PCRFU DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
(A) Purpose.
The Disciplinary Committee (occasionally, the “D/C”) shall have jurisdiction over member clubs (including players, coaches, and others affiliated with the member clubs) in matters of conduct on, or associated with, the field-of-play during matches played under the auspices of the PCRFU, including PCRFU play-offs. Matches played under the auspices of member LAUs are not matches played under the auspices of the PCRFU.
In addition, the Disciplinary Committee shall have jurisdiction over member clubs (including players, coaches, and others affiliated with the member clubs) in matters of conduct off the field-of-play that reflect upon the game of Rugby Union Football and jeopardize the interests of the game in so far as such conduct is related to PCRFU rugby events.(B) Operation.
The President shall nominate (i) a chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee (“D/C Chair”) at any time the position of D/C Chair is vacant and (ii) two (2) other members of the D/C as necessary so that the D/C consists of three (3) persons, namely the D/C Chair and the two (2) other members. Any member of the D/C is subject to removal by a simple majority of the PCRFU Board. A red card given to a player results in an automatic administrative suspension for two (2) scheduled matches or fifteen (15) days after the match in which the red card is issued. For the purpose of this rule, a scheduled match is any series of fixtures to be played by the player’s club (i) on a particular day and (ii) which appear on the schedule of “Union” (as hereinafter defined) mixtures. “Union” means a member LAU of the PCRFU, the PCRFU, and USA Rugby. For example, Club “X” is scheduled to field three sides on a given Saturday. The three matches constitute a single “scheduled match,” not three (3) separate scheduled matches. The fact that the Club may be playing these fixtures against different opponent clubs makes no difference. If a player receives two (2) yellow cards for violence or foul play (as opposed to the so-called “professional foul” or persistent violations of technical laws) in the same match, the player receives the same automatic administrative suspension that he or she would have received if the second yellow card had been a red card (and the automatic administrative suspension takes effect upon the end of the match in which the second yellow card is given). With respect to the automatic administrative sanctions described in this paragraph, there is no appeal. Players, coaches, club officers, and other persons affiliated with a member club may be referred to as the D/C for investigation and the imposition of sanctions in accordance with these regulations; provided, however, sanctions, beyond the automatic administrative sanction described in the immediately preceding paragraph, may not be imposed by the D/C without a duly noticed hearing at which the accused player, coach, club officer, and other persons affiliated with a member club (as the case may be, the “Accused”) is given (i) notice of the charges and (ii) the opportunity to (a) examine witnesses and evidence offered to support the charges and (b) present a defense. All red card violations shall be reported to the D/C Chair and the President or Vice President of the PCRFU by the match referee. In addition, member clubs have the right to cite any player, coach, club official or other person affiliated with the member club to the D/C for foul play or misconduct, which citation shall be made by written notice given to the D/C Chair and the President or Vice President of the PCRFU no later than forty-eight (48) hours after the conclusion of the subject match or other incident in question. If a club elects to cite a player, coach, official or other person affiliated with a member club, the club has the obligation to provide evidence that supports the citation and this evidence or a description of the evidence must accompany the citation. Additional evidence may be provided at the D/C hearing. The D/C Chair has the obligations to review all red card reports and citations to determine whether consideration of the matter by the D/C is warranted. The D/C Chair’s consideration of any such matter is a matter is a matter of prosecutorial discretion and any determination by the D/C Chair not to proceed with any matter may be overridden only by a simple majority of the PCRFU Board (and the consequence of such an action by the PCRFU Board is that the D/C shall hear the matter). All member clubs, their players, coaches, and officers have a duty to cooperate fully in a any investigation by the D/C and any failure to cooperate in accordance with these regulations may be sanctioned by the PCRFU Board. Any D/C hearings shall be scheduled on no less than thirty-six (36) hours written prior notice given to the Accused and his or her club; provided, however, in the event of a bona fide emergency that threatens the safety of the membership of the Union, the integrity of the Union or the game of Rugby Union Football, only such notice as is reasonable need be given. The notice of the hearing shall be issued by the D/C Chair and shall (i) name the time and place of the hearing, and (ii) state the charge made against the Accused. Any D/C member may excuse himself or herself from any matter and if (a) the D/C Chair excuses himself or herself or is otherwise disqualified from participation in the D/C’s consideration of the matter in accordance with these regulations, the PCRFU President shall (I) designate one of the other member of the D/C to act as the chair of the D/C for this particular matter and (II) appoint a temporary member of the D/C so that the D/C consists of three (3) members and (b) a non-D/C Chair member of the D/C excuses himself or herself or is otherwise disqualified from participation in the D/C’s consideration of the matter in accordance with these regulations, the PCRFU President shall appoint a temporary member of the D/C so that the D/C consists of three (3) members. The D/C hearing may be held in person, by telephone or video conference or by any other means permitted by advances in technology as are adopted as a standard business practice in the wider world, or in combination thereof. At the D/C Hearing, (i) the D/C Chair shall read the charges against the Accused, (ii) the evidence offered in support of the charges shall be presented and the Accused shall be given the opportunity to examine the evidence and any witnesses called in support of the charges, and (iii) the Accused shall be entitled to present such evidence intended to establish innocence, mitigation, or the good character of the Accused as the Accused shall desire so long as the evidence offered is germane. The Accused may be represented by counsel or other representative and the parties will be given the opportunity to present concluding remarks. Immediately upon the conclusion of the hearing, the D/C shall deliberate and make finding of innocence or guilt with respect to each charge and shall issue the appropriate sanction for any finding of guilt. The deliberations of the D/C as to guilt or innocence and sanctions are not public. No later than twenty-four (24) hours after the completion of the D/C hearing, the D/C Chair shall issue the findings of guilt or innocence and any resulting sanction, notice of which shall be given to the Accused, his or her club, the President and the Secretary. The findings and any sanctions are public and shall be placed upon the PCRFU’s website and retained in the records of the PCRFU. The sanctioned Accused has the right to appeal the decision of the D/C to USA Rugby. The business of the D/C shall be in compliance with IRB Regulation 17, as promulgated from time-to-time; provided however, to the extent that the terms and conditions of these regulations are inconsistent with the terms and conditions of such Regulation 17, the terms and conditions of these regulations shall prevail. No person shall serve on the D/C with respect to any match in which such person participated as a player, coach or match official. No person shall serve on a D/C with respect to any incident that involved his or her club or any other club in which he or she had held membership during the last five (5) years preceding the incident in question.
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