Western Rugby Contact - The West will be represented at the event by:

Ted Hill

(C) 214-282-3000

(E) tedh@lifeben.com

Tournament Hotel Information (click here)

Visit the Greeley Visitors Bureau for hotels and restaurants in Greeley, CO - http://www.greeleycvb.com/ 

• Map of UNC Campus

Driving directions from Denver International Airport to Greeley, CO

Captain's Meeting

The West does not hold Captain's Meeting at our championship events. Participating clubs are expected to stay in close contact with the West representative and to provide accurate contact information on your accommodations while in Greeley.

Event Fees

The Western Rugby Union has eliminated the entry fees. The West recognizes the high cost of participation in championship events. In a continuing effort to assume more of the costs of the events, the West Board approved a motion to eliminate the entry fees for 2008.

Discipline

Please download the Discipline Regulations from the West or USA Rugby web site.  Click here to download this document. Review the regulations with your club members.  Ignorance of the regulations is not an acceptable excuse.  If an ad hoc Disciplinary Committee is needed, it will be assembled and chaired by the representative of the Western Rugby Union in attendance at the event.

Collegiate Code of Conduct

USA Rugby Collegiate Code of Conduct (from the USA Rugby Collegiate Eligibility Rules)
"Student athletes and coaches who participate in collegiate rugby represent their colleges and are ambassadors of collegiate rugby in the United States. As such, collegiate rugby players and coaches are expected to behave with dignity both on and off the field, and should not tolerate or indulge in behavior which would reflect negatively on the college, USA Rugby, or the image of collegiate rugby. Any breach of this Code of Conduct will be forwarded to the appropriate disciplinary committee for action."

Eligibility Regulations

Current USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations should be downloaded from the USA Rugby or West web site.  Click here to download this document. Each club is expected to fully understand the regulations, strictly abide by them, and to complete all required documentation.  Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of any player in question or the entire team. Please note the USA Rugby Eligibility Regulations have changed since the last Western Championships. Some of the changes concern Collegiate Rugby. You must review those regulations and insure your team and all players are fully eligible to participate in Westerns.

Any on site questions or interpretations of these regulations will be handled by the West representative. On site responses to eligibility questions will focus on the letter of the regulations and will narrowly interpret these regulations.

If your team has questions about the eligibility of any player or players on your team, you should immediately address the questions or concerns to the Chairman of the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee. Questions should be addressed to him in care of the USA Rugby National Office 303-539-0300. Questions on eligibility may also be addressed to the National Office to Dan Payne on extension 132. Requests for waivers on eligibility issues should be sent to the office where they will be forwarded to the Eligibility Committee.

No exceptions to these regulations will be made on site by the West representative.

West Event Regulations and Procedures - Click here to view these documents. We suggest you download and review these documents.

Club and Player CIPP Enrollment

Every club in any level of competition, including these West Championships, is required to have a current and valid club membership in CIPP. Enrollment for clubs is similar to that for players. A club can check its enrolment status on the USA Rugby web site under “Membership”. Clubs without a current membership by the Monday night prior to Westerns will be disqualified.

Eligibility Binder

USA Rugby policy is that responsibility for enforcing all eligibility requirements rests with the TUs and LAUs. The West will continue to responsible for insuring that all clubs and players meet the current requirements to participate in Championship Events. Almost all of the requirements of USA Rugby have been long-standing requirements of the Western Rugby Union. However the West is going to formalize some of these requirements by requiring all teams in Western championship events to produce required documentation in a three ring binder at check-in time. These binders will be reviewed during and after check-in and returned to the submitting teams during the first day of competition. The contents of the binder are as follows:

Tab 1.  Current CIPP Roster for the club with verification of current club CIPP enrollment

 

Tab 2.  A completed Participation Agreement. The Western Representative will sign the form at the conclusion of the event for the teams advancing to the USA Rugby event. This form is available of the USA web site. Click here to view this document.

 

Tab 3.  A completed Event Roster for this event. A blank copy of the roster should also be included for the club's use should they advance to the USA Rugby level. See below for additional information about completing this form. The Event Roster for the West event is on the West web site. The Event Roster for the USA events is on the USA Rugby web site. The completed West Event Roster and the blank USA Event Roster should be included in this section.

 

Tab 4.  A Player Eligibility Form completed and signed by the University Registrar and representative authorizing the team to represent the University in competition. See below for additional information about completing this form.

 

Tab 5.  Copies of the photo IDs to be used by each of your players. Copies must be clear. Illegible copies are not acceptable, and players without alternate photo of identification (e.g., student ID, driver's license or passport) may be disqualified. Copies should be in alphabetical sequence by last name. This should match the sequence of your players during the check-in process.

 

Tab 6.  Copies of any eligibility waivers for any of your event roster players that were approved by USA Rugby. These forms should be in alphabetical order by last name.

 

Tab 7.  The original and legibly completed Waiver and Release Form for each Event Roster player.

Collegiate Eligibility Form/Registrar’s Form

This form is also available on the West web site. Click here to view this document. It is essential this form be completed by the College Registrar and include every player on the Event Roster. This can be a slow process, so we recommend the Registrar’s office be contacted ASAP to arrange for the form to be completed.

Please note the SPECIFIC requirements for the completion of this form included on the form itself. The columns labeled: Date Student first enrolled at this college?; If transfer, date first enrolled in college?; Is student enrolled full time? ; Is student an undergraduate? ALL of this information must be completed by the Registrar. Also note that a supervising agent of the University must sign the form in addition to the Registrar. Officers of the rugby club may NOT sign the form.  There are NO acceptable alternatives to the above form.

Event Roster  - Do This ASAP ***

The form may be downloaded from the West web site.  Click here to view this form. This form must be completed and emailed to the West - Send to BOTH Bill Sexton (wsexton@atsu.edu) AND Ted Hill (tedh@lifeben.com) no later than:

Close of Business on Monday, March 30, 2009

NOTE:  Failure to pre-register your team's event roster by the scheduled dates will result in:

1.  A much longer on-site check-in process with your team required to bring extra proof of good standing.  You also suffer the possibility that some of your players will be declared ineligible at the event.

2.  A $100 fine levied against your club.

The office will compare your roster of players to CIPP registration rosters provided by USA Rugby.  You may ONLY list players who have paid their dues to both organizations.  Other names will not be eligible to participate in the event. Clubs will be notified of players that are ineligible. Such players may NOT be replaced on the Event Roster. Clubs which no longer have enough eligible players will be disqualified.

The roster for collegiate events is open (i.e., there is no limit to the number of players a club may include on their Event Roster). You may to need to use two pages for your roster.  If you need additional copies of the form, please feel free to make them.

Players’ names must be clearly legible and in alphabetical sequence by the last name. Illegible names will be disqualified from participation in the event.

The Event Roster contains columns to be completed as follows:

Last Name, First - (in alphabetical order)

Residency Status or Academic Yr. - Academic Year

CIPP# - CIPP # from USA Rugby.

Position - What position does the player usually play? Center, Wing, Lock

DOB - Date of Birth.

USA $ - Office Use Only

W$ - Office Use Only

L$ - Office Use Only.

Res Proof - Office Use Only

Regist List - Office Use Only

Club Participation Agreement

The form may be downloaded from the West or USA web site. The section dealing with Western RFU signatory is covered above. Click here to view this document.

Waiver and Release Form

This form may be downloaded from the West or USA Rugby web site. It must be completed legibly for every player on the Event Roster. Click here to view this document.

Advancement to USA Rugby Championship Events

From the event this weekend in Greeley, CO eight West teams will advance to the USA Rugby Championship series (2 in each division of play). The documentation required by the West is essentially the same as that required by USA Rugby. Most of the forms used by the West are the same as those used by USA Rugby. Almost all of the work already done can be resubmitted to USA Rugby for their championship series. A random check of teams participating in the USA Rugby series will be announced about twelve days before the USA Rugby playoffs. Clubs that are informed they will be checked will be required to submit the above three ring binder to the National Office in Boulder. Teams undergoing the random check will be notified twelve calendar days in advance of the USA event and will have three days to get the binder to the office. There will a zero tolerance for late, missing or incomplete information.

USA Rugby Event Roster.  All clubs qualifying for participation in the USA Rugby championship series are required to submit a completed Event Roster to USA Rugby. That form can be downloaded USA Rugby website. On the USA website it can be found under Collegiate Roster/Checklist. Please note the completed form must be signed by a representative of the West  - either  President Bill Sexton or West  representative at the event, Ted Hill. The completed and signed form must be in the National Office in Boulder by close of business Friday, 10 April 2009. There are no exceptions to this time line. Neither Western official will sign anything but a completed Event Roster.

There will be severe penalties to the West and to offending teams for failure to provide complete, accurate and timely information to USA Rugby.

Seeding for each division  Click here for the match kick-off schedule

Men's Division 1 Colleges

1. West 1 - University of Wyoming
2. West 2 - Colorado State University
3. Texas 1- Louisiana State University
4. Winner - Air Force Academy (1)

(1) - Winner Central #1 - Oklahoma University vs. West #3 - Air Force Academy

Men's Division 2 Colleges

1. ER North 1 - University of Northern Colorado
2. Colorado School of Mines (2)
3. Texas 1 - Texas State University
4. Central #1 - St. Louis University (3)

(2) - Winner of (RG and ER South) vs. ER North #2 - Colorado School of Mines
(3) - Central #1 - Winner of GP, Creighton University; HOA, Kansas University, and MO, St. Louis University)

Women's Division 1 Colleges

1. Texas 1 - Texas A&M
2. West 1 - University of New Mexico
3. West 2 - Air Force Academy
4. West 3 - University of Colorado

Women's Division 2 Colleges

1. GP #1 - Wayne State
2. Central #1 - Truman State (4)
3. ER 1 - University of Wyoming
4. TX 1 - Texas Tech

(4) - Winner of Women's Division 2 Central League

Pool Structures for Men's and Women's Division 1 and 2 Championship Divisions

Semifinals - #1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3

Finals - Semifinal winners
3rd Place - Semifinal losers

Team and Player Check-in

A schedule of on site check-ins is included below. Please refer to it and confirm your club’s ability to make the scheduled time.  If you prefer a different time or your travel schedule makes it impossible for you to meet the assigned period, please call Ted Hill at (C) 214-282-3000 or (E) tedh@lifeben.com .

All team and player check-ins will be done at the fields prior to games on Saturday.

Each team is assigned 15 minutes to complete the check-in process.  If you have your paper work and players organized that is sufficient.  If you have neither, it will take longer and you will be asked to return to the check in location after the last team is finished to complete your check-in.

Note that the Western board has approved the imposition of a $100 fine against clubs who fail to check in their full roster of players.  Note also the new regulations regarding the use of ineligible players including the use of players not of the event or match rosters.

Team and Player Check-in Process (You must understand and adhere to this process.)

Each player must have, a valid and current student ID, and/or a current  photo ID.

A Collegiate Club must present its completed Registrar’s form at the beginning of the check in process. The Western rep will confirm that all the event roster players are listed on the form and are still eligible to participate in collegiate rugby events. A student may NOT have started any college any time before September 1, 2003 in order to maintain eligibility. Students who started at any college prior to this date may either have been granted an extension of eligibility by USA Rugby or will be declared ineligible to participate in the event. USA Rugby’s letter of extension must be presented at check in or the player will not be eligible to participate.

We suggest that a club administrator gather the required information, copy for each player, and mount the various forms on the sheets of stock paper.  Put the information for each player on one side of a page, with another player=s information on the back side. Place the completed sheets in a three-ring binder. The player sheets should be in alphabetical sequence. See above for content and format of the required binders for the presentation of information.

At check-in, line up your players in alphabetical sequence. Each player’s information will be checked, and if complete and current, the player will be approved for participation in the event C assuming that all dues have been paid. See Event Roster above for the process to verify that dues have been paid.

Teams that have NOT pre-submitted their event roster must bring the following additional information:

1. Proof of Club CIPP membership

2. Proof of CIPP payment for each player

3. Proof of Western dues payment for each player

4. Proof of LAU dues payment for each player.

Team and Player Check-in Schedule

Women's Division 2 Colleges - Saturday 4 April

7:15 AM - #1 - Wayne State
7:30 AM - #4 - Texas Tech
9:15 AM - #2 - Truman State
9:30 AM - #3 - University of Wyoming

Men's Division 2 Colleges - Saturday 4 April

7:45 AM - #1 - University of Northern Colorado
8:00 AM - #4 - St. Louis University
9:45 AM - #2 - Colorado School of Mines
10:00 AM - #3 - Texas State University

Women's Division 1 Colleges - Saturday 4 April

11:15 AM - #1 - Texas A&M
11:30 AM - #4 - University of Colorado
1:15 PM - #2 - Air Force Academy Women
1:30 PM - #3 - University of New Mexico

Men's Division 1 Colleges - Saturday, 4 April

11:45 AM - #1 - University of Wyoming
12:00 PM - #4 - Air Force Men
1:45 PM - #2 - Colorado State University
2:00 PM - #3 - Louisiana State University

Match Rosters  Match rosters are required for each match during the competition. The Match Roster lists the players by their jersey number, and reserves #16 through #22.  You must also highlight the players who are your alternate front row players if the starters cannot finish the match.

Click here to download the required West Match Roster  Three copies of your match roster must be submitted for each match.  About 30 minutes before a kick-off you should have someone on your team - preferably not a starting player - deliver a copy of your roster to the opposing team, and two copes to the West official and the #4 Official or Referee.

New for Collegiate Rugby - USA Rugby now requires that match rosters for all matches leading to a national championship must designate a maximal of 22 players per match, and a team cannot deviate from that roster for that specific match.  In addition, there must be a prescribed number of "front row eligible" players, as defined by the laws.

Each team should keep a copy of their own roster and record the names of reserves used during the match, and the names and method of scoring for all their points. The completed form must be delivered to the West representative within 30 minutes of the end of the match.  There is a $50 penalty for failure to submit the completed forms.

Player Exchanges

Substitutes for injury, blood or tactics are allowed by the laws of the game. Please see Event Regulations on the web site for further information on substitutions. Law # 3 provides additional information.  All player exchanges will be handled by the #4 Referee who will be conveniently stationed near midpoint of each field during all matches.

Match Kick-off Schedule, Field Assignments, and Initial Match Official Appointments - Click here for the match kick-off schedule. - We suggest you copy the schedule and ensure that all your players know their match times.

Length of Matches
The kick-off Schedule includes the length of the halves in each match. All matches on Saturday will have 40 minute halves. On Sunday, all consolation matches will have 30 min halves, and all championship matches will have 40 min halves.

Tie-Breaker Procedures

The kick-off schedule notes which matches can end in a tie and which cannot. Tie-breaker procedures, as prescribed in the competition regulations, are detailed below.  In matches that require resolution, except sevens and high school events, the following will occur after full time:

i. a five minute rest period, then

ii. a ten minute period (coin toss for KO or receive), then

iii. a two minute rest period, then

iv. a ten minute period ( reverse KO of first overtime), then if still tied

v. a two minute rest period, then

vi. a sudden death period not to exceed 15 minutes (with a new coin toss) to determine KO or receive, then if no score

vii. a two minute rest period, then

viii. a sudden death period not to exceed 15 minutes. If still no score continue 15 minute sudden death periods until a score occurs.

Note West competition regulations require a team to be ready to play within ten minutes of the scheduled kick-off or face a forfeit loss. Familiarize yourself with the regulations in the event of ties. Have a plan ready should this eventuality occur.

Kit Colors

Each team will be asked to describe the kit they will be using during the event. There is space on the Event Roster for use in describing the kit colors and patterns your team will use. Please note the procedure that will be used to determine which team will be required to change kit should there be a conflict in kit colors. The Referee and/or the Western representative will determine whether a conflict does exist. See Event Regulations on the West web site.

Please note the space on the Event Roster to describe the colors and patterns of the kit your team will be using at the West Championships.

Uniforms and Equipment

The following is from USA Rugby and will be enforced during all matches in this competition:

    Jerseys

1. Cotton and synthetic blends are permitted

2. Must be collared, of full length, with sleeves of at least 2" when measured from the insert seam. Body and sleeve must be hemmed or banded. T-shirts are not permitted.

3. May be of any color or pattern, but all players must be of the same or approximately matching color and pattern.

4. Must be clean and in good repair and free from holes, tears, and rips.

5. Must be numbered 1-22 in not less than 4" size, numbers assigned to the proper position, in contrasting color, located in mid-center back.  Jerseys won by reserves should be numbered 16-22.

6. No mesh jerseys (open weave) will be allowed.

7. No tear-a-way jerseys will be allowed.

    Shorts

1. Must be "rugby shorts" and can be of any composition of cotton, cotton blend or 100% synthetic material.

2. May be of any color or length between 2" and knee length, but all players must be of the same or approximately matching color, pattern, and length.

3. Must be clean and in good repair and free from holes, tears, and rips.

    Socks

1. Cotton, wool, synthetic materials, and blends are permitted.

2. Must be of at least over the calf length.

3. Any color or pattern permitted, but all players must be of the same or approximately matching color and pattern. Different colors may be worn on each leg provided all players do so.

4. Must be clean and in good repair and free from holes, tears, and rips.

   1. It otherwise conforms to the laws.

   2. No portion extends beyond the sleeve or shorts hem (no bike shorts).

5. In exceptional and extraordinary climate conditions, for player’s safety, additional garment or accessories may be authorized by the referee. Such authorization shall be rarely given.

Water/ Half Time Refreshments

Your team is responsible for bringing the necessary supplies to the field.  Since the usual object is to refresh as many players as possible in the shortest period of time, it is suggested that you serve water in small bottles.  You may wish to purchase half-gallon jugs of water to save money, but you should have at least a half dozen smaller containers to serve the water.

Medical Support

Each team should have a procedure in place in case emergency services are required for an injury. Who will travel with the player? How and when should University officials be notified? How and when should family members be notified?

Trainers

Trainers will be on site for both days of the competition.  They will not be providing tape or pre-wrap, so plan to take you own when you visit them.

Hospitals

While there will be trainers on site for the event, as well as local access to the campus emergency treatment center, there are several local hospitals available should serious injuries occur. Maps to the nearest hospital will be available on site.

Ice

It is suggested that you purchase an inexpensive cooler and fill it with a few bags of ice for each of your matches. Coolers and ice may be purchased at several stores in the immediate vicinity.

Laundry

It is suggested that you organize team members to launder your playing kit after the first match. Playing in a dry, clean kit will be an advantage. Laundry facilities are typically available at your hotel.

Hotels

You are encouraged to reserve hotel space as soon as possible. As a reminder any inappropriate behavior in hotels does a disservice to our sport and your University. Any reported discipline problems at hotels will be dealt with under existing discipline procedure.

Remember you are representing your University and our sport while at any public place.

Match Officials

All officials have been appointed by the Western Rugby Referee Association.  The names of the officials assigned to the Saturday matches maybe found in the Kick Off Schedule document.

Contact for Match Officials

Gary Hartzel

(H) 719-388-4681

(C) 719-290-1111

(E) rugbyref10@aol.com