North American Invitational

Section 1: Tournament Contact
NAI7s – Tournament Manager
Name: Michael Cressler
Phone: +1-801-712-5884
Email: info@nai15s.com

It is the responsibility of the Team Manager to ensure team members and team personnel are conversant with the Tournament Rules.

Amendments from 2024 are highlighted in yellow

Section 2: Tournament Structure
Each competition will have a distinct tournament structure. Please refer to the competition specific information for further details. All Pools are seeded prior to competition with the playoffs being based upon finishing position, not reseeded.

2.1 Pool Stage Matches

The first round of games will be played in pools on a round-robin basis. For composition of pools please see competition specific information. Following the pool round there will be knock-out rounds.

2.1.1 Play will consist of matches between teams in the same pool on a round-robin basis. Pool matches will be twenty-two (22) minutes each half with a one (5) minute half-time break.

2.1.2 All Pool Matches carry the following points:

• 3 points for a win
• 2 points for a draw
• 1 point for a loss
• 0 points for a no show, abandonment, or referee disqualification

2.1.3 2.1.3 In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position in the pool table the higher placed team will be determined using the following sequence:

1) If two teams are involved and have played each other, the winning team will take the higher position. If more than two teams have equal points this rule will not apply.

2) The margin of points scored for and against a team in all pool matches shall be considered. The team with the highest positive margin of points shall be ranked higher in the pool table. In the event that the tie remains unsolved then;

3) The team that scores the most points in all pool matches shall be ranked higher in the pool table. In the event that the tie remains unsolved then;

4) The team that concedes the least points in all pool matches shall be ranked higher in the pool table. In the event that the tie still remains unresolved then;

5) The winner will be decided by the toss of a coin between the Managers of the teams concerned.

2.2 East vs West Format
Following the completion of the pool stage matches there will be seeded knock out stage. This will consist of Semifianls for Cup being seed 1 from pools A->D. Semifinals for Plate with seeds 2 from the respective pools on down to Shield with seed 4.

2.2.1 All semi-finals and finals will be played on a single elimination bracket with consolation round.

2.2.2 All semi-final will be twenty-two (22) minutes each half with a one (5) minute half-time break. All Final matches will be Thirty-five (35) minute matches with 10 minute half time break.

2.2.3 In the event of a match being drawn at the end of normal time (in the knock-out stages) extra time will be played, in five (5) minute periods for 2 periods or until a winner is determined. If at the end of 10 minutes extra time there is no winner, each team shall select 5 on field players to kick from the 22m line center field for a goal. The teams with most successful kicks will be winner. There will be an interval of one (1) minute after full time has been declared then play shall commence with a coin-toss, the winner of which chooses either; which way to play or to kick-off the period of extra time. The first team to score will immediately be declared the winner and play will cease. After each five (5) minute period of extra time, teams will change ends, without stoppage, and resume play. Substitutions are not reset and the players who ended regulation time must be on field for extra time. Any penalty time will still apply

2.2.4 For all matches, should the Referee decide there is a clash of shirt colours the Referee will call both team captains together and toss a coin; the loser will change shirts.

2.2.5 Due to scheduling constraints play will continue as often as possible to avoid any delays. Referees will penalise unnecessary delays as time wasting. All games are required to kick-off on time. The organisers may change fields without prior notice to facilitate completion of the tournament on time. Any field changes will be communicated via the app. The field marshal shall also have the data at the original and new field

2.2.6 All teams are required to be at the allocated (or replacement) field and ready to start play tem (10) minutes before the scheduled kick-off time. Team Managers must report to the Field Marshal this time. Any team that arrives later than 5 minutes after the required meeting time will forfeit the match.

Section 3: Rules of the Tournaments

3.1 The rules of the Tournaments, including their interpretation, are matters for the Disputes Committee. As such the Tournament Management will appoint a Disputes Committee to arbitrate on all matters concerning the rules of the Tournaments. The Disputes Committee will be convened only in the event of an official written complaint being registered with the Tournament Manager (refer to 3.5 below) or at the discretion of the Tournament Manager. The complainant and affected parties may be required to attend a hearing at the discretion of the Disputes Committee. Failure of the complainant to attend will render the complaint void. In the event of any matters arising that are not covered by the Tournament Rules, or ambiguity of the Tournament Rules, the Committee shall make a ruling after interpreting the rules in the best interests of the tournament. Its decision shall be final, without appeal.

3.2 All matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game of Rugby Football 2023 and the rulings therein, together with all by-laws and directives of World Rugby and directions published in the Tournament Rules. The English text of the World Rugby Handbook (as published by World Rugby including all U-19 variations and available for view at http://laws.worldrugby.org/) and this Tournament Rules manual shall be authoritative and final.

3.3 Teams, Players or Team Personnel who breach the tournament rules will jeopardise their team’s likelihood of being invited to participate in future tournaments.

3.4 At the end of each match the Referee must sign the scorecard in front of and prior to the Team Captains, to verify the final score, and hand it to the Match Controller.

3.5 A disputed match result must be brought to the attention of the Event Coordinator, (situated in the HQ Tent), by the Team Manager within 30 minutes prior to the commencement of their next game or within 2 hours of match completion, whichever is soonest.

3.6 Variations
The Tournament Manager reserves the right, before and during the tournament, to make or vary rules and give directions as to the conduct of the tournament, the conduct of participating teams and each member of their team. All such rules and directions when made and communicated will become binding on the participating teams and each member of their team, at the time of publishing, by posting of a notice in the Registration Tent.

3.7 Eligibility

3.7.1 Eligibility is a competition specific element of the Tournament Rules. Please see competition specific information for further details. (Section 7)

3.7.2 Players/officials currently under any sanction, from rugby or any other sport, and/or prohibited from playing or officiating in/at the tournament, who participate in the tournament, will have the following action taken:

• they will be immediately banned from the tournament

• their respective home Union (where applicable) will be informed who will use their discretion with regards to further sanctions being enforced

• the player/official will be barred from participating in the NAI Sevens for two (2) years

3.8 Appointment of Officials

The Tournament Management shall appoint the relevant Officials and/or agencies to:

• Administer and implement the Tournament Disciplinary Programme;
• The position of Officials’ Manager;
• All necessary accredited positions;
• Administer the Tournament and ensure that rules of eligibility are adhered to;
• The position of Tournament Medical Officer (and support staff/structure);
• The membership of the Disputes Committee.

3.9 Request by Officials

All participating teams and each member of the team will comply with all reasonable requests of the Tournament Officials, Match Referees, Assistant Referees and Pitch Marshals. Any failure to do so could result in a complaint being made to the Tournament Manager and disciplinary action.

3.10 Forfeit, No Show or Disqualification

3.10.1 If a team does not show up, refuses to play or forfeits a match prior to its commencement without the prior consent of the Tournament Manager or their delegate, that team will ‘lose’ the match. The Tournament Manager will decide upon the further participation of that team in the tournament. Games will be considered forfeited if a team is not on the pitch, ready to commence play within two (2) minutes of the published kick-off time.

3.10.2 Teams who ‘no-show’ without informing the Tournament Manager or Registration Manager in advance, will not be invited to participate in future tournaments.

3.10.3 If a match is forfeited, a team fails to show up for a match or a team is disqualified by a Referee or a Tournament Official a score of 20 – 0 (four tries) will be recorded in favour of the offended team.

3.11 Abandonment

3.11.1 If a team refuses to play or abandons a match in progress, that team will forfeit the match. The Tournament Manager will decide upon the further participation of that team in the tournament.

3.11.2 If the Referee abandons a match due to:

a) conduct of a team, this will result in a Disputes Committee decision being taken on the final result of the match;

b) or for non-disciplinary reasons,

• • At half-time or any time in the second half. The score will stand;
  • During the first half, the result will be declared a draw unless the match is a knock-out fixture, in which case the score will stand.

c) normal judicial procedures will also apply to players who are sanctioned through the Red and Yellow Card process.

3.12 Declaration of Squads, Teams and Replacements

Team rosters for each game played sections will consist of a maximum of twenty-five (25) players from the approved team roster. All twenty-five (25) players are eligible to play in each match. Teams may use up to ten (10) substitutions each match (see Section 5 Substitutions, Replacements and Stoppages). Teams must have front row minimum number of forward trained players as iaw World Rugby Law 3.

3.12.1 A player, having been registered in a team, irrespective of whether he or she has taken part in the tournament, cannot register or make themselves available for registration in any other team.
3.12.2 There is no maximum number of players on a travelling squads numbers, although we recommend around 35 maximum, there will only be 25 players on a game roster eligible to play.

3.12.3 Any non playing player MAY be pitchside for hauling water BUT cannot be in uniform. All players not on the pitch must stay in the technical zone.

3.12.4 A player injured and certified by the Tournament Medical Officer as unfit to take any further part in the Tournament will remain a non-playing member of the squad. There will be no replacement player allowed to join the squad.

3.12.5 Once a player has been eliminated through injury and his/her name deleted from the Squad Registration form, that player can take no further part in the Tournament, and cannot be re-instated at a later date or time.

3.12.6 The Referee is the sole judge of fact and law and will take into consideration medical information available prior to ruling whether a player is fit to participate in a match.

Section 4: Understanding the Laws of the Game

4.1 All players are expected to have a basic understanding of the laws of the game of Rugby Union and have physical competency and fitness to play the game.

4.2 All kicks at goal must take place from the field of play.

4.3 Squad members may only enter or leave the field of play in accordance with Law 6.A.5 and 6.C.2 to attend to the needs of their team. Approaches to a Match Official will be dealt with as misconduct.

Section 5: Substitutions, Replacements and Stoppages

5.1 All substitutions must be made through the 4th official located in the tent on the pitch. Once checked in, the AR will signal the next opportunity to enter the pitch.

5.2 The World Rugby law, with U19 Variations, will apply as follows:

5.2.1 A team may nominate up to ten (10) replacement/substitute players.

5.2.2 A team must have the minimum number of front row players as shown in Law 3 u19 Variations

5.2.3 A substitution made for a blood or head injury does not count as one of the ten (10) allowed substitutions unless made permanent.

5.3 All substitutions and replacements during a match, including but not limited to blood replacement,
shall be made in accordance with World Rugby Law 3 and the U-19 variations.

5.4 For any injuries, time will not be stopped unless it is determined by the Referee, in consultation with the medical team, that the injury is serious enough to require the game to stop for safety reasons. The Referee, at his/her discretion, may call the game off early to maintain the safety of participants.

5.5 The Tournament accepts no liability for injuries sustained during the course of the tournament.

5.6 The teams will provide 10 pennies or bids of matching color for the replacement players. All substitutes will wear said bibs until the point in time they are substituted where the player they are replacement will then put the bib on. Only people allowed in the technical zone are coaches/manager wearing appropriate kit and substitute players wearing bibs. All other person should be on the spectator side of the field.

Section 6: Judicial and Disciplinary Committee

6.1 For persistent or deliberate fouls or other infringements the Referee may issue a Yellow Card to dismiss a player to the Sin Bin for a period of seven (7) minutes during the 22 minute half matches and ten(10) minutes for the 35 minute half matches.

6.2 If a player receives two (2) Yellow Cards, for any reason during a match in the tournament, the Player will receive an automatic one (1) match ban from tournament play, unless 6.3 below applies.

6.3 The Tournament reserves the right to call the player to a Judicial hearing should the offence/s relate to player safety or dangerous play. The player will take no further part in the tournament until the judicial hearing has been conducted and the decision of the judicial hearing shall be final.

6.4 Rule 6.2/6.3 will be applied to any subsequent Card (Red or Yellow) that is received by the player following the discipline issued from the first offense (refer 6.2).

6.5 Should the Referee consider an infringement to be more serious, a player will be; issued a Red Card, dismissed from the field of play and will take no further part in that game.

6.5.1 A player that has been issued with a Red Card will take no further part in the tournament. A judicial review will take place immediately after match to determine extent of suspension and reporting to USAR and/ or home union.

Section 7: Rules Regarding Eligibility

The competition comprises of 4 division of u18 competition tiered into tiers 1 and 2, male and female. Eligibility is identical for all divisions.

1. U19 Divisions

1. Teams in this section must have layers born on or after 1 September 2006

Should the minimal number of teams not be achieved the section may be removed from the tournament.

1. U17 Divisions

1. Teams in this section must have layers born on or after 1 September 2008

Section 8: Conduct

11.1 General Behaviour – participants, associated team personnel and supporters are expected to behave in a manner that is appropriate. General conduct during the tournament is expected to be inoffensive and in the spirit of sportsmanship.

11.2 Pitch/Court Invasion – participants and associated team personnel are only allowed onto the pitches for warm-up and match play. Team supporters are not allowed onto any of pitches at any time. Participants and associated team personnel who access pitches/courts when not eligible to do so will be asked to leave. Team personnel may be sanctioned for one game.

11.3 Acts of Violence –acts of violent behaviour will result in Police intervention, detention and criminal proceedings being actioned, plus removal from the stadium and a ban from future tournaments.

North American Invitational

North American Invitational 15As