The term DISPENSATION applies when a player wishes to play down a grade from one that they are normally eligible to participate in. They apply for and if granted gain DISPENSATION to play. The rules for when a player wishes to play in a higher grade than they are normally eligible to participate is covered in Rule 4 PLAYER ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY.
6.1.1: Players taking part in an age grade competition must be under the specified age as at the 1st of January preceding the start of the competition. For Colts, the age is under 21 years or under 85 kgs on the day of all competition games.
6.1.2: A player may not play in any competition games in an age restricted grade if he or she is over the specified age, unless he or she has received dispensation to do so.
6.1.3: A team may have a maximum of four (4) dispensated players named on a team sheet, however only two (2) dispensated players from any one team may be on the field at any one time.
6.2.1: For the purposes of this rule, overaged players and dispensated players can only play down one (1) age grade.
6.2.2: A person that plays down an age grade without the need for dispensation is referred to as an “over-aged player”. A person that plays down a grade as a result of a successful dispensation application is referred to as a “dispensated player”.
6.2.3: Over aged players may play down one age grade WITHOUT the need to be dispensated, if the player meets ALL of the following criteria:
6.2.3.1: The over aged player cannot have played at any representative level in any “oval ball” sporting code e.g. Australian rules, touch rugby league, rugby union by way of example only.
6.2.3.2: For Under 14 grades, over aged players cannot weigh more than 65 kg at the commencement of the season.
6.2.3.3: For Under 16 grades, over aged players cannot weigh more than 75 kg at the commencement of the season.
6.2.4: Any over-aged player wishing to qualify through being under 65 kgs for Under 14 grades or under 75 kgs for under 16 grades must be weighed ONLY by the teacher in charge of rugby between 8.30am on the Monday of week ten of term one and 5.00pm on the Friday of week one of term two.
6.2.5: Any player that is weighed pursuant to rule 6.2.4 must have a letter signed by the school's Principal detailing the player's full name, date of birth, date of weigh in and weight at weigh in.
6.2.6: Any over-aged player that does not meet the criteria as outlined in rules 6.2.3.1-3 and wishes to play down an age grade will need to be dispensated to play down an age grade.
6.2.7: Teams with a squad size of between 16 and 22 players can have a maximum of four (4) dispensated players listed on their game day team sheet. There is no limit to the number of overaged players permitted in their squad size of 16 and 22.
6.2.8: When a U14 or U16 team has more than 16-20 players, any dispensated player can only play half a game unless the dispensated player fulfils a front row position. In this instance, if a team lists 21 or 22 players, then a front row dispensated player can only play half a game, unless injury would mean the scrums are played with uncontested scrums. Only in this instance is the dispensated player permitted to play more than half a game.
6.2.9: Dispensated players cannot displace an legitimate player from a squad and must be approved by the Principal and the Teacher In Charge.
6.3.1: Players taking part in an age grade competition must be under the specified age as at the 1st of January preceding the start of the competition. However, there may be circumstances that require an over aged or over weight player to play down an age or weight grade.
6.3.2: It is expected that dispensations will only be granted on medical grounds, however consideration will be given to smaller / outlying clubs in order for them to make up a team in a certain grade, or where a player has no other playing options. In some instances, the relevant competition committee may ask to meet the player before a dispensation is granted.
6.4.1: Any club or school wishing to apply for dispensation for a player to play in a grade of competition that the player does not ordinarily qualify for needs to ensure that before the application is lodged, the player, coach, team manager and any parent or guardian is fully aware of the dispensation criteria that they are applying for prior to completing the application form.
6.4.2: Once a club or school is satisfied that a player does NOT meet the eligibility criteria to participate in a particular grade and in order to do so would require a dispensation, the team coach, manager or administrator completes a Application For Player Dispensation Form,.
6.4.3: All dispensation applications are received by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union for the purposes of record keeping in the New Zealand Rugby National Database. No other method of lodgement will be accepted.
6.4.4: Once applications are received, they are forwarded to the relevant Competitions Dispensations Committee who will be responsible for making a determination.
6.4.5: Decisions will be communicated by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union to the player and the club or the school.
Where a club or school team applies for dispensation for a player to participate in a grade of competition that they are not otherwise eligible to play and their application is declined, the club or school may appeal the decision of the relevant dispensation committee to the BOPRU Appeals Committee by following the procedures as outlined in rule 14.7.
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