By-Laws

Last Updated: 1 November 2011

1. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

  1. The Auckland Rugby League Incorporated (the ARL) shall keep a record of the names and grades of all players who are members of the ARL.
  2. The ARL has the right to decline a player’s membership application.
  3. Each playing member when making application for membership must nominate a club under whose jurisdiction he/she will play until transferred or cleared in the manner hereafter provided. Player Registration or Maintenance Forms will be accepted by facsimile transmission or email attachment, however it is the responsibility of the club to ensure that the original member’s Registration or Maintenance Form has been received bythe ARL and stamp-certified.
    1. All new players registering to play rugby league for any age-restricted team must produce proof of age by presentation of a Birth Certificate, Passport, Photographic Drivers Licence or School Identification Card.
    2. Players in Mini or Mod football may also be registered on presentation of a letter from their school showing their date of birth, but before being eligible for participation in championship football playoffs or representative teams, must produce the evidence required in (d)(i).
    3. The minimum age a player can be registered is four (4) years of age on or after 1 January in the year of registration.
    1. All players in age-restricted grades from U/13 years but not including Open Age Restricted teams must have a league photo identification and be available prior to all games for the opposition team officials and officials of the ARL to examine if called upon. If no league photo identification is produced then the player cannot take the field of play.
    2. All league photo identifications will include name, date of birth and photograph. A photo registration fee will be set annually.
    3. A League photo identification card is transferable to a player’s new club.
    4. A player taking the field after failure to produce the League photo identification card on request/demand will result in a penalty fine and loss of competition points, the fine to be decided by the ARL.
    5. Should a team be unable to produce sufficient photographic identifications on request/demand to field a team under the minimum eligibility number of 9, then the game shall be classed as a default and the opposition team if able to field a team will be awarded 2 competition points and 30-nil result for calculation of percentages.
    6. For all non-competition grades (U/6-U/12), a copy of the Team’s Player Registration or Maintenance Forms must be available prior to all games for opposition team officials and officials of the ARL if called upon. If no Registration or Maintenance Form is produced then the team cannot take the field.
  6. The ARL has the right to set a one-month dispensation policy at the commencement of the season.
  7. For all new players, who register with a club but do not take the field for that club and subsequently register with another club, the original registration will be invalid.
  8. No player may register for any club other than the club for which he last played, without the required transfer or clearance.
  9. For a team registration to be accepted by the ARL the minimum number of registered players listed must be:
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    International Grade:          Under 12 to Premier:         13
    Mod Football:                      Under 10 to Under 11:       11
    Mini Football:                      Under 6 to Under 9:              8
  10. Mixed gender participation is only able to be played up to 12 years of age.
  11. The minimum age to play open age or open weight rugby league is 17 years of age at 1 January in the year of participation.

DUAL REGISTRATION

Auckland Players

  1. The registration is held by the club for whom the player was registered prior to his contracting with the NZ Warriors teams during the duration of his contract with the Warriors’ teams.
  2. If the player moves on from the NZ Warriors teams at the conclusion of his contract and his movement is subject to a fee, that fee accrues to the ARL for distribution in accordance with the New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated policy.

Non-Auckland Players

  1. Players coming to the NZ Warriors from outside the ARL are required to register with a club under the jurisdiction of the ARL selected on a ballot system to be determined each year by ARL.
  2. Any transfer fee entitlement when the player leaves the NZ Warriors remains with the NZ Warriors.

2. TRANSFERS

  1. Any player registering for a club other than that for whom he or she last played will  require a transfer from the club for whom he or she last played in the ARL, under following circumstances:
    1. He or she is returning to Auckland from overseas play on an amateur clearance.
    2. He or she is returning to the ARL after having played rugby league in any other New Zealand District/Zone and last played in the ARL within the preceding 12 months.
    3. He or she played for an Auckland club, Auckland District/Zone team or National team within the previous 12 months, and has not played for any other football code in the interim.
    4. He or she is joining an ARL club for the first time, but had played rugby league elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas, and is required to transfer from his or her former club under the rules of the New Zealand Rugby Football League.
    1. No transfer will be required for any player in non-competition Football grades.
    2. No transfer will be required for any player in Junior Competition Grades (U13 – U16) unless they subsequently move clubs in the season of registration.
    3. Only one (1) approved transfer per player can be submitted to the same club in which a player has transferred to in any playing season.
    1. Interprovincial and International transfers will be approved by the ARL administration.
    2. All transfers within Auckland will be approved by the ARL administration.
  4. All transfers must be completed per on-line transfer processes.
  5. No transfers will be accepted during the period commencing:
    1. 1 June and ending 31 October in each year for all age restricted grades including women and Premier 2nd grades.
    2. 1 May and ending 31 October in each year for all premiership grades.

Off Season Transfers for the period 1 NOVEMBER TO 14 FEBRUARY

  1. Any player wishing to transfer must submit an on-line transfer request to the League.
  2. In submitting the on-line request the club to which the player is transferring:
    1. Shall certify that they have no financial obligations to the former club and have read and understood the transfer rules and regulations of the League.
    2. In clearing the player, the new club has had certified by the player (and if under the age of 18 a parent/guardian), that they have read and understood the transfer rules and regulations of the League and agree to the transfer.
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      The club from which the player is transferring will have 14 days from the date of the on-line application to either approve the transfer, refuse to approve the transfer, or advise the of any transfer fee or conditions.
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      If no advice is received within 14 days, the transfer will be granted by the ARL administration.
  3. A processing fee will be payable for all transfer applications to be set annually by the ARL.
  4. Under no circumstances can a player be denied a transfer if the club to whom he or she wishes to transfer pays the requested transfer fee and the player does not have any financial or contractual obligations to his or her former club or hold club property from the previous season.
    1. Financial obligations are defined as Annual Club Subscriptions.
    2. Contractual obligations are defined as any signed contract between the player and his/her former club that has not been fulfilled.
    3. Club property is defined as trophies or football playing gear.
  5. Clubs from whom a player is transferring may claim a transfer fee up to and including the following:
    1. Junior Kiwi, New Zealand Resident or New Zealand XIII in the preceding 2 years: Up to $3,500.00
    2. Auckland Representative or Auckland Vulcan Representative in the preceding 2 years once 3 or more games have been played: Up to $3,500.00
    3. Auckland Premier Representative, Auckland or Counties/Manukau Zone Premier Representative in the preceding 2 years once 3 or more games have been played: Up to $ 2,000.00
    4. Premiership Player (3 or more games in preceding season): Up to $750.00
    5. Premiership Senior 1st Grade Player (3 or more games in preceding season): Up to $250.00
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      Fees are inclusive of GST.
  6. When a club from which a player is transferring wishes to place a transfer fee and/or defined By-Law conditions on the transfer as outlined in (d) and (e), they shall advise within 14 days via the on-line transfer system the fee or defined By Law conditions requested.
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    The club must pay the fee or meet any defined By-Law conditions within 14 days of the date notice, at which time the player is free to register with his or her new club. If payment or any defined By-Law conditions are not received within 14 days of the notice, the transfer request will be considered withdrawn until such time as conditions are met or new conditions negotiated.
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    The ARL reserves the right to grant interim transfer approval or any inter-club transfer.
  7. If any Senior or Junior grade player is transferred within this period and participates in three or more Premiership or Premiership 1st Grade games within 12 months of the date of his transfer, his former club may claim a fee of up to $750.00 for Premiership grades or $250.00 for Premier 1st Grade. The fee will be payable immediately the player participates in his third game in each grade.
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    If the club to whom he or she transfers does not pay any fee claimed within 14 days of being served notice by the former club, the player shall be declared ineligible to play until such time as the fee is paid. In the event of the player ceasing to play after the transfer fee has been claimed, the club shall still be required to pay the transfer fee to his or her former club.
  8. During this period no club shall receive any more than three (3) players in any grade. In assessing this, each grade shall count as a separate grade.

IN Season Transfers – 15 February – 30 April or 31 May:

During this period any player requiring a transfer must complete an on-line transfer request to the ARL. he former club must advise within 14 days of the date of notification whether it has approved the transfer request, declined it, or under what conditions it will approve the transfer.

The following are acceptable conditions only:

  1. Payment of the requested transfer fee to a maximum of the Transfer Fee Schedule.
  2. Payment of any financial obligations in the preceding or current season.
  3. Signed Contractual obligations to his/her former club in the preceding or current season.
  4. Return of club property defined as trophies or football playing gear.

When such conditions are placed on the transfer, the club may meet any such conditions within 14 days of the date of notice, at which time the player is free to register with his new club. If no acceptance of such conditions is received within 14 days, the transfer request will be deemed to have been withdrawn until such time as conditions are met or new conditions negotiated.

A processing fee will be payable for all transfer applications to be set annually by the ARL.

Appeals

Any player refused a transfer will have the right of appeal to an appointed Transfer Appeals Committee appointed annually by the ARL.

  1. Any party aggrieved at the decision of the Transfer Appeals Committee may have the right of appeal to the Independent Appeals Committee, such appeal to be lodged with the ARL within 48 hours of the decision being reached and received in writing.
  2. A fee of $100.00 must accompany any appeal lodged to the Independent Appeals Committee and shall be forfeited in the event the appeal being unsuccessful.
  3. Any party aggrieved at a decision of the Independent Appeals Committee may have a further right of appeal to the New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated Appeals Committee, such appeal to be lodged with the ARL within 48 hours of the decision being reached and received in writing.
  4. A fee of $500.00 must accompany any appeal lodged to the New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated Appeals Committee.

3. CLEARANCES

  1. Any player registering for a club other than that for whom he or she last played will require a clearance from the club for whom he or she last played to confirm he or she has no obligations to his or her club, under the following circumstances:
    1. He or she last played for an Auckland Club or District or Zone team or New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated National team 12 months previously but not exceeding 24 months.
    2. He or she last played for an Auckland club but has played overseas on an amateur clearance over 12 months but not exceeding 24 months.
  2. No clearance will be required for any player Junior Grades.
  3. No clearances will be accepted in the period 1 May to 31 October for premiership  grades or 1 June to 31 October in senior and junior grades.
  4. Any player wishing to obtain clearance from his or her former club must submit an on- line clearance.
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    The club from whom the player is seeking a clearance shall have 14 days from the date of notification to approve or advise of any reason to refuse the clearance. If no advice is received within 14 days, the clearance will be granted.
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    If any clearance is refused by the players’ former club, the former club will serve notice of the reasons to the club to which the player wishes to be cleared. The club will have 14 days to rectify the reasons for refusal of the clearance, and the player will be free to register with his or her new club when this has been done. If no such rectification is completed within 14 days of the notice, the clearance request will be deemed to have been withdrawn.
  5. In submitting an on-line clearance request, the club to whom the player is applying for  a clearance has had the player certify (and if under the age of 18 a parent or  guardian) that they have read and understood the transfer/clearance rules and  regulations of the ARL.
  6. No transfer fee is payable on clearances and conditions applicable are as per Clause  2- Transfers (h) – (ii) and (iv).

4. GRADES

The ARL shall consist of the divisions known as Premiership, Senior and Junior grades.

Premiership Grades

All clubs in the Premiership grades must field teams in accordance with the directions of the Board of Directors and otherwise on the following basis:

    1. Any Premiership grade club failing to conform with any determined participation  criteria laid down by the Board of Directors shall be relegated.
    2. The Board of Directors shall have the power to invite any other club to fill any vacancy left by the relegation of a Premiership grade club on criteria stipulated by the Board of Directors. It will not be mandatory for the Board to replace any relegated club.
    3. The Premiership grade competition divisions and playoffs will be played as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.
    1. In assessing team requirements for maintenance of Premiership eligibility, clubs must have the required number of teams by 1 May and maintain them in weekly competition of officially allocated matches until at least 31 July.
    2. The Board of Directors shall call for any required evidence from the Football Committee to satisfy itself that Premiership grade clubs have met their requirements to field the required teams.

Senior Grades:

  1. All football between the Under 17 grade and OAR football will be classified as senior grades.
  2. Age restricted weights will be determined annually by the Football Committee.

Junior Grades:

  1. All football from the Under 16 grade and below will be classified as junior grades.
  2. Age restricted weights will be determined annually by the Football Committee.

5. CONDUCT OF COMPETITIONS

  1. Premiership Grades
    1. All Premiership Grade Competitions and play-off series formats will be played as determined by the Board of Directors.
    2. In determining the classification of Premiership grade competition divisions they will be referred to as Fox Memorial, Sharman Cup and Phelan Shield.
    3. All premiership trophies shall be played for in a manner determined by the Board of Directors.
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      Senior and Junior Grades
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    4. The Football Committee shall determine all grade competitions and play-off series formats under their respective control.
    5. No championships will be played in Mini and Mod football grades.
  2. Competition Rules
    1. For all Premiership, Senior and Junior competitions, two (2) points shall be awarded for a win and one (1) point for a draw. Should a bye be necessary in a grade competition, a 30-nil score-line shall be awarded for calculation of percentages.
    2. For all play-off series format matches that end in a draw in normal playing time, an extra five minutes each way will be played. If the game is still a draw at the  conclusion of extra time, Golden Point will apply i.e the first team to score any points will be the winner.
    3. In the case of a tie on points in the championship rounds, the points for and against percentage will be used to determine each team’s position and decide which team progresses into the play-off series format.
    4. To qualify for any play-off series format determined, players must have played a majority of their football in the preceding seven (7) weeks prior to the commencement of the play-off series in that team or a lower grade except in the circumstance where a player has not qualified under this clause due to any official representative team playing commitments in the defined preceding seven (7) weeks.
    5. No competition games are to be played without goalpost bolsters on the goalposts.
    6. The minimum number of players for a team to take the field is (9)

6. TEAM CARDS

    1. All teams in competition grades will be required to correctly complete the team cards prior to the commencement of their game. The team cards must have the player’s first name, surname and signature completed correctly on the team card for all competition games.
    2. All Teams in non-competition grades (U/6 to U/12) will be required to complete team cards prior to the commencement of each game. For all  U/6 to U/9 grades, the team cards must have the player’s first name  and surname inserted correctly on the team card as per their registration for all games, and for all U/10-U/12 grades the team card must have the player’s first name, surname and signature inserted correctly on the team card per their registration for all games.
  2. All competition grades team cards are to be handed to the ARL office by the appointed club representative within eight (8) days of the completion of the match. For all Premiership games, a copy of the team card must also be faxed or emailed to the ARL by the Monday following the game.

7. DEFAULTS

  1. Any team unable to participate in their game must inform the ARL Office at the  earliest opportunity.
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    Any team failing to notify the ARL in writing prior to 12 noon on the last working day prior to the fixture will be fined:
    1. Junior Grades: U6 to U16 $50.00
    2. Senior Grades: U17 to Ladies $100.00
    3. Pemiership Grades $500.00
    4. For all Senior and Junior Grades the fine shall be payable to the club in which the default was not notified and for all premiership grades 50% of the fine will be payable to the club in which the club was defaulted against.
  2. Any team failing to field a side on two consecutive occasions or three in total will be withdrawn from the competition. Any team so affected may apply to the Football Committee and be reinstated into the competition if the Committee is satisfied it can meet its commitments.
  3. The Football Committee may suspend or remove any team from the competition that does not meet its commitments for reasons other than a shortage of players.
  4. In all defaults two points shall be awarded to the opposition with a 30-nil score-line for calculation of percentages. In the event of a team defaulting from the same club competing in the same competition grade no 30-nil score line will be awarded.

8. PROTESTS AND OUT OF ORDER PLAYERS

The ARL shall adjudicate on all protests for Premiership grades and the Football Committee will adjudicate on all protests for grades under the jurisdiction, and be responsible for policing the rules, under which their competitions are played.

    1. In the event of any player discovered to be playing without a registration, without the necessary transfer or clearance in a grade for which he or she is not eligible or under an incorrect name, the ARL or Football Committee will advise the club with full details in writing. The club must present any evidence if they wish to dispute the ARL or Committee’s findings within 14 days.
    2. In the event of the player being found to be out-of-order, the club shall be fined $50.00 for the first offence and for each subsequent offence after notice was served by the ARL.
    3. Championship points won in any game in which an out-of-order player participated will be forfeited and awarded to the non-offending team.
    1. Teams may protest against their opposition if they believe a player or players from the opposition are for any reason ineligible to compete in the grade or team in which they played.
    2. In all cases the names of any challenged player(s) must be printed on the back of the team card of both teams, along with the reason for the protest, and be signed by both coaches, the challenged player(s) and the Referee. The challenged player(s) must appear at the time and place advised to all clubs annually. Should any challenged player or his or her coach refuse to sign the team card, the protest will be deemed to have been won.
    3. All protests must be supported by a letter from the club being submitted to the ARL within 48 hours of the game being played, and shall be accompanied by a fee of $20.00 per challenged player. The fee shall be forfeited if the protest is not upheld.
    4. In each case where the protest has been upheld, the team with the players who have been successfully challenged shall lose any championship points, and they will be awarded to the non-offending side if the non offending side is in order.
    5. Any player found to be overweight may be permitted to play for any higher age team for which his or her weight makes him or her eligible, but must be reweighed before he or she may again play in the grade in which he or she was successfully challenged. Any challenged player may elect to be weighed without football gear or clothing in order to assess his or her weight.
    1. Any club may appeal a protest decision in writing to the ARL within 48 hours of  being served notice of the decision by the ARL. Any appeal must be  accompanied by a $100.00 appeal fee, which is forfeited in the case of an  unsuccessful appeal.
    2. For any appeal on a protest decision, the club may appeal to the Independent Appeals Committee within 48 hours of being served notice by the ARL. Any appeal mustbe accompanied by a $100.00 appeal fee, which will be forfeited in the case of an unsuccessful appeal.

9. OFFICIAL OF THE LEAGUE EMPOWERED TO REFEREE GAME WHEN NO OFFICIAL REFEREE AVAILABLE

  1. If no Referee of the ARL is available to referee the match, teams must agree to a replacement Referee to ensure the game is played, and the match will be recognised by the ARL.
  2. In the event of the teams not agreeing to the match being refereed by a replacement for the appointed Referee, the coaches of the teams or their appointee shall each referee half of the match, with the coaches determining which of them or their appointee is to referee the first half of the match by the toss of a coin, PROVIDED HOWEVER that if a match is play off series match and the teams have not agreed to the match being refereed by a replacement for the appointed Referee, the match shall be considered postponed with no points being awarded to either team, and the match shall be replayed at a later time and date to be determined by the ARL or Football Committee.
  3. In the event of a match being started under the control of a replacement Referee and the Referee appointed to the match subsequently arrives, the appointed Referee must take over control of the match at a suitable time and control for the balance of the unplayed time.

10. TIMEKEEPERS

  1. The ARL shall appoint Official Timekeepers for all Premiership grade matches. All premiership clubs will nominate 1 designated person at the commencement of each season.
  2. The official Timekeeper shall be the sole judge of time.

11. UNIFORMS

  1. The uniform of the ARL shall be as decided by the Board of Directors from time to time and the colours shall be blue, red and white. All players taking part in the ARL competitions shall be attired in correct club uniform and the Referees may refuse any player not so attired permission to play the match.
  2. Club uniforms must be approved by the Board of Directors.

12. PASSES

  1. The ARL may issue passes to admit pass-holders to games under the jurisdiction of the ARL with the exception of any charity games or other fixtures that the ARL may from time to time decide.
  2. Passes shall be available to:
    1. Board of Directors;
    2. Football Committee;
    3. ARL Sub-Committee members and co-opted members;
    4. ARL staff;
    5. Referees’ Association Executive;
    6. Life Members;
    7. Referees
    8. All Premier, Senior and Junior coaches and managers
    9. Club Committees and officials
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      The Board of Directors may set a maximum per club if it so decides.
  3. Passes may be used by the person nominated and are not transferable. The Board of Directors may cancel any pass if it so decides.

13. TEAMS TRAVELLING

  1. When a team wishes to travel outside Auckland, whether or not to play a game, the club must apply to the ARL on the appropriate New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated Travel Forms with the relevant documentation required.
  2. All teams travelling will be required to lodge the relevant New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated Travel Bond at the time of application. Bonds will be repayable on receipt of a formal tour report after travel is completed if no complaints are received. All tour bonds are held by the New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated.
  3. The ARL will be empowered to investigate any complaints of misconduct on team trips, and take any action deemed appropriate. It may also take whatever disciplinary action against the club or any person(s) resulting from any such investigation. Any financial compensation liability on the travelling club for any reason shall not be limited to the bond.

14. VISITING TEAMS

When a club wishes to host a team from outside Auckland, whether or not to play a game, the club must apply to the ARL per the New Zealand Rugby League Incorporated travel regulations.

15. CLUB REPORTING OBLIGATIONS TO THE LEAGUE

All clubs must advise the ARL in writing of the date of its Annual General Meeting not less than 14 days prior to its meeting as required by the ARL Constitution. Refer also to clause 13 of the Constitution, Reports and Balance Sheets

16. OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS

  1. All clubs are required to pay outstanding accounts to the ARL when they fall due for payment. Any monies remitted to the ARL by a club shall be applied in payment of the oldest debt to the ARL.
  2. The Board of Directors shall have the power to charge penalty interest on outstanding  accounts.
  3. The Board of Directors may refuse to allow the transfer of any player when the transfer is subject to a transfer fee to any club which has outstanding debts to the ARL or in the opinion of the Board of Directors has an excessive debt level.
  4. Any club entitled to any monies payable by the ARL will have any outstanding account balance deducted from monies payable to that club before remittance of any balance due.

17. TROPHIES

  1. The Board of Directors or Football Committee shall allocate trophies as it sees fit.
  2. All trophies remain the property of the ARL.

18. BLAZERS

  1. All persons qualifying under the following criteria may apply in writing to the Board of Directors to wear the ARL Blazer:
    1. A Premiership player having represented the ARL on at least 10 occasions.
    2. Any member of the ARL Premiership team when playing overseas.
    3. Any member of the Board of Directors.
    4. Any member of the Football Committee who has served 5 consecutive years.
    5. Any club Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer or Club Captain having served five consecutive years or eight years total service to their club.
    6. Any Referee with five consecutive years service or eight years total service.
    7. Any President of the ARL upon election.
  2. The Board of Directors shall present a Blazer to any Representative player having represented the ARL on 25 or more occasions. It shall also be entitled to award a Blazer to any persons who have, in their opinion, given outstanding service to the ARL.
  3. The Board of Directors may cancel any person’s right to wear the ARL Blazer if, in its opinion, the person has acted in any way contrary to the interests of rugby league.
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    In each case, the Blazer will be worn with the appropriate recognition of the applicant’s position.

19. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The Board of Directors may present Distinguished Service Awards to any person, organisation or team who, in their opinion, has given special and meritorious service to the game of rugby league in Auckland.

20. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM COMMITMENTS

  1. Any player picked for a Representative team will not be eligible to play for clubs for 72 hours prior to his/her representative commitments, provided however that the Board of Directors may waive this restriction at its discretion.
  2. Any player who withdraws from a Representative team will not be permitted to play for his/her club for 72 hours after the conclusion of the Representative fixture, except that in the case of withdrawal from injury, he/she may be cleared to play by the ARL doctor if he/she was examined by that doctor prior to his/her withdrawal from the Representative team, and the ARL doctor is satisfied of his/her fitness, allowing him/her to resume playing for his/her club.

21. JUDICIAL

  1. The Judicial Committee will meet weekly on a day determined annually for the duration of the season. If a public holiday falls on the determined day, the Judicial Committee will meet on the following day.
  2. Any player ordered off the field of play is required to immediately leave the field of play and retire to his teams dressing room and change from his football gear. If requested, the Referee shall advise the player’s Captain of the reason for the player(s) dismissal from the field of play.
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    Any player ordered from the field of play must attend the next meeting of the Judicial Committee.
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    Any other person ordered to report to the Judicial Committee shall be required to attend the first available meeting of the Judicial Committee if advised by the Referee, Board of Directors or duly authorised Committee to do so, or if any other person’s attendance is required by the Judicial Committee and notice has been served on the person or his/her club in writing.
  3. In the event of a Match being abandoned due to misconduct of players or team officials or spectators, the referee shall forward a full report to the next meeting of the Judicial Committee. The captain, Coach and Manager of both teams together with the Match Referee are required to attend the next meeting of the Judicial Committee following the abandoned game.
  4. Failure to attend any meeting as detailed above will render the person, or team in the case of an abandoned game or team misconduct, suspended from all Rugby League activities until such time as they appear at a meeting of the Judicial Committee. The Judicial Committee or Board of Directors or Football Committee shall have the power to waive a suspension pending an appearance, if it believes it to be warranted.
  5. No evidence will be presented to any member of the Judicial Committee prior to the commencement of the meeting.
  6. Any person required to attend a Judicial Committee meeting to answer any allegation against him/her shall be read the written report received, and be given the opportunity to reply to the allegation.
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    In any disputed hearing the alleged offender will be permitted to present a witness in his/her defence. The Judicial Committee shall then permit any additional witness/evidence it may consider appropriate, in order to establish the guilt/innocence of the reported party, before reaching its conclusion.
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    In the case of Junior players, the Committee must allow an advocate to speak, in place of or in addition to the player, if requested by the player.
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    If a player requests the opportunity to present further evidence, he/she may request an adjournment. If the case is adjourned, the player will stand down from all play until he/she reappears.
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    At the conclusion of a Judicial Committee hearing on any allegation, a player shall be allowed an advocate to speak on his/her character/record.