Updated February 1, 2023
The RRRC & TRU require all clubs to have a team “eligibility book” that includes player identification and citizenship information. The “book” is designed to verify that clubs are complying with USA Rugby’s current Eligibility Regulations.
Clubs are encouraged to complete a book check prior to all matches. If clubs forgo this process, they also forgo the right to contest a match on eligibility or citizenship grounds.
Need a quick and easy template? West Houston was kind enough to share an example.
Spot Checks:
In order to ensure that all clubs are aware of this requirement, prepared for any book check that may be requested by an opposing team, and prepared for playoffs, RRRC Committee members will be conducting book spot checks throughout the balance of the competitive season. This is your notice that these checks will be occurring.
Please also take notice that complete eligibility documentation is mandatory for all playoff rounds, including any Red River Rugby Conference Quarterfinals and Playoffs. Playoff matches will NOT be played under protest. If your eligibility book is not in order for a playoff match, your club will forfeit the match.
Playing under Protest:
Book checks should be expected at all matches that a TRRA referee has been assigned. Unless a number 4 referee has been assigned, TRRA Referee’s are not involved in the book checking process. If a club has a pre-match protest, they should notify the referee before the match kicks off. Lodging a protest does NOT mean the match is cancelled. Games will be played “under protest”. The only acceptable reason not to play a match would be for player safety reasons. This is the only “ruling” that the referee will make outside their normal match day procedures.
As soon as possible after the match, you should email the details of your protest to the TRU / RRRC Administrator (admin@texasrugbyunion.com), copying the administrative contact for your opponent. If there is a deficiency in a club’s eligibility paperwork, they will have 24 hours from this notice to cure the defects by submitting the appropriate paperwork to the TRU / RRRC Administrator and the protesting club. The RRRC (or its designees) will adjudicate all disputes regarding the sufficiency of eligibility paperwork.
Book Format and Contents:
BOOK FORMAT:
Books can be hard copies of player identification or citizenship or digital copies. We would recommend that for the digital option that a tablet is used for a larger viewing. Digital images should be arranged in roster order. Hard copy books should be arranged in alphabetical order by player last name.
Due to identity theft concerns, we highly recommend that you redact passport, driver’s license, and similar numbers, as well as parents’ names from birth certificates, before storing digital copies of eligibility documents online.
BOOK CONTENTS:
The following is a guide to documentation that should be maintained at all times from the start of the Competitive Season by a responsible club official. This documentation should be made available upon demand and/ or prior to participation in any Qualifying Match/Event and USA Club Rugby Championship Event.
A player may be required to submit documentation to prove as needed (a) identity; (b) citizenship status and/or qualification as a resident (as opposed to a Non-Resident or Non-Citizen Player); (c) USA Rugby Registration; (d) waiver granted by USA Rugby; and (e) college enrollment. Players unable to provide appropriate documentation will be deemed ineligible to play in Qualifying Matches/Tournament and/or assigned Non-Resident or Non-Citizen Player status for purposes of eligibility.
Acceptable documentation, original or a legible copy which may be paper or electronic (cell phone, laptop or tablet), includes:
- Proof of Identification
- Current government issued photo identification and/or official school-issued ID for students.
- Proof of U.S. Residency for Fifteens National Qualifier Eligibility can be verified with:
- Government-issued photo ID accompanied by a birth certificate, copy or original, from a U.S. state or territory.
- Official school-issued ID for students accompanied by a birth certificate, copy or original, from a U.S. state or territory.
- Original or copy of photo page of U.S. passport. or U.S. passport card, or Enhanced Driver’s License.
- Original or copy of Naturalization Certificate accompanied by a Government or school-issued photo ID.
- Original or copy of Permanent (Green Card) or Conditional Permanent Resident.
- Original or copy of Native American Tribal Identification Card.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship for Sevens Eligibility can be verified with:
- Government-issued photo ID accompanied by a birth certificate from a U.S. state or territory.
- Original or copy of photo page of U.S. passport. or U.S. passport card/Enhanced Driver’s License.
- Original or copy of Naturalization Certificate accompanied by a Government or school-issued photo ID.
- Original or copy of Native American Tribal Identification Card.
- Official school-issued ID for students accompanied by a birth certificate from a U.S. state or territory.
NOT acceptable
- A Social Security Card is not sufficient to confirm proof of U.S. Citizenship or Residency.
- A Real ID Card is not sufficient to confirm proof of U.S. Citizenship or Residency.
- An EAD ID Card is not sufficient to confirm proof of U.S. Citizenship or Residency.
- Documentation in reference to the pursuit of permanent or conditional resident status in order to facilitate a player’s participation in the competition is NOT sufficient.
Other Recommended Items
- Proof of current member registration can be verified with a printout from USA Rugby website showing valid registration dates.
- Proof of official waiver from USA Rugby can be verified with a waiver letter signed by the Senior Club Eligibility Committee Chair, delivered by electronic mail, displaying player name, club, and the specific Regulation waived.
- Roster printed from CMS or USA Rugby Public Rosters
- Match Roster for current match printed from CMS, which should be signed and presented to the referee prior to the match.
- Completed FRONT ROW WAIVERS for current match from TRU website, which should be signed and presented to the referee prior to the match.
- Post-Match CMS Rosters for each match played proving players have played in the minimum amount of matches, and (for clubs fielding multiple sides of the same gender) demonstrating players have not played in too many matches at a higher division.
Book Check Procedures:
- We recommend completing the book check at least an hour before kick-off as to not interfere with either team’s warm up. If the books are in order these checks can be done in 3-5 minutes.
- There are two types of checks: (A) a “Records Only” check; and (B) an “In-Person” check. NOTE: In Person checks will be performed for all regional and national playoff matches. In-Person checks are recommended for regular-season matches.
- A Records Only Check may be performed for regular season matches with the agreement of both teams. In a Records Only check, a representative of each team reviews the hard-copy or digital eligibility documentation against the match roster, without asking each player to present original identification in person. If teams elect to perform a Records Only Check, they will waive any eligibility issue that could have been detected by an In-Person Check.
- To perform an In Person Check, players should line up in either roster or alphabetical order (depending on how a team’s “book” is organized) and present original, government-issued, photo identification (e.g., driver’s license, passport, green card, etc.), to the person checking the book. The person checking the book should ensure that the photos and names in the book match those of the player on the original identification presented. The player need not present the same piece of identification as appears in the team’s book (e.g., a player may present his/her driver’s license, even if the eligibility documentation in the team’s book is a copy of the player’s passport or green card).
- Upon completion of the book check, team administrators Team administrators will either note that the books are in order and play the match, or if there is missing information, inform the referee prior to kickoff that the match is being played under protest. If a match was played under protest due to missing information, and the protesting team wishes to have the protest decided, please alert the TRU / RRRC Administrator ASAP after the match of: (a) the basis of the protest; (b) the result of the match; © and whether a Records Only or In Person Check was performed. Please copy the opposing team administrator on this email.
- NOTE: A successful protest in which it is shown that a team played an ineligible player could result in the offending team forfeiting the match at issue, and other sanctions imposed on coaches, administrators, and clubs by the RRRC and/or TRU.
Going forward, RRRC reserves the right, at any time, to randomly check a club’s book. Teams will be selected on a rotating basis.
If you have any questions at all, please contact the TRU / RRRC Administrator or your RRRC divisional representative.
Post Season Play
Once the clubs have qualified for a USA Rugby Championship event, USA Rugby will notify the team or teams that will be checked for that event at least 12 days prior or upon qualification to the championship event. Once notified the team will have 72 hours (3 days) to produce the proper proof of eligibility. This proof should come in the form of a file that the team is to keep for each match.
USA Rugby reserves the right to do spot checks on site at championship events as well. Each team should travel with their packet of eligibility information throughout the season as well as during all post season play. All players should be capable of presenting original, government-issued identification, if requested by USA Rugby. If USA Rugby wishes to spot check a team for citizenship (or any other rule) they will do so at the team’s scheduled check in time. If the team does not have the proper information with them, the questioned player’s eligibility for matches may be in jeopardy and subject to further investigation.
Thank you and we appreciate your cooperation!
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