Revised: 14 Sep 04
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Tournament Rules (rtf 58kb)

General

1. Eligibility – The Army Sevens-A-Side Competition is open to Regular Army units who qualify through agreed feeder events held at Division/Corps level. Only one team from each unit may qualify for the Finals which is called the Army Seven-A-Side Tournament. In addition, from time to time, guest teams may be invited on behalf of the Chairman ARU. Under normal circumstances, provision should be made within the Tournament for a men’s competition and a women’s competition

2. Players and Feeder Events

a. Players – Only Regular Services personnel are eligible to play for unit teams.

b. Feeder Events – The Rules/Laws for feeder events should reflect the general provisions of these Tournament rules, amended only to take account of local circumstances.

Format

3. Teams will be divided into 4 leagues of 4 teams, with no 2 teams from the same Formation or Corps in the same groups; invited guest teams should play in separate groups. Each team in each group will play each other being awarded 2 points for a win and one point for a draw. Should this not produce a clear division between the top 2 and bottom 2 teams of each group the higher placing will go sequentially to:

a. The team which won in the match involving the teams with the same number of League points.

b. The team scoring the most tries overall.

c. The team scoring the most points overall.

d. The team with the largest difference between points scored for and points against.

4. Having determined the top and bottom 2 teams in each League the top teams go into a knockout Main Tournament, and the bottom 2 into the Plate Competition.

Timings

5. Each match will be 7 minutes each way with one minute for half-time, except for both finals which will be 10 minutes each way with 3 minutes for half-time.

6. No extra time in the event of a draw will be played in the preliminary (group) rounds but in the Main Tournament and Plate Competition teams will change ends every 7 minutes, without any further intervals, until one side scores (i.e. ‘Sudden Death’)

Nomination Of Teams And Replacements

7. Players may represent one team only. Teams must be submitted to the Project Officer in writing before the start of the Tournament on the form issued with the Annual Administrative Instruction. The ten players declared at the start of the Tournament are all that may be called upon for the whole – irrespective of injuries during earlier rounds.

8. The starting team may be drawn from any of the nominated squad. Up to a maximum of 3 players per team may be in attendance and available as substitutes. The normal rules apply for blood injuries.

9. Any players sent off may not be replaced in that game but in subsequent games one of the nominated substitutes may be used; the individual sent off cannot take any further part in the tournament.

Kicks At Goal

10. All kicks at goal are to be drop goals.

11. All kicks, Penalty or Conversions, which run over full time must be taken.

12. Play should not be ended at half-time or full-time until the ball next becomes dead.

Punctuality

13. The Committee reserve the right to award a match to the other side in the event of a team failing to be ready to start on time, or to replace a team which is late arriving at the start of the competition. Clearly, this would be a drastic step but team captains must ensure that they have met the opposing team captain and referee at the final whistle of the match before theirs, on the specified pitch. At that time they will:

a. Toss up and choose ends.

b. Confirm jersey colours (first name teams to change) to the referee’s satisfaction.

c. Check the suitability of the ball (first named team to provide).

d. Check on touch judges, who are to be provided by each team for the preliminary matches only. Playing substitutes are NOT to be used. ARURS will provide touch judges for Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final of both the Main Tournament and Plate Competition.

Protest And Other Eventualities Or Ambiguity

14. Any protest or other eventuality not covered by these rules will be dealt with initially by a Sub Committee nominated by the Project Officer. Army Sevens Tournament. If the Sub-Committee considers it necessary, where a matter of policy is involved, the Project Officer shall request the Director of Rugby to give a ruling, which will be considered final.

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Tournament Rules (58kb)