NORTHAMPTONSHIRE & DISTRICT RUGBY ALLIANCE
Affiliated to the Rugby Football Union and the East Midlands Rugby Union

COMPETITIONS RULES 06 Feb 2026 Update

Description
1 The four competitions [Alliance Cup, Lewis Shield, Oceanic Trophy, Alliance Women’s Trophy] will be organised by the Competitions Committee of the Northamptonshire & District Rugby Alliance.

2 The decision of this committee will be binding and final on any matter not covered by these regulations and on their interpretation.
Club Eligibility

3 ALLIANCE CUP - The competition is open to all clubs in membership of the Alliance not playing in the National Leagues [Levels 1-4].

4 LEWIS SHIELD – The competition is open to all Junior Rugby clubs that are members of the Alliance.

5 OCEANIC TROPHY – The competition is open to all Junior Rugby clubs that are members of the Alliance.

6 ALLIANCE WOMENS CUP– The competition is open to all Junior Rugby clubs that are members of the Alliance.

Player Eligibility

7 ALLIANCE CUP - A club in the competition may only play or select as a replacement, players who hold effective Senior registration for that club in accordance with the RFU Registration of Players Regulations.
8 LEWIS SHIELD – as in Alliance Cup but if a player has either won the Lewis Shield, Alliance Cup or the Bucks Cup they are deemed not to be eligible.
9 OCEANIC TROPHY - A club in the competition may only play or select as a replacement, players who hold effective Youth registration for that club in accordance with the RFU Registration of Players Regulations. Players must have been registered by January `1st in the year of the competition.
10 ALLIANCE WOMENS CUP - A club in the competition may only play or select as a replacement, players who hold effective Senior registration for that club in accordance with the RFU Registration of Players Regulations. Additionally:
1.1. Players who are dual-registered or registered with another club in any capacity are permitted to play (subject to conditions in (1.2.)
1.2. Players who have played at Level 3 (Championship 2) or above (as defined by the RFU) in the current season are ineligible to participate.
1.3. Clubs must verify the eligibility of all players and provide proof upon request by match officials or the Honorary Competitions Secretary.
1.4. Clubs must retain verified team sheets from previous matches to support eligibility checks when requested for the duration of that season’s competition.

Replacements

11 ALLIANCE CUP - Clubs are permitted to use up to five replacements if matches are played on a Saturday, or up to seven replacements if matches played on any other day. Rolling Replacements will be allowed as per RFU regulations.
Note; Proposal next time, change to 3 subs for any game within 48 hours of a saturday)
12 LEWIS SHIELD – as Alliance Cup
13 OCEANIC TROPHY – numbers as per RFU U18 rules. Rolling Replacements will be allowed as per RFU regulations. The half game rule is compulsory: https://www.englandrugby.com/run/rules-governance/rfu-rules-and-regulations/regulation-15-age-grade-rugby#half-game-rule
14 ALLIANCE WOMENS CUP - Clubs are permitted to use up to eight replacements. Rolling Replacements will be allowed as per RFU regulations.
15 Any further rulings with regards to replacements will be as per RFU regulations. [ie No. of front row players].
The Draws
16 The draw for all competitions will be made at the AGM. Any club that is eligible but not represented at the respective meetings will be excluded from the draws. The whole draw may be made, or just the first round, and subsequent round drawn on the play-by date.
16a) The Clubs participating will be drawn at random ‘out of the hat’ and the first drawn out in each tie will be the home club.
16b) Play by dates for all matches will be determined by the Alliance Competitions Committee.
16c) The Finals will be played at Franklins Gardens on dates to be confirmed and published by the Competitions Committee of the Alliance.

Arrangement of Matches

17 In all matches it is the responsibility of the home side, with the exception of the final, to confirm the date with the away side.
18 If teams cannot agree to play on or before the specified date the Alliance Committee must be informed at least one month prior to the specified date by the home team. A mandatory date will then be dictated and any side not fulfilling the fixture shall be deemed as having forfeited the match.

Clash of Colours/Identification of Players

19 In the event of clubs having similar or clashing colours, the home team shall be responsible for changing its jerseys subject to the satisfaction of the appointed referee.
20 The jerseys of teams competing in the competition should all be numbered as per Regulation 17.1 of the International Rugby Football Board.
Postponed and Abandoned Matches
21 If conditions prevent a match being played or a match is abandoned at any time before full time, it shall be played before the date of the next round on a day to be agreed between the two clubs concerned or, failing agreement, as directed by the Alliance committee.
Notification of Results
22 The winning club will be responsible for informing the Competitions Secretary of the Alliance of the result.
Grounds
23 The home club is responsible for correctly and clearly marking its pitch and it must make proper provision to ensure that (with the exception of the touch judges) all spectators, replacements and officials are kept at a reasonable distance from the field of play.
Drawn Matches – ALLIANCE CUP/LEWIS SHIELD
24 In all rounds, except the Final, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of extra time between the same teams of 10 minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If the scores are then still equal, the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries goes forward into the next round. If the scores still be equal the visiting team shall go forward into the next round.
25 In the final, if after 40 minutes play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams of 10 minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If a result is not obtained by this method then the team that has scored most tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method then the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that has scored most drop goals shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that scored the first try (1) or the first drop goal (2) or the first penalty (3) in that order, shall be the winner. If a result is still not forthcoming the Trophy shall be shared.

Drawn Matches – OCEANIC TROPHY

26 In all rounds, except the Final, if after 35 minutes of play each way the scores are level, then the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries goes forward into the next round. If the scores still be equal the visiting team shall go forward into the next round.
27 In the final, if after 35 minutes play each way the scores are level then the team that has scored most tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method then the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that has scored most drop goals shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that scored the first try (1) or the first drop goal (2) or the first penalty (3) in that order, shall be the winner. If a result is still not forthcoming the Trophy shall be shared.

Drawn Matches - ALLIANCE WOMENS CUP
28 In all rounds, except the Final, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of extra time between the same teams of 7 minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If the scores are then still equal, the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries goes forward into the next round. If the scores still be equal the visiting team shall go forward into the next round.
29 In the final, if after 40 minutes play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams of 7 minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If a result is not obtained by this method then the team that has scored most tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method then the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that has scored most drop goals shall be the winner. If a result is not obtained by this method the team that scored the first try (1) or the first drop goal (2) or the first penalty (3) in that order, shall be the winner. If a result is still not forthcoming the Trophy shall be shared.

Finance

30 The home club is responsible for the proper promotion of a fixture.
31 The home team shall bear all match expenses.
32 The visiting team shall pay its own travelling expenses.
33 The entire proceeds of the Finals will be at the disposal of the Alliance.

Referees and Touch Judges

34 The referee for all cup rounds shall be appointed by the East Midlands Referees Society. It is the responsibility of the home clubs to request the referee.
35 Referees and touch judges for the finals shall be appointed by the East Midlands Referees Society and the RFU Regulation relating to ‘Foul Play’ shall apply.
Match Arrangements
36 Home teams will be responsible for match arrangements and must advise the appointments secretary of the East Midlands Referees Society at the earliest possible date. The match must be added to the fixtures on www.eastmidsrefs.com
37 The Alliance Competitions Committee will be responsible for making the arrangements to stage the Final. These can include:
a) A post-match reception with invitations to:
• The Alliance Committee
• The Committees of both Clubs in the Final
• Officials of Northampton Saints
• Representatives of the East Midlands Referees Society
• Representatives of the sponsors of the Competitions.
• Representatives of the East Midlands Committee
* The Honorary Auditor of the Alliance
b) A gate taking facility
c) The production of a match programme
d) The presentation of trophies at the conclusion of the match

Protests, Disputes and Transgressions

38 Any matters in dispute or any transgressions of these Rules, shall be referred within 1 week to the Competitions Secretary of the Alliance by telephone if necessary, providing written confirmation follows. The Competition Committee shall have an absolute discretion to resolve any such protests or disputes as it shall think fit and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing may decline to act upon a protest validly made if it considers doing so to be in the interests of the Competition generally. As under Rule 1, the decision of the Competitions Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.

Paget Cup

39 This competition is open to all alliance clubs, and shall be a merit table based upon all 1st team games played, including Alliance Cup and Lewis Shield, league games, and national or regional cup competitions, with the percentage win/lose ratio as the primary decider, then the points difference. Forfeited games will count as a 20-0 loss. If a team forfeits a game in any alliance competition, they shall not be eligible to win the Paget Cup. The paget cup shall run until the end of the season, even if that includes cup games that take place after the league season has finished.

Revised July 2025

Northampton & District Alliance

Alliance Finals Programme 2025-26