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New Registration regulation

There is an important addition to the regulations for the registration of players.

The registration must be completed on line or submitted to the Admin Office within 28 days of the date of signature. This is to prevent forms being stockpiled by clubs and players being signed long after they may have changed their minds and left a club.

A reminder too that for any registration, including those on line, an RFU Registration form MUST be completed before the player is registered. Failure to do so, or to produce the form when requested, could result in a 10 point deduction.

Level Transfer Appeal - SCS/WCN

We have been advised that Walcot RFC have exercised their right to appeal to the RFU over the South West's decision to level transfer them from Southern Counties South to Western Counties North. The appeal will be heard at a hearing in London in early June.

The system of level transfers exists to remove what used to be known as the "cascade effect". With leagues based on geography clubs finishing perhaps fourth or fifth from bottom used to find themselves relegated because teams moving down from a higher league had all fed into their leg of the pyramid. Where an imbalance occurs now if no volunteers can be found to move and, subject to certain other conditions in the regulatrions, the club with the lowest travelling distances is transferred.

Depending on the result of the appeal the fixture lists for both leagues may have to be revised. If that occurs it is planned that only fixtures involving Walcot and any other club the RFU directs to move will be affected. Clubs' games against other teams in those leagues are not planned to be changed.

Tony Boyer - 1928-2013

The South West regrets to announce the death of former Competitions Committee member Tony Boyer. Tony, who was 84, passed away on Friday 24th May after a period of ill health. His funeral will be held at 11.15 at Thatcham Crematorium on Friday 7th June and thereafter at Newbury RFC.

Tony was born in Newbury on the 30th June 1928. He spent most of his life in Newbury, attending St Bartholomew's Grammar School. He did his National Service in the Royal Air Force and during that time took part in the Berlin Airlift.

His life was however primarily devoted to rugby football, firstly playing for Newbury and when injury prevented him playing, to administration. He was a member of the Berkshire and South West Committees when the leagues were formed in 1987. He took a leading role when the South West merged with Southern Counties and in establishing the first league tables and fixtures; becoming a member of the SW Organising Committee from its outset (being one of only a handful on that Committee to serve for the first 25 years). He served on the Committee until 2011/12 season.

He was honoured with the Chairmanship of the South West and took great pleasure when they played the All Blacks at Redruth.

His contribution to the South West and the establishment of the SW leagues cannot be exaggerated and even in his last year his number one passion was getting the league results on a Sunday morning and discussing them with anyone who would care to listen.

A great man of rugby whose experience will be sorely missed.

2013-2014 Fixtures issued

The fixtures for next season have been published and sent to the Nominated League Contact (NLC) for each club in the South West.

You can also download them from this website.

Please remember to confirm your NLC details as soon as possible (and in any event by 1st July 2013).

Clubs now have a few weeks to mutually agree any fixture re-arrangements before the lists are confirmed.

Tribute Sponsorship

All clubs who have teams playing in the Tribute sponsored leagues should now have received their share of the monies made available to clubs. As well as providing cash and products for the clubs, the welcome sponsorship of St Austell Brewery also provides assistance to the Constituent Bodies on the western side of the division and towards the running costs of the Division as a whole.

26th April 2013

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