TRU Board Meeting Notes – 2/17/2025

1. Roll Call
   1. McPhail
   2. Tomsak
   3. Dodge
   4. Hiller
   5. Guitan
   6. Davies
   7. Armstrong
   8. Hanson
      1. Regrets
         1. Dodge
         2. Guitan
         3. Young
2. Grant Requests
   1. Imari Scipio for Maccabi Games – Recommend approval of $250 to maintain the amount in line with prior Grant Awards. Approved by proclamation.
      1. Young (after call): I’ve sent a note to Imari and asked the TRU Treasurer to send a check.
3. Registration
   1. Club Compliance – https://texasrugbyunion.com/club-compliance/
      1. As of Monday AM, membership sits at 2,144. Up from last year at the end of Feb total = 1,897. Growth of 13% which is well above 6% growth used in the Revenue Budget previously approved.
   2. Name Withheld
      1. 2024-2025 TRU Current Name Withheld
      2. David checked the report provided by Hansel on Jan-10th. Spot check of Feb-10th report does not show any profiles being moved from Private to Public. Reminder sent to RRRC. Will follow up next Monday and send out sanction notices if still remaining.
         1. Young (after call): We’ve done lots of social media posts about this, will share again.
      3. Per USA SCC Minutes:
         1. Regulation Reminders:
            1. 3.4.2-(c). Name Withheld Policy. In effect for local playoffs and the NCS. Please remind your clubs, and where teams have already qualified for the playoffs, please review those rosters to ensure compliance.
            2. 3.4-(h). CMS. Please review your competitions and ensure match records are complete: rosters entered, scoring and substitutions entered correctly, matches locked.
   3. Registration Numbers
      1. See 4.c from last month’s meeting as added by Wendy detailed below.
4. HURT
   1. Last month the RRRC ruled that the HURT player discussed did not receive the proper waiver needed as part of their transfer back to the Club. Player appealed eligibility through the USA Appeals Committee and was denied. USA Eligibility stated that the player in question could be allowed to play local competitive matches but not at the NCS level. This Board elected to follow RRRC policy and recommended that if a player is not eligible for NCS they are also not eligible at the Local level. Match forfeit was discussed as possible sanction by the Board but ultimately decided that there was no intent to circumvent policy and that the infraction was minor and elected to sanction the Club with an administrative penalty. The Board has discussed the matter and has ruled that the Club shall be assessed the following: 
      1. Require a registered member(s) to complete a minimum of 3 matches / assignments from the TRRA (Level 1 Referee certification is required and matches to be local) to be completed by no later than 2/15/26. Approved without objections.
         1. Wendy (after call): Just a quick note on options for gaining this certification if not already available. You can see available Level 1 Referee certification courses here, the club could host their own course or we will have a Level 1 Referee Certification at the TRU Summit on August 23-24 in the Houston area.
5. SCC
   1. David is presenting a recommendation to the SCC regarding the location of USA Club Finals on Wednesday night. 
   2. SCC Note: Exco has worked on a “Event Sanctioning” document for hosting events, tourneys, tours, etc. The document is still in draft format. ExCo presented to SCC for feedback and subsequent changes needed to get it to final draft and future approval. 
   3. Items for this weeks (WED) meeting:
      1. Asking to get a quote on adding an insurance rider for unregistered players (i.e. first time at practice, etc.)
      2. SCC Note: USA Rugby 50th Anniversary Celebration Lynton Mare <lmare@usa.rugby>: Every month this year we will be posting special moments of all rugby history in the US over the last 50 years and so we would love to celebrate Senior Club as part of the initiative.
6. Discipline – Zack
   1. David requested to have a DC representative at the RRRC playoffs in Dallas.
7. Referees – Ross
   1. No issues to report. Law changes are being adhered to and clubs are adapting.
   2. Next season scheduling discussion. Need to continue coordinated efforts with Youth, College and Seniors.  Additionally the desire to have a full blackout date before playoffs start would be helpful instead of a single week that is makeup weekend and often ends leaving no recovery weekend in reality.  
   3. Ross requested that we try and not have matches at our furthest locations on the same weekend. These often include flights and resources are often stretched and it’s cost prohibitive for changes.  Drew has volunteered to be a back up Little Rick as needed. Thanks Drew!
8. Member Reports:
   1. Drew – Nothing to report.
   2. Dodge – Absent
   3. Hiller – 
      1. If a player actively participates in the process, the DC is more likely to view them favorably, which can lead to a reduced sit-out period as hearings may be resolved more quickly.
      2. DC requests Clubs need to be diligent and timely when inputting RX data. Cards need to be done at the same time as they do scores, subs, etc. The problem is mainly with D3 but is across the board. Hansel echoed the RC/YC frustrations. RRRC will now be tracking these and the Clubs will be subject to Fines/Sanctions each week. Possibly League point deductions or other sanctions as deemed appropriate.
   4. Guitan – Absent
   5. Armstrong – Nothing to report.
9. New Business
   1. Transgender discussion – USAR follows USOPC guidelines; not World Rugby. No edicts have been sent down to USAR. Chair Lucas emailed USAR (2/17) for update/guidance.
   2. Clubs not inputting cards: April & Drew to come up with card sanctions and will send for approval and on to the RRRC.
   3. HOF Nominations Reminder: Nominations are open until March 15!
10. Action Item: 
    1. Discussed discipline action for Name Withheld on rosters and failure to input Cards (R/Y) before Monday deadline.  
    2. April & Drew to come up with card sanctions and will send for approval and on to the RRRC.

Adjournment: Motions by April & Zach 8:59 pm.