J.A.B

2023 JAB Draws

2023 Draws
U5 / U7 / U9 / U11 / U13 / U15 / U17

BRU- JAB Age Grade Requirements and Dispensations

Grades and Required Dates of Birth

  • Under 7  Must be born on or after January 1st 2016. Ie born in 2016 or 2017
  • Under 9  Must be born on or after January 1st 2014. Ie born in 2014 or 2015
  • Under 11 Must be born on or after January 1st 2012. Ie born in 2012 or 2013
  • Under 13 Must be born on or after January 1st 2010. Ie born in 2010 or 2011
  • Under 15 Must be born on or after January 1st 2008. Ie born in 2008 or 2009
  • Under 17 Must be born on or after January 1st 2006. Ie born in 2006 or 2007

Dispensations

One of the principal objectives of the Buller Rugby Union, is to encourage and get as many players onto the rugby fields playing rugby, as is possible.  Sometimes teams struggle for numbers and fitting in players into the team age grouping is difficult. On this basis it is necessary to provide a mechanism to consider requests from coaches to grant an age dispensation for such players.

Process

  1. The BRU RDO will manage the Dispensation Policy alongside the CEO.
  2. These two are delegated the authority to make an autonomous decision in regard to that player.
  3. A club delegate completes a ‘dispensation request form’ for the player seeking a dispensation for his/her team. It must be completed PRIOR to the player’s first game. The RDO will collate requests. Guidance and advice may be provided to the RDO.
  4. The Dispensation Committee considers the request and if they are satisfied there are possible grounds for a dispensation, may view the player, playing in that grade, and as part of their deliberations considers the matters shown below:
  • The skills of the player
  • The size of the player
  • The health of the player
  • The age of the player
  • The players representative history
  • The effect that the player may make to the players team
  • Consideration of the composition of the player’s team and what, if any effect, the player would have on the competition as a whole.

Rules

The following rules shall apply to Dispensated players:

  1. A Dispensated or a proposed Dispensated player may be exempt from playing certain positions that the committee determines.
  2. Dispensated or a proposed Dispensated player must wear an arm-band (red insulation tape) AT ALL TIMES while on the field. Any Dispensated player, not wearing an armband, cannot play.
  3. The dispensation committee may impose any additional conditions on the player, the committee considers appropriate.
  4. A dispensation can be revoked at any time during the playing season, by the dispensation committee on their own volition.
  5. Dispensated players shall be exempt from kicking for goal, for touch off penalties and restarts in competition grades.

Appeals

It is possible that decisions of the dispensation committee may be considered unreasonable by team management. If a team coach, of the applicable grade, wishes to lodge an appeal of the decision, they and only they, may do so directly to the Union CEO. The CEO will then appoint a single ‘Reviewing Officer’, who shall have full autonomy, to consider the decision of the dispensation committee and may uphold, modify or overturn the decision. This decision is final and no further appeal may be lodged.

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