PRU disciplinary procedures and guidelines were made equal to MARFU and USA procedures and guidelines by decision of the PRU Board of Governors on 12/1/04. The new disciplinary guidelines and procedures follow MARFU and USA RUGBY guidelines and procedures. These can be found at www.marfu.org/marfudiscplin.php and www.usarugby.org/playing/disciplinary.html We intend to create a distilled version of these guidelines and procedures so players and referees can more easily understand the process of adjudication when a red card or a succession of yellow cards are issued to a player.

[For historical reference until 6/1/05, the old procedures can be seen here and here (see links above for current procedures)]

Additionally, the following information regarding a mandatory one-game suspension for a red card was sent to all PRU members on 2/16/05.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE GIVE THIS WIDE DISTRIBUTION

As the spring 2005 season is about to get underway, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone (so pass this on to your club e-mail lists, please) about red and yellow cards and disciplinary matters. The PRU Board of Directors approved the appointment of Jason Wallach as Disciplinary Chair. The Board of Governors (the clubs) will be asked to ratify his appointment at the next meeting (late April, early May).

*** ALL CLUBS AND PLAYERS IN ALL DIVISIONS ***
*** PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ***

If you are the recipient of a red card, PLEASE REMEMBER - You are ineligible to play for at least the next eight (8) days or one match, whichever is LONGER. There is no appeal of this minimum suspension unless you can prove a case of mistaken identity; the burden of proving your case before the next game is on you. If a suspended player plays during this minimum suspension period, the player and his/her club and club officers are liable for further sanctions.

The PRU web site will have a link to complete disciplinary procedures at www.pru.org/pru_disc_proc.html (this page). Until that link is updated, the PRU follows MARFU and USA RUGBY disciplinary guidelines and procedures, www.marfu.org/marfudiscplin.php and www.usarugby.org/playing/disciplinary.html

All red/yellow cards issued by referees will be reported to Jason Wallach, and he will compile the list weekly and update the PRU web site. There will soon be a link to a web page listing all red/yellow cards and the suspensions/probations that are handed down. www.pru.org/pru_disc_actions.html Names will roll off this list as probations expire. (FYI - All red/yellow card sanctions will eventually be reported on the MARFU web site for all three MARFU LAUs - Virginia, Potomac, and East Penn)

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Eric Pittelkau
PRU President