13.1. National Championship Event Rosters
Upon qualifying for a National Championship Event, each Club or Team shall submit to USA Rugby within the time frames requested a roster of the players and a list of the support staff that will be in attendance at the USA Rugby Championship Event. The roster shall designate information specific to player and club eligibility for each event and must be signed and certified by a responsible club official and Territorial Representative. Appropriate roster forms can be found at www.usarugby.org in the Championships Eligibility/Registration section.
*All updated information on current year deadlines and requirements will be maintained and updated at www.usarugby.org in the Championships Eligibility/Registration section.
All Clubs must also check with their LAU and TU officials for any other requirements of documentation that must be retained and/or presented during matches that lead in any way to a LAU, TU or USA Rugby National Championship.
If any member of a club is found to be in violation of the USA Rugby Eligibility General or Event-Specific Regulations, the club, territory, and club officials will be subject to disciplinary sanctions that may include fines, suspension, forfeiture of matches and/or loss of seeds for future competitions.
13.2. Club Documentation
The following section is a guide to documentation that should be maintained at all times from the start of the competitive season by a responsible club official. This documentation should be made available upon demand and/or prior to registration for LAU championships, TU championships and USA Rugby Championship Events or any Qualifying Match.
a) Collegiate Club Documentation:
1. Collegiate Club Eligibility Form (signed by the TU and LAU Representative verifying good standing)
2. Collegiate Player Eligibility Form (signed and sealed by College or University Registrar AND Club Sports or Athletic Department official)
3. Proof of current Club CIPP Registration (printout)
b) High School Club Documentation:
1. High School Club Eligibility Form (signed by the TU and LAU Representative verifying good standing)
2. USA Rugby High School Player Eligibility Form (signed and sealed by High School registrar)
3. Proof of current Club CIPP Registration (printout)
c) Senior Club Documentation:
1. Proof of current Club CIPP Registration (printout)
13.3. Player Documentation
The following section is a guide to documentation that should be maintained at all times from the start of the Competitive Season by a responsible club official. This documentation should be made available upon demand and/or prior to registration for LAU championships, TU championships and USA Rugby Championship Events or any Qualifying Match. A player may be required to submit documentation to prove as needed (a) identity; (b) citizenship status and /or qualification as a resident (as opposed to a non-resident); (c) CIPP enrollment; (d) waiver granted by USA Rugby; and (e) high school or college enrollment. Players unable to provide appropriate documentation will be assigned non-resident status for purposes of eligibility. Acceptable documentation includes:
a) Proof of Identification can be verified with:
1. Current government issued photo identification.
2. Official school ID for students.
b) Proof of Citizenship can be verified with:
1. Original or copy of U.S. birth certificate OR
2. Original or copy of photo page of U.S. passport OR
3. Original or certified copy of Permanent (Green Card) or Conditional Permanent Resident.
4. Alien documentation (Conditional Green Card, INS ‘A’ Number issued and stamped in passport) AND Copy of Permanent or Conditional Permanent Resident Alien documentation for retention at registration. Note: Documentation (i.e. letters of application) in reference to the pursuit of permanent or conditional resident status in order to facilitate a player's participation in the competition is NOT sufficient.
c) Proof of current CIPP enrollment can be verified with a printout from USA Rugby Website showing valid registration dates.
d) Proof of official waiver from USA Rugby can be verified with waiver letter signed by USA Rugby National Office staff or Eligibility Committee Chair, delivered by fax, electronic mail or US mail, displaying player name, club, official dates of eligibility and regulation waived.
e) Proof of high school enrollment and supporting documentation may include:
1. High School Player Eligibility form (signed and sealed by HS registrar, appropriately dated).
2. Official documentation of GED-enrollment.
3. Official documentation of state or federal sanctioned home school enrollment.
f) Proof of collegiate enrollment and supporting documentation may include:
1. Collegiate Player Eligibility Form (signed and sealed by collegiate registrar, appropriately dated).
2. Letter from the registrar verifying status as a graduating senior.
3. Official transcripts showing dates of initial enrollment and transfer status.
13.4. Rugby Super League Contact Information
All inquiries regarding the Rugby Super League should be directed to the appropriate officials:
Mr. Keith Engelbrecht Mr. Ron McCready
RSL President RSL Eligibility Chair
Home: 972-539-5062 Home: 703-532-0088
Work: 972-503-6100 Work: 202-334-3034
Email: keith@2ias.com Email: rmccread@nas.edu
13.5. Waivers
13.5.1. Waiver request and appeal procedure (Revised 9/1/07)
a) Request for exemption from these Eligibility Regulations must be in writing, supported by required documentation, and received by the USA Rugby National Office at least 14 business days prior to any match for which the player is requesting an exemption.
b) The USA Rugby Staff and Eligibility Committee will have ten days from the date of receipt of all required documentation to respond to the applicant. Individuals seeking waiver requests should consider that backlogs of waiver requests can occur, and eligibility should be investigated and any waivers requested prior to the beginning of each Competitive Season.
c) Timely waiver requests are considered and reviewed without charge (i.e., more than 14 business days prior to event for which eligibility is requested).
d) Upon payment of a $50.00 expediting fee, waiver requests may be made within 14 business days of initial event for which eligibility is requested, and the cutoff for consideration is 5 days prior to an event. Payment must accompany waiver request.
e) All waiver requests must be sent in writing to the following address:
USA Rugby
Attn: Eligibility
2500 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80302
Fax: 303-302-0239
13.5.2. The following are exemptions often granted upon careful review of proper documentation by the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee
a) Under -18 - Any player under 18 who desires to play in men’s or women’s senior level competition may seek a waiver from the Eligibility Committee based on the following provisions:
1. A statement from the applicant describing the reason for senior level play; AND
2. A signed statement from the participants parent or guardian certifying their approval (waiver and release); AND
3. A statement from their current or proposed certified USA Rugby coach stating his/her perspective of the participant’s ability to perform at the senior level of play.
b) Collegiate - A participant in collegiate club rugby may apply to the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee to have the five (5) year eligibility period extended; total extension(s) of eligibility may not exceed two (2) years and no player is guaranteed a two-year extension of eligibility. Players must apply annually for this exemption. Waivers for extension of collegiate eligibility will be considered based on the exact date on which the player was first available to re-enroll following the circumstances described below. The following list indicates the only circumstances that might warrant an eligibility extension:
1. Active military service recognized
2. Official church service
3. In the case of female athletes, pregnancy
4. Please note that requests for waiver on the basis of injury or medical hardship are not considered, except where documented circumstances were severe enough to prevent the individual’s enrollment from college or university for at least one full academic year.
5. Waivers to extend collegiate eligibility may be considered if a player’s initial enrollment at any college or university was less than full time, or if initial enrollment was at a college or university that does not sponsor a collegiate rugby program for the gender with which the player is eligible to compete.
c) Senior - The following exemptions are often granted upon careful review of proper documentation by the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee:
1. Transfer waiver requests for collegiate players graduating in December, moving to senior side, who no longer have collegiate eligibility.
2. Legitimate geographic relocation (request accompanied with proof of job transfer or geographic relocation).
3. Transfer waiver requests for players seeking advancement to higher competitive division, may be accompanied by limitation on ability to move to lower division in subsequent year or season.
4. Two match minimum for club sevens may be waived for long standing members of a club returning after injury or other legitimate reason for absence.
13.5.3. REQUIRED Additional Waiver Request Documentation
Individual circumstances must be thoroughly explained and documented on the “Eligibility Waiver Request Form Cover Sheet” with the following attachments:
a) Proof of date(s) of enrollment in college or university, i.e. official school transcripts, containing signature and/or seal of the registrar – unofficial or student copies of transcripts will not be accepted.
b) Any and all applicable military documentation showing specific dates of all deployment and details of military service.
c) Any and all applicable documentation of official church service, including letter from church officials.
d) Any and all other documentation relevant to the specific waiver request.
e) Any and all applicable medical documentation – only considered if medical condition was severe enough to prevent individual’s enrollment from college or university for at least one full academic year.
13.6. Challenges
a) All challenges must be handled at the appropriate governance levels.
b) USA Rugby jurisdiction for challenges shall include:
1. Challenges arising at or in relation to a USA Rugby Championship Event;
2. Challenges arising regarding a player or club in a separate territory;
3. Unresolved differences within one TU, or between two or more TUs;
4. Appeals of decisions at the TU level. (See appeals section below.)
c) Procedure for Challenges under USA Rugby jurisdiction shall be as follows:
1. In the event of challenges during a USA Rugby National Championship Event, the designated USA Rugby Official will collect all pertinent data from the protesting party and the challenged party. This information will be sent to the National Office as soon as possible and no later than start of business on Monday following the event. The challenged player(s) may compete in the event, however, if the allegations of ineligibility are found to be true the match will be declared a forfeit. If the challenged player(s) do not take part in the event, then the match results will stand.
2. In the event of a challenges regarding (b) 2-4 above, all explanation and relevant data must be submitted to USA Rugby, Attn: Eligibility Challenge, 2500 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302, Fax: 303-302-0239 as soon as possible following event.
3. The challenger must submit a $50.00 fee per player or club challenged.
13.7. Appeals
If a club or player has been deemed ineligible by a TU or other member of USA Rugby, the affected player or club shall have the right to appeal to the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee. The appeal must contain the initial written ruling by the TU or other member of USA Rugby, all relevant documents and written communication regarding the decision, and certification that the Presidents of the TU or the highest-ranking officer in the member organization that issued the decision has been provided with all documentation sent to USA Rugby. The failure to notify the appropriate official issuing the decision may be grounds for denial of the appeal. The appeal must be received by USA Rugby within seven (7) days of the date of the decision appealed. In such an appeal, the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee chair or designee shall notify the TU President or highest-ranking officer of the member organization that issued the decision that such an appeal has been docketed. All appeals should be directed to USA Rugby, Attn: Eligibility, 2500 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302, Fax: 303-302-0239. The appellant must submit a $50.00 fee, which amount is returned if the appeal is found in favor of Appellant.
Appellate Panel. Any decision of the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee whether based on its original jurisdiction or based on its consideration of an appeal of a TU or other USA Rugby member ruling on an eligibility issue, shall be appealable to a USA Rugby Appellate Panel as referenced in the Bylaws of USA Rugby. Such appeal must be made within seven (7) days of the decision of the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee. The National Office staff liaison must provide the Appellate Panel with all documents and relevant communications that were part of the record in the initial consideration by the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee. All written appeals shall be addressed to USA Rugby, Attn: Appellate Panel, 2500 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302, Fax: 303-302-0239. The appellant must submit a $50.00 fee, which amount is returned if the appeal is found in favor of Appellant.
With regard to any such appeal, the Chief Executive Officer or his/her designee shall randomly choose a three-person panel from the Appellate Panel to consider the approval. The Panel must act on the appeal in a timely manner.
