Disciplinary Team Update – April 2025
The Disciplinary team have provided the following important updates and reminders…
Match Official Abuse Update
Sadly, we continue to see a troubling trend of individuals and clubs being referred for match official abuse.
While disagreeing with an official’s decision is a matter of personal interpretation, challenging it can escalate into a disciplinary issue.
Match official abuse ranges from simple dissent to physical contact with the official. As the severity increases, so does the potential sanction and deterrent enhancement set by the RFU.
Using offensive or prejudicial language when challenging a decision automatically escalates the situation from dissent to abuse.
As the season comes to a close, please remember that sanctions do not disappear. If you receive a sanction at the end of the season that cannot be served within it, it will be put on hold during the off-season and applied at the start of the next playing season.
The restart date will depend on meaningful pre-season fixtures and the start of the competition. If you are unclear about your actual return-to-play date, please consult the Discipline Secretary directly.
If you have any questions, you should always consult the Discipline Secretary – [email protected]
Related Information
