Club President Fred Corbett will host his annual cheese and wine party before the Darlington game, which will provide players with their first opportunity for some contact rugby. There will be another stiff test next Saturday with the visit of newly promoted Northern, followed by the delayed return trip to Regional 2 North East side Old Brods in Halifax.
Rob Thorn, now in his 40s, has returned to the club after a spell at Darlington, and will be in the squad to face his most recent club.
FORWARDS: Rollins, Angus, Pennick, Hutchinson, Hodgson, Stephenson, Jackson-Smith, Linighan, Reed, Kay, Leadbeater, Cook, L Johnston, Atkins, Shires, Thorpe.
BACKS: Baggs, Cholmondeley, Siddle, Jamieson, Youll, Connolly, Thorn, Tennant, Knight, Foster, Edwards, Tobin, Nelson, Carling.
Saturday's game at Consett on September 5th will provide an opportunity for more of the other squad players to get their first run-out. This will be a big season for the Stags and Bucks who join the RFU league pyramid for the first time - the Stags in Counties North East 2 South and the Bucks in Counties North East 3 South. That will provide league rugby at Brinkburn on most Saturdays with the Stags kicking things off with the visit of Rovers' first team on September 26th, while the Firsts are at Percy Park and the Bucks at Newton Aycliffe.
Fielding three teams in league rugby will present a few challenges with new rules and guidance to clubs on how to play to the sprit of the game, and avoid accusations of playing "ringers."
A lot of people have been asking how team selection will work so here is the guidance in full:
1. Purpose
This Instruction is intended to preserve the fairness, integrity and competitive balance
of RFU Men's League Competitions by ensuring that player movement between Adult
Male XVs within the same Club is undertaken in a consistent and transparent manner.
All Clubs shall comply with RFU Regulation 6 and these National Administration
Instructions.
2. Definitions
For the purposes of this Instruction:
the RFU Men's League structure than the XV for which the player is selected.
Lower XVmeans any Adult Male XV of the same Club competing at a lower level of
the RFU Men's League structure.
Front Row Player means a player who is suitably trained and experienced to play at
prop or hooker in accordance with RFU Regulations and the World Rugby Laws of the
Game.
Higher XV Player means any player who satisfies either of the following criteria:
a.Has been named in the Higher XV matchdaysquad (startingXVor
replacements) on four or more of that team's previous seven league
games; or
b. Has been named in the matchday squad (starting XV or replacements) for
50% or more of the team’s total of scheduled league fixturesduring the
current season.
3. Eligibility
A Lower XV shall not include more thanthree (3) Higher XV Playersin any league
fixture save for exceptions as agreed by the Competition League Secretary in
accordance with section 4 below.
4. Exceptions
The Competition League Secretary may, at their sole discretion, approve the selection
of more than three (3) Higher XV Players for a Lower XV where they are satisfied that
exceptional circumstances exist.
Secretary may (but shall not be obliged to) have regard to some or all of the following
considerations in their sole discretion:
a.The Higher XV Player is returning from injury, illness, suspension, approved
absence or another exceptional circumstance; and/or
b.or the Higher XV Player is a suitably trained and experienced Front Row
Player whose selection is necessary to ensure the fixture can be played
safely and in accordance with RFU Regulation 6.
Where approval is sought on the grounds of front row cover, the Club shall limit the
selection to the minimum number of Front Row Players reasonably required to satisfy
the front row requirements of the fixture.
The Club shall notify the Competition League Secretary as soon as reasonably
practicable (and in any event, prior to the relevant fixture) of any request made under
this Section and, where requested, provide evidence supporting the circumstances
giving rise to the request.
Any approval granted under this Section shall apply only to the specific fixture for which
it is given unless otherwise confirmed in writing by the Competition Organiser.
5 Teams selected on merit
A Club with more than one team competing in the Men's Leagues must always adhere
to the principle of selection on merit for each of its sides
Where a Club has fixtures for its Higher XV on the same day or weekend as their
Lower XV and can demonstrate that all selections have been made on merit, the
League Secretary may, at their sole discretion, disapply the restrictions in section 3 in
respect of any Lower XV playing on that same day or weekend.
However, where the League Secretary has a reasonable belief that selection has not
been based on merit, they may investigate any suspected breach of this Instruction
and may request player appearance records, availability information, injury status, and
any other relevant information from the club. Where the League Secretary is satisfied
that a breach has occurred, the matter shall be dealt with in accordance with paragraph
7 of this Instruction.
6. Club Responsibilities
Clubs shall not select, move or withhold players between XVs in a manner that has
the purpose or effect of obtaining an unfair competitive advantage or which otherwise
undermines the integrity of the Competition.
The Competition League Secretary may request such information as is reasonably
required to determine compliance with this Instruction, including previous Electronic
Match Cards and any other relevant evidence.
Where the Competition League Secretary determines that a Club has failed to comply
with this Instruction, the matter shall be dealt with in accordance with RFU Regulations
and the applicable Competition Rules.
Should a breach be found by a League Secretary then the entry point for sanction will
be either the reversal of the match result or a deduction of 5 league points, depending
on the result of the match.
The League secretary may also consider mitigating circumstances and this could
result in a suspension of any points deduction, a warning or any other proportionate
sanction.