As we prepare for the upcoming season, all clubs must be aware of the eligibility requirements for the league matches:
For All Clubs:
- Club CIPP Registration – as of today only one FRU Collegiate Club is registered.
- Player CIPP Registration – Every player must be registered by game day
Go to https://membership.usarugby.org/default.aspx and get everyone registered ASAP. Playing non registered players will result in a forfeit.
For those playing towards Championships: (All Clubs except UM, Lynn, Ave Maria)
- Club must be in good standing with the University
- Players must be with 5 years of first enrolling in a university, college or junior college. See the excerpts below from http://www.usarugby.org/ for details.
4.1. Collegiate Club Eligibility
a) Each club must be recognized by the college/university.
b) Each club must be in good standing with the college/university.
4.2. Player Eligibility
In order to participate in a Qualifying Match, and in the National Collegiate Club Championship, the player must meet all of the following eligibility criteria at the time of competition:
a) Be within five (5) years of the moment the player first enrolled in a university, college or junior college, regardless of when the player started playing rugby or had the ability to start playing collegiate rugby. Any college courses that are taken during high school do not start the eligibility clock.
b) The player must be enrolled full-time and in good standing, as defined by the university or college registrar and an undergraduate student seeking his/her first bachelor’s degree. Exceptions:
1. A player in his/her final term may carry less than a full-time academic load and still maintain eligibility. This is only permitted if the player is a graduating senior and a letter from the Registrar confirming such status is obtained. This exception may only be used once.
2. A player may maintain eligibility after completing and or receiving an undergraduate degree if that player is enrolled full time in post-graduate studies (graduate school or pursuance of an additional Bachelor’s Degree) provided the player is attending the same institution they received their first undergraduate degree from and the player still falls within his/her 5 years of collegiate eligibility.
3. A player competing for an institution utilizing the quarter system is eligible through the National Championship of that year if he/she completed the requirements to graduate during the winter quarter. That player must be a graduating senior and this exception requires a letter from the registrar confirming such status. This exception may only be used once in a player’s career and once used that player loses all future collegiate eligibility.
c) The player must play on the team representing the school in which he/she is enrolled.
d) The player must not have played in a Qualifying Match for any other club during the Fifteens Competitive Season.
e) Players must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards.
f) See Section 13.5 for additional information about potential waivers.
Paperwork prior to your first match, every club playing towards the national championship must submit the USA RUGBY COLLEGIATE PLAYER ELIGIBILITY FORM. This form will be submitted this fall and again in the spring. Completed forms are to be submitted to Ken Simmons via Email nrfcken@cox.net , Fax, 352-505-0294 or snail mail 5210 NW 59th Ln, Gainesville, Fl 32653. The form can found at http://www.varsityrugby.com/ . Once submitted, you will need to submit follow-up copies when new players join your club.
Game Day Procedures:
- The game roster is to be completed for the starting 15 prior to the game.
- Both team captains will review the list of players any possible replacements for CIPP registration and collegiate eligibility, if applicable.
- Captains will acknowledge to referee that paperwork is in order or advise referee if there are any protests based on submitted paperwork
- After game, the replacements used will be added to the roster and handed to referee for signature. This is the last chance to file a protest. Protest must be noted on both rosters and acknowledged by referee to be actionable.
- Winning team is to submit signed rosters to Ken Simmons at nrfcken@cox.net or fax to 352-505-0294 by Wednesday following the match.
Game day Rosters will be available soon.
