORS

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THESE NEW REGULATIONS WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE
IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR REFEREES.
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IMPLICATIONS FOR REFEREES
Where a player has been cited for an alleged act
of foul play which was dealt with by the referee
in ANY way other than a red card.

• The referee WILL be called to attend the
  hearing.

• He/She will be asked to explain his/her view
  of the
• incident.

• He/She will be questioned as to why the RED
• was not used.

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The Report.
In recent times it has been advocated that LESS
IS MORE.
An example of this would be Smith kicked the
head of an opponent in a ruck, and together
with the information provided on the disciplinary
form this was deemed to be sufficient.
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GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE REPORT WRITING

• Obtain a copy of the current RFU Disciplinary
  Form.

• Adopt a step by step approach to guide you
  through.

• The report must be a factual account of events.

• The report must not contain your opinions.

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The system adopted by The Somerset Society.

• When you have the unfortunate duty to submit a
  report,

• make contact with the Society Disciplinary
  Office
• as soon as possible. The same day, or the
  following
• day at the latest.

• Following your discussion with the disciplinary
  officer
• submit the report to that officer. That
  report must be
• with the CB Disciplinary Secretary within 48
  hours.

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It is important to remember that your duty as a
Referee does not end when the final whistle has
been blown. If a report, be it a Sending Off
report or a Match Official Abuse report is to be
submitted, it will be expected that you will
attend any subsequent hearing, if your presence
is requested.