EASTERN COUNTIES RUGBY UNION LIMITED


Competitions Group

All-Clubs end-of-season meeting

Wymondham RFC Wed 25th April 2018

John Mackay, Alasdair Bovaird, Garry Lee, Lee Parry, Stewart Cameron (S.Cam), Sam Carpenter (S.Car) (both RFU), and Representatives from the following Clubs: Norwich Union, Lowestoft & Yarmouth, Crusaders, Holt, Norwich Medics, Norwich, Nth. Walsham, Watton, Swaffham, Wymondham, Lakenham-Hewett

JM – Heartfelt thanks must go to Eric Nye for all of his help, guidance and support as a League Secretary over the many years’ service. Eric is stepping down and will be succeeded by Gary Lee.

ECRU Objective

AB - More rugby games being played more often. Everyone who wants a game should be able to be provided with this.

Reorganisation of the leagues

JM - these have gone as well as expected but there is a split in standards.

Open to the floor

Crusaders – Call off have come earlier, which has enabled them to pick up alternative fixtures. Has not used the Facebook exchange but completed over email. The real need is to communicate clearly and as early as possible.

Norwich Union – Has found Facebook Messenger between captains very useful to speak between other clubs, particularly at the lower lever leagues.

Friday Night Lights

LP explained about the success of the Friday Night Lights. West Norfolk 1st XV even played a league fixture. Players really enjoy this and would like to have the opportunity to play under lights maybe once a month/every six weeks. Benefits include increased bar revenue, increased number of people attending the fixture (different crowd to a Saturday game), giving games to those who cannot play weekends.

There has been a Fenland Cluster of Friday night mini festivals/fixtures for lower league teams playing under lights. This has helped to retain and recruit new players to the struggling teams. The clubs were able to provide social rugby without committing to league rugby. For more information email

It is ok to play league games under lights providing they meet the league criteria and have the appropriate LUX certificates. All teams must agree and the league secretary notified. More information on floodlighting

EC1 - Relegation

Out of EC1 - There is a fear the two teams coming down could be too strong for the league below. Both Swaffham and Great Yarmouth-Broadlands finished bottom of the league but top of the Salver.

In to EC1 – two teams being promoted from London Division three Eastern Counties into London 2 North East, but none from Eastern Counties are being relegated from London 2 North East. This will impact on the teams below. Lowestoft & Yarmouth and Newmarket are likely to move into EC1. Should they both be relegated? How many teams will therefore be needed to be promoted?

ACTION – JM/ECRU comps committee speak to all clubs involved

Medics – were very unsure of the format at first however have really enjoyed the second half of the season. The games have been pitched at the right level.

Watton – Have had some home fixtures cancelled on them. Is there an incentive for clubs to play away fixtures?

ACTION – Clubs to raise this and GL to ensure that games are then reversed (opposition lose their home fixture). If they have already played can this be carried over to the following season if the same clubs are in the same league?

ACTION – Can teams opt out of the second half of the season?

Norwich Union - first half of the season games were week in week out, which was well received. The second half was disruptive due to the density of fixtures. JM explained that the weather also hampered this with some other games needing to be completed before standings could be worked out.

ACTION – look into the density of fixtures in the second half of the season

EC3

In Total there have been 43 walkovers, with two teams responsible for over half of these. One club withdrew from the league (Swafffham) to consolidate and rebuild its second team. They continued to play games on a friendly basis. There is a proposal from the Local Delivery Team to a very different concept find attached. Clubs will have the choice if they wanted to play in a league format with promotions or if they wanted to enter into an alternative. If teams want to be a part of a league then they should be able to do so. Teams have entered the leagues to fill a fixture list; however the lack of games is causing real problems to other clubs. Holt 3 have only played three home fixtures, other clubs are finding it hard to retain players with the irregularity of fixtures. Growing any new adult teams in this environment it extremely challenging. The proposal was met with mixed views, with at least three clubs (Crusaders, Norwich) wanting to still maintain ‘competitive’ rugby for their lowest teams. The word ‘competitive’ was branded around however there are several different usages of it.

Used to describe a league

Used to describe a close game where teams have a chance of winning or loosing

Is a more flexible social needed? What would it look like?

ACTION – Clubs to speak to players about their wants. SCar to circulate a proposal.

Team / Position / # walkovers conceded / # games award win / Actual league games played
Dereham / 1 / 1 / 8 / 11
Norwich 3 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 18
Thetford 2 / 3 / 1 / 7 / 12
Holt 3 / 4 / 0 / 7 / 13
Fakenham 2 / 5 / 2 / 5 / 13
Crusaders 2 / 6 / 3 / 4 / 13
Wymondham 2 / 7 / 3 / 1 / 16
Norwich Union 2 / 8 / 4 / 3 / 12
Norwich Medics 2 / 9 / 5 / 3 / 11
North Walsham 3 / 10 / 11 / 1 / 8
Beccles 2 / 11 / 13 / 2 / 5

EC2

There was a concern raised by Andy Pott from Norwich about the number of walkover there have been in this league. 22 in total.

Electronic Match Cards

North Walsham – the system works well, but there is no sanction for clubs who do not complete them. It is being made difficult with some who do not. The referees society need to be made aware of them as well.

Norwich Union – Easy to use and can access on your mobile phone. Some clubs have not been completing them, so all must do it.

ACTION – More training needed and face to face JM to pick up with Twickenham

AOB

Norwich Union – concern over a team fielding an overrepresented team and not traveling. Home game to Ipswich their 2nd XV did not travel, but their 1st and 3rd XV played at home. Away game to Ipswich 2nd XV playing at home no 1st XV game but allegedly played many 1st XV players

Kick off times

There was a debate around what the kick off times should be. Should it be standardised across ECRU or should we use the RFU KO times?

ACTION – ECRU Comps to review and advise clubs

Student Pass

North Walsham wanted more information on the Student Pass

Number of Subs

Watton have asked if the number of subs can be increased from 3 to 8. They have to turn away players if clubs cannot agree to increase on the day. AB mentioned about a clubs lowest team being permitted8 subs but still keeping 8 interchanges.

ACTION - Comps committee to review number of subs at lower level rugby and advise clubs. Rewrite regulations if needed.

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