Effective from: 01/09/2026
Review date: 31/08/2027
Policy owner: Club Chair/ Club Disciplinary Chair/ Junior Discipline Officer

Percy Park RFC is committed to providing a safe, enjoyable, inclusive and positive environment in which children and young people can participate in rugby.

The purpose of this policy is to establish a clear, fair and age-appropriate approach to disciplinary matters involving Junior/Youth Rugby players and those adults responsible for their participation.

This policy is intended to operate alongside:

Where there is any conflict between this policy and an applicable RFU Regulation, the RFU Regulation will take precedence.

The welfare and best interests of children and young people will be a primary consideration in all disciplinary decisions.

This policy applies to all Junior/Youth Rugby activities at u18 age group and all age groups below operated or organised by the Club and to:

It applies to conduct occurring:

The Club's Junior Rugby disciplinary process will be based on the following principles:

The RFU specifically recognises that Age Grade sanctions should be appropriate to young players and that playing suspensions should not normally be so severe that they discourage an Age Grade player from continuing to play rugby.

Every Junior player is expected to:

Mistakes, errors of judgement and ordinary incidents of childhood behaviour should be distinguished from deliberate, serious or repeated misconduct.

Adults involved in Junior Rugby have a particular responsibility to set an example.

Coaches, team managers, parents, spectators and volunteers must:

The Club will treat abuse of match officials particularly seriously.

Where an adult's conduct creates a safeguarding concern, the matter will be dealt with under the Club's safeguarding procedures and may be referred to the RFU or statutory authorities.

Examples of conduct which may result in disciplinary action include:

Examples include:

Where a Junior player is removed from the field of play, receives a red card, or is cited for an alleged act of foul play, the Club will follow the applicable RFU Age Grade disciplinary procedure.

The Club will not attempt to impose an alternative sanction where the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the RFU, Constituent Body or other competent rugby disciplinary authority.

Percy Park RFC will:

RFU Regulation 19 Appendix 6 contains the specific Age Grade disciplinary framework.

The Club may deal internally with matters that fall within its jurisdiction and are not required to be determined by the RFU or another competent authority.

Examples may include:

The Club will consider whether the matter should instead be referred to the RFU, Constituent Body, safeguarding lead or another authority.

Concerns should be reported to:

Junior Rugby Disciplinary Officer: Jenny Wood
Email: jennywood19@hotmail.com
Telephone: 07531071722

Safeguarding concerns should be reported directly to:

Club Safeguarding Officer: Chris Bolam
Email: cb1966mc@hotmail.com
Telephone: 07484781491

Reports should, where possible, include:

A person making a report will not be penalised for raising a genuine concern in good faith.

The Junior Rugby Disciplinary Officer, in consultation with the Club Safeguarding Officer where appropriate, will assess the matter.

The assessment will determine:

Any temporary restriction will be precautionary and will not itself constitute a finding of misconduct.

Parents or guardians will normally be informed when a Junior player becomes the subject of a formal disciplinary process.

The Club may communicate with a parent/guardian regarding:

The Club will nevertheless take account of the young person's views and wishes in an age-appropriate manner.

Where there is a safeguarding reason why information should not be shared with a parent or guardian, the Club will follow appropriate safeguarding advice.

Where an investigation is required, the Club will appoint the Junior Discipline Officer amd/or an appropriate person who is sufficiently independent of the incident.

The investigator will:

Children should be spoken to in an age-appropriate manner and in accordance with the Club's safeguarding procedures.

Where a formal Club hearing is required, reasonable notice will be provided to the player and parent/guardian.

The notice will explain:

A parent/guardian or other appropriate adult should normally be permitted to accompany a Junior player.

The hearing panel will be appropriately independent and will include people who understand the Club's safeguarding responsibilities.

The Club's preference is for sanctions that educate and rehabilitate rather than simply punish.

Depending on the circumstances, outcomes may include:

Any sanction must be proportionate to the conduct and appropriate to the player's age and circumstances.

Where the matter falls under RFU Regulation 19, the Club will apply the RFU's prescribed disciplinary procedure and sanctions.

The Club will consider alternative sanctions wherever appropriate.

These may include:

RFU Regulation 19 Appendix 6 specifically provides for alternative sanctions in Age Grade Rugby.

Any alternative sanction must be appropriate to the young person's age and must not compromise their welfare or safeguarding.

The Club recognises that RFU Regulation 19 Appendix 6 contains specific disciplinary provisions concerning the Half Game Rule.

Where a breach of the Half Game Rule occurs, the Club will follow the applicable RFU sanction table and procedure rather than creating its own sanction.

The Club will maintain appropriate playing records so that compliance can be demonstrated if required.

The RFU publishes a specific Half Game Rule sanction table for clubs under Appendix 6.

Players must only play outside their normal Age Grade where permitted under the applicable RFU regulations and where the necessary permissions and safeguards have been satisfied.

Any suspected breach will be dealt with in accordance with the applicable RFU Age Grade procedure.

The RFU has a specific Playing Up or Down Discipline Breach Protocol for Clubs, including sanctions for breaches.

The Club will maintain accurate records of player eligibility and any required permissions.

Disciplinary action must never replace safeguarding action.

Where an allegation raises a safeguarding concern, the Club Safeguarding Officer must be involved and the matter must be managed under the appropriate safeguarding procedures.

Examples include:

The Club may suspend or restrict an adult's involvement in Junior Rugby as an interim safeguarding measure while a matter is investigated.

Where a Junior player is subject to a Club or RFU suspension, the Club will ensure that the suspension is correctly recorded and observed.

The Club will seek to support a positive return to rugby following suspension.

Where appropriate, the return may include:

The objective is to enable the young person to learn from the incident and continue participating safely in rugby.

A Junior player or their parent/guardian may appeal an internal Club disciplinary decision within [7/14] days of receiving the decision.

An appeal may be based on:

The appeal will be chaired by Percy Park Discipline Chair and considered by an appropriately independent panel.

Where an RFU or Constituent Body disciplinary process applies, any appeal must follow the procedure and deadlines specified by the applicable RFU regulations.

This Club appeal process does not replace or alter any right of appeal provided under RFU Regulation 19.

Disciplinary and safeguarding matters will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

Information will only be shared with those who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

Confidentiality will not prevent the Club from:

Players, parents and Club members must not use social media to identify, criticise or intimidate individuals involved in a disciplinary or safeguarding matter.

The Club will maintain appropriate records of:

Records will be stored securely and handled in accordance with applicable data protection and safeguarding requirements.

A parent, guardian, coach, volunteer or spectator who breaches the Club's standards may be subject to separate disciplinary action.

Possible sanctions include:

A parent or spectator's behaviour must not result in a child being unfairly punished for the adult's conduct.

The Club has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, intimidation or threatening behaviour towards match officials.

This applies equally to:

Where conduct falls within RFU disciplinary jurisdiction, the Club will cooperate with the appropriate RFU or Constituent Body process.

The Club may take disciplinary action where conduct connected with Junior Rugby seriously damages the reputation or integrity of the Club or the Game.

This may include serious online conduct, provided that the Club has a legitimate connection to the conduct and acts proportionately.

The Club will seek to ensure that every disciplinary matter is handled fairly.

A young person who is accused of misconduct will normally:

No disciplinary outcome will be predetermined before the investigation and, where appropriate, hearing has taken place.

This policy is subordinate to the RFU's disciplinary regulations.

In particular, the Club will comply with the current provisions of:

RFU Regulation 19 – Discipline
Appendix 6 – Age Grade Rugby Disciplinary Procedures

and any relevant RFU sanction tables, practice notes and procedures.

The RFU's current Regulation 19 material identifies specific disciplinary arrangements for Age Grade Rugby, including an Age Grade Disciplinary Officer structure and separate procedures from the adult game.

The Club will check the current RFU regulations before imposing or recording any sanction under Regulation 19.

This policy will be reviewed annually and whenever the RFU makes material changes to:

The current RFU regulations should always be consulted before dealing with a formal disciplinary matter.

Percy Park RFC believes that discipline in Junior Rugby should be about protecting children, maintaining standards, teaching responsibility and keeping young people involved in rugby.

The Club will therefore seek to deal with misconduct firmly where necessary, but fairly, proportionately and in a way that supports the welfare and development of young players.