2025 NORTHERN REGION UNDER 19 MEN GRADE COMPETITION RULES

REFEREES: World Rugby Laws apply, with addition to the Laws that came into effect on the 1st July, to this grade including New Zealand Domestic Law Variations(NZDSLV), including some Experimental DSLV’s:

  • Law 3 Team – Under 19 Men teams have 23 players and are playing Premier Rules.

  • Law 4 Players’ Clothing – As per NZDSLV (Mouthguards compulsory)

  • Law 19 Scrum – As per NZDSLV. Development Men, Development Women, Divisional XV Men and Under 19 are Premier grades.

  • Head High Tackle framework in play – For all the following representative rugby - U13, U14, U15, U16, U18, U19, Heartland U20, Heartland Development, HPC, and FPC, the tackle height EDSLV (primary tackler contact point below the base of the sternum) will apply. Note: this EDSLV does not apply to Development Men grade ONLY.

  • Halfback Offside at Scrum – Not advance past the tunnel, remain within 1m of the scrum at tunnel – per DSLV’s

  • NO Game-ON Provisions

  • Cleaner play away from the Ruck/Maul/Scrum: A player who is, or was apart of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m, and who is attempting to play the ball away)

  • 30 seconds to form a lineout - Teams for the lineout within 30 seconds of a mark being made.

  • 60 seconds for conversions.

  • Croc Roll is now banned - A Prohibited action where a player laterally rolls/twists or pulls a player, who is on their feet in the tackle area, to ground. The action often lands on the players lower’s limbs.

  • Not Straight at an uncontested lineout - If the non-throwing team does not lift a teammate to compete for the ball. Then play shall continue.

  • Not straight at contested lineout - Is now a Free-Kick

  • No Scrum option at a free kick. It remains an option for penalty offences.

  • Referees and Assistant Referees will be appointed either by the Blues/Chiefs Regional Squad Referees coordinators, Provincial Union REO or Referees Association as co-ordinated by the Northern Region Referee Co-ordinator.

ELIGIBILITY: All players must have played for and be registered to a Club in the province they are playing for. Only in the situation where both unions are in agreement can a player play for another province.

PROOF OF AGE: It is the responsibility of the Manager of each team to carry with him / her proof that all players in the team comply with the age limit. Managers are to use the Northern Region Age Verification Sheet template. Players must be Under 19 as of the 1st January 2025.

DISPENSATIONS: Teams may have dispensated players who can all play in any fixtures inaccordance with the schedule below. Only Under 20 players (as at 1 January 2025) may be dispensated.   No fully contracted (PUC) U20 players may be dispensated into the Under 19 Men grade.  

Numbers of U19 Dispensations Permitted Per Provincial Union Based on Numbers of Registered Players as at NRRC Operations Meeting 15 May 2025

Provincial Union

Auckland

Nil - Number of Dispensated Players permitted

Nil - Number of Dispensated Players that must be Front Rowers

Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Waikato

4 - Number of dispensated players

2 - Number of Dispensated players that must be Front Rowers

Northland and Taranaki

8 - Number of Dispensated players

3 - Number of dispensated players that must be front rowers

Dispensated players must be notified to the NRRC Secretary and annotated on the Age Verification Sheet. Dispensated U19 players are to be registered with “(D)” after their last name so that it can be seen in the Managers App and on the Draws team lists.

TEAM NUMBERS: The maximum number of players in each squad is 23, of which 6 must be front-row trained. Up to eight substitutions may be made for any reason. (Refer Laws of the Game).

PLAYING TIME: The period of play shall be 40 minutes in each half with 5 minutes for half-time.

MATCH POINTS: Match points are to be awarded as 4 for a Win, 2 for a Draw, 1 for a loss within 7 points and 1 bonus point for 4 tries or more.

MATCH RESULTS: Notification of results must be via the RX Rugby Match Day App for Managers or, emailed through to your Provincial Union by 9.00am on the Monday following the game. The Provincial Unions will then send onto the NRRC Secretary sec.draws.nrrc@gmail.com who will collate results / points tables each week in the RX Competition Management System.

AFTERMATCH FUNCTIONS: There is no requirement for teams to present gifts after games.

ORDERING OFF & SIN BIN NOTIFICATION: Notification of all ordering offs and sin bins must be by the Referee through the RX Rugby Match Day App for Referees, or a completed form emailed to the Referees Home Union for sending on to the player’s Home Union. See Judicial-Discipline procedures for Home Unions dealing with disciplinary proceedings.

BEHAVIOUR STANDARDS: Teams are reminded that they are ambassadors to the sport, and to their Union, respect and good behaviour at all times. Bad language will not be tolerated on or off the field from player’s coaches and managers.