With this incessant rain of late I appreciate that there are many clubs struggling to get pitches fit for games this coming weekend. As such I thought I would remind you of the protocol should you be experiencing any problems.
- If the ground condition at the “HOME” club prevents a game from being played then the “AWAY” club MUST be given the opportunity to host the game on the specified day. If you are in doubt about the conditions of your own pitch, please make an early call, you must not leave it until last minute to inform the away side, they must be given an early opportunity to get the game played at their venue. Failure to adhere to this may result in an Away Walkover.
- If the ground condition of both clubs is unsuitable a neutral ground may be used. There are many clubs in the North Midlands who will have playable pitches this weekend – if you are in the local vicinity of one feel free to contact them, and if you are one of those with a playable pitch free this Sunday please be accommodating to our fellow rugby clubs who maybe struggling in the conditions.
- If no ground can be found that is suitable the game MUST be played on the following Sunday. If no venue can be found the game must be played next Sunday 24th November, with the only exception being if a team is missing players due to representative/academy commitments. This must override whatever else you have scheduled for next week as we need to get these first round games completed ASAP.
With all this in mind, there are a few things to remember. If you change venues please make sure you inform the referee of the change of venue immediately. Remember that even if the ground gets swapped, the Away team, in the event of a draw, is still the team who was drawn away in the initial tie, no matter where the game gets now played.
Hopefully this answers any questions you may have but if you do feel the need to contact me over the weekend, email is likely the best option because of work.
Best Regards
Alex