YRFU Premiership
Bradford & Bingley 2
Driffield 2
Harrogate 2
Huddersfield 2
Hull 2
Hull Ionians 2
O Brodleians 2
Otley 2
Sandal 2
Scunthorpe 2
Sheffield Tigers 2
Wharfedale 2

YRFU Championship
Cleckheaton 2
Ilkley 2
Keighley 2
Pontefract 2
Ripon 2
Scunthorpe 3
Selby 2
Sheffield 2
Wharfedale 3
West Park Leeds 2
Yarnbury 2
York 2

YRFU East District
Premier		 YRFU South District
League 1		 YRFU West Aire & Wharfe
League 1		 YRFU Central & North
League 1
Beverley 2Barnsley 2Baildon 2Castleford 2
Bridlington 2Dinnington 2Bradford Salem 2Knottingley 2
Driffield 3Doncaster Ph 2Cleckheaton 3Leodiensians 2
Hornsea (non league Sat)Hemsworth 2Heath 2Moortown 2
Hull MedicsRotherham Phoenix 2Huddersfield 3Morley 2
Malton & Norton 2Sheffield Medics 2Huddersfield YM 2O Modernians 2
Marist (on non league Sat)Sheffield Tigers 3Keighley 3Northallerton 2
Pocklington 2Thornensians 2N Ribblesdale 2Roundhegians 2
Scarborough 2Wath upon Dearne 2O Crossleyans 2Sandal 3
Wheatley Hills 2Skipton 2Selby 3
Sheffield 3Yarnbury 3W P Leeds 3
West Leeds 2

YRFU East District
Merit Table 1		 YRFU South District
Merit Table		 YRFU West Aire & Wharfe
League 2		 YRFU Central & North
League 2
Barton & DistrictBarnsley 3Airebrough 2Bramley Phoenix 2
Beverley 3Dinnington 3Bradford & Bingley 3Burley 2
BP ChemicalsHalifax HallBradford Salem 3Castleford 3
Goole 2Rotherham Clifton 2Baildon 3Harrogate Pythons 2
Hull 3Sheffield 4Halifax DukesLeeds Corinthians 2
Hull Ionians 3Sheffield Oaks 2Halifax Vandals 2Leeds Medics 2
Hullensians 2Stocksbridge 2Heath 3Leodiensians 3
Riding VikingsWath upon Dearne 3Huddersfield YMCA 3Morley 3
Scarborough 3WortleyOld Otliensians 2Ripon 3
Scunthorpe 4Wheatley Hills 3Old Rishworthians 2Thirsk
Withersea 2Ossett 2York 3
Otley 3York RI 2

YRFU East District
Merit Table 2		 YRFU Combined District
Merit Table 3
Bridlington 3Aireborough 3
Driffield 4Ilkley 3
Hessle 2Knaresborough 2
Hornsea 2Leodiensians 4
Hullensians 3Northallerton 3
Malton and Norton 3O Modernians 3
Pocklington 4Selby 4
Scarborough 4Wensleydale 2
Wetherby 2
Wharfedale 4
York 4

The Yorkshire Leagues & Merit Table Competition Rules

1. The Rules and Regulations of The Yorkshire Leagues & Merit Table Competition competition shall be known as the 'Yorkshire Rugby Football Union Leagues and Merit Tables'(LM`s) Competition.

2. The LM`s have the following objectives: -
a) encourage and facilitate a greater number of regular Saturday games for players of the participating clubs, who are not involved in the 'RFU League' structure.
b) encourage continued camaraderie between clubs and players at a district level.
c) provide a more competitive edge to matches
d) prepare younger players for the competitive involvement in league rugby.
e) encourage new players into the game.

3. Administration
The LM`s shall be supervised by Yorkshire RFU Ltd ("supervising Constituent Body"), who shall appoint the Community Rugby Standing Committee (Organiser`s) to administer them.
The Organiser(s) shall administer the Leagues and Merit Tables and make such decisions, as deemed appropriate, to run an efficient and fair competition. The Organiser(s) shall have the power to co-opt additional members for specific purposes. Decisions of the Organiser(s) are subject to review under the appeals procedure. (Clause 30 of Cup Shield and Silver Trophy Rules shall apply).
Each league/Merit Table shall be managed by a co-ordinator to whom all queries and disputes should be referred. This person is responsible for all that happens in their league and merit tables divisions
· Rules
The Organiser(s) shall have the power to alter or amend these rules and regulations, when necessary, but will advise and seek comment from all participating clubs of changes, if appropriate.
The Leagues consist of:- Premiership (12teams), Championship (12teams), South District (12 teams), Aire Wharf/West District Div 1 (12 teams), Central/North Districts Div 1(12 teams). Aire Wharf West District Division 2 (12 Teams), Central/North District Division 2 (12 Teams)
The Merit Tables consist of East District Premier (9 Teams), East District 1 (11), East District 2 (8) South District (10 Teams), and a Combined District Merit Table (10 Teams).
Each club in the competition must appoint at least one 'representative' to act as their liaison officer. To ease and speed up communications, the liaison officer will have direct access to e-mail. This method will ease the work load of the Organiser(s) and ensure that effective communication exists between all clubs and the Organiser(s).

4. Participation
To participate in any of the League and Merit table Competitions, clubs must be members of the Rugby Football Union ("eligible clubs"). Eligible clubs shall be invited to participate in the LM`s by the Organiser(s). Only clubs affiliated to the Yorkshire RFU, or others approved by Community Rugby, shall be invited to enter the competition. Clubs may not have more than one side in a division of the league tables, but may have more than one in a merit table provided they do not play one another.

5. Matches All matches in the competition shall be played under the Laws of the Rugby Football Union and shall comply with the appropriate byelaws, resolutions and regulations of the RFU.
Fixtures
Fixtures for the Premiership will be arranged by the league co-ordinator. All other fixtures will be arranged by clubs on nominated RFU league Saturdays following the RFU Structured season 2011-12. Participating clubs may mutually rearrange the fixture venues, where pitch availabilities clash. Any such changes must be notified to the Organiser by 31st August each season. In the event of a dispute between clubs as to when or where a game should be played, a decision will be made by the League Co-ordinator. All matches, whether pre-planned or re-arranged, should take precedence over any local cup competition or "friendly" match.
· Referee The home side shall be responsible for the organising of the referee and paying expenses. The home side shall use its best endeavours to secure the services of a referee from the Yorkshire Federation of Referees' Societies. In the event of the appropriate Society being unable to appoint a referee, the home side shall be responsible for providing a competent referee. Each team should provide a touch judge. The captains shall be responsible for informing the referee of the rules and regulations of the competition which effect playing, especially those referring to uncontested scrums.
· Playing Games All LM`s matches shall be played between 1st September and 30th April each season and shall be played on Saturday afternoons unless mutually agreed between the participating clubs concerned or as directed by the League Co-Ordinator. If any game is not to be played at the home ground of a club in membership of the Yorkshire RFU Ltd, then the Organiser's permission must be obtained, which shall not be withheld unless it is believed that the choice of venue unreasonably disadvantages the away side.
· Colour Clash Clubs should ensure that if a colour clash is likely to occur between clubs, arrangements for the home team to change are made when the match is confirmed.

6.Players
Only bona-fide playing members of participating clubs may play in competition matches and will be the players normally selected to represent that team. Club sides should be selected on an ability basis, such that each side is expected to be at a playing level above the team below.
· Replacements With the exception of Premier League matches, the number of replacements in League matches should not exceed three. Except that where the lowest team in a club is competing they will be allowed up to 6 replacements In Merit Table matches there will be a maximum of six replacements and rolling substitutions are allowed. Team captains must inform the referee before the commencement of the match the number of replacements to be used.
· Less than 15 Players Where a team has less then 15 players, it is in the spirit of the competition for the opposition to assist in providing players so that the game can take place. This is especially necessary in the merit table games. Should a team have less than nine players, then the match will be awarded to their opponents.
· Helping the Opposition Teams may loan players to the opposition should the opposition not have sufficient players. This will not affect the loan resulting club the right to points should they win the game. The expectation is that sportsmanship will prevail. · Strengthening Sides Teams must not be strengthened by players from senior sides, where games have been cancelled or are not played for any reason. When a club has more than one team participating in the competition, should a cancellation occur due to lack of players, the cancellation should commence with the lowest side. Should this process not occur, then the League Co-ordinator may penalise the club concerned by deducting two points from each side that played, where it is considered teams gained an unfair advantage.
· Front Row Replacements There is no requirement for front row replacements. However in order to comply with the Laws of the Game, if clubs do elect to have replacements they must have at least four players in their team capable of playing in the front row. In the event of uncontested scrums for all or part of the game the result will stand as though contested scrums had taken place throughout.
· Uncontested Scrums Teams are expected to have a front row available for games and only on exceptional occasions should matches commence with 'uncontested scrums'. Any side that is unable to commence more than two games without a front row will be penalised by the loss of two points on each further occasion. Clubs must alert their opponents, prior to the game, as soon as they aware that they will be unable to field a full front row, so that the opportunity to offer a replacement player is given. Both the home and away sides are required to advise the League Co-Ordinator whenever a side commences a match with 'uncontested scrums' due to a shortage of front row players. Additionally, the clubs involved must also advise if a game moved to 'uncontested scrums' during the course of a game and the approximate time of this change. If a side shows a pattern of moving to 'uncontested scrums', the organiser will review the occurrences with the club and deduct points if it was considered to be unfair play.

7. Promotion and Relegation
Promotion and relegation will take place at the end of the season.
The lowest two teams will be relegated from YRFU Premiership
The two highest teams will be promoted from YRFU Championship
The two lowest teams in YRFU Championship will be relegated to their respective District competition.
Two teams will be promoted to YRFU Championship from YE1, YS1, YAWW1, YCN1. This will be determined by a play off between the respective winners of each division on a home and away basis. The Winners of YE1 will play the winners of YS1 and the winners of YAWW1 will play the winners of YCN1 on the first two free Saturdays at the end of the RFU 12 Team League Season.. These fixtures will be rotated in successive seasons.
The two highest teams in YCMT 3 will be promoted to the respective District league. The lowest team from YCN2 and YAWW2 will be relegated to YCMT3 (combined merit table) However, a club may formally request that their team remains in the same table In this case the Organiser will determine whether or not to promote a team, based upon the arguments given and the relativity of the playing strengths of the other teams. Clubs cannot be promoted or relegated where this would place two sides from the same club in one league.

8. Determination of Points and Winners
Points awarded shall determine the position of sides within the league/merit tables. Four points shall be awarded for a win, two points for a draw and no points for a loss. Bonus points will be awarded for scoring four or more tries by either side and a losing bonus point where a team loses by seven points or less. In Merit Table games the average calculation will be used by adding the total number of points accumulated and dividing by the number of games played.
· League Position If points awarded are equal then the side having the greater points difference shall take the higher position. If the sides still cannot be separated then the side having scored the most points in the competition shall take the higher position. If this method still fails to determine the winner at the end of the season, then the side scoring the most points in the matches between the tied clubs shall be declared the winner.
· Not Fulfilling Games In the event of any club failing to fulfil a game owing to the weather the match should be played on the next available Saturday. In the event of any club failing to fulfil a game, other than for a postponement due to the pitch being unusable, they shall forfeit the game. The non-offending side shall be deemed to have won the game 25-0 and shall be awarded 5 points. The offending side will receive no points. Teams cancelling matches should make their decision and advise their opposition by 21.00 on Wednesday at the latest. Early advice should be the 'norm'. Where late cancellation occurs, without good reason, the Organiser can penalise the team concerned by deducting points. If a side fails to honour five or more fixtures then the League Co-ordinator may exclude that side from the competition. In the case of a side being excluded or withdrawing all their results will be expunged. If the weather causes the game to be abandoned with less than sixty minutes having been played, the game shall be deemed to have been drawn 0:0. If the game is abandoned for any other reason (serious injury) then the game should be replayed on the next available Saturday. The match shall be postponed if either Captain regards the pitch as unplayable. The referee's opinion may be sought, but it is the decision of the Captains whether to play the game or not.

9. Notification of Results
Both teams shall be responsible for:-
· confirming the score with the referee
· informing the League Co-ordinator, by e-mail of the result and score of their match or cancellation of the game, no later than 12.00 midday on the Monday following the match at the latest. Earlier advice is preferred.
· On the second and each subsequent occasion that a club fails to notify the League Co-ordinator of the match result or the postponement of the match before the deadline, the League Co-Ordinator may deduct one point from their points awarded total.


P Morgan & A Proud
1/6/2011