2014

Northern Regions Roller Mills Tournament Format and Draws

2014

Dear Northern Regions Provincial Unions

Following lengthy discussions and debate about the structure and timing please see following the final format and draws for the 2014 Northern Regions Roller Mills Tournament.

This format and draw is based on feedback about the need to move away from the traditional week long tournament to a system whereby travel costs and accommodation costs could be reduced.

Competition Format

9 Teams

Pool A – 5 teams: Northland, North Harbour, Auckland West, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty

Pool B – 4 Teams: Auckland East, Counties Manukau, Waikato, King Country

Both pools will have an ‘opening day’ at a central location where all teams will be present and weighed in and those teams that are furthest apart will play each other that day.

This will be followed by a full round robin on weekly basis (home & away games) and then a finals weekend in Tauranga on the 4^th & 5^th October 2014.

Pool A opening day: Sunday 31^st August 2014 at Ngatea (Thames Valley)

Pool B opening day: Sunday 7^th September 2014 in Cambridge (TBC)

The reason for the 2 different opening days is that pool A needs 5 weeks to complete the round robin and Pool B only 3 weeks.

Games Dates

Key Points regarding the rules

Weight and Weigh-ins

The tournament player weight is 57Kg as in 2013 and teams will be weighed prior to each game by Northern Region/Provincial Union officers/team managers.  Digital scales will be used to speed up the process.  North Harbour has 10 digital scales used by their U85 Kg grade which are high quality and calibrated and will be loaned out on Opening Day and returned on Finals Day.  Teams are to be weighed 60 minutes prior to fixtures.   A copy of the first weigh-in sheet showing weights is to be provided to Neil Olesen or Bill Cooksley from TVRFU. Additionally weigh in sheets are to be filled out and returned to Neil Olesen or Bill Cooksley after each round. To be received no later than 4.30pm on the Monday following the game. Fax to 07 862 7677, e-mail rdovalleyrugby@yahoo.co.nz 

Team squads and Eligibility

Squads of 25 can be named by 8^th August on a Northern Region Age Verification Sheet as for other representative teams. In order to try and minimise the amount of documentation required yet still provide sufficient evidence of player identification – the ‘player profile’ sheets will be amended to allow this process to take place however photo identification will still be required. These player profile sheets must be made available on the opening day at weigh in for verification by the weigh in committee. The onus will be on each Provincial Union to check the eligibility of the nominated players. Replacement players will only be permitted for verified injuries. Copies of the player profile sheets including the photo identification must be carried and available by managers for all games played.

Programme

A programme will be printed as in previous years – hence the 8^th August deadline for the squad lists.

Venues and Timing of Fixtures

Host PU’s will decide on host clubs/venues taking into account the travel of visiting teams. Matches should be run in conjunction with other representative fixtures at the same venue to maximise public interest and patronage.  Tournament Rules – The Northern Region Rugby Council will amend the tournament rules as required. Balls A sponsored ball will be provided to each team on opening day (tbc)

Draw

Contact Details

Contact details for all unions coaches and managers are to be forwarded by Friday 18^th July to:

Bill Cooksley

Rugby Development Officer

Thames Valley Rugby Union

E-Mail: rdovalleyrugby@yahoo.co.nz

Regards

Neil Olesen: neilolesen@xtra.co.nz                     027 4824947

Bill Cooksley: rdovalleyrugby@yahoo.co.nz                   027 243 8656