47 MAJOR ROUND

47.1 A Member Club listed in bold in Clauses 47.7 and 47.9 may apply to The League to host a Major Round Match (“Home Final” or “Final”) excluding a Preliminary or a Grand Final on their Home oval or an available neutral oval of their choice.

(a) a Member Club’s Home Final request to The League is not applicable for a Member Club’s Reserves or “C”, or lower Division team.

47.2 The Member Club shall fulfil The League’s minimum requirements including but not limited to

(a) The League shall receive a Member Club’s payment for the right to host a Home Final before noon on the Wednesday of the week of the match to be played.

(b) the ground surface of their oval shall be in a reasonable condition and not affected by un-natural forces or risks. 

(c) the change rooms shall have reasonable facilities for players, Umpires and Trainers.

(d) reasonable facilities are provided for spectators.

(e) ensure there is a scoreboard and a scoreboard attendant for all matches played on the day.

(f) fulfil The League’s obligations to its Major Sponsors.

(i) shall meet the minimum requirements as specified by The League to Lion 

(ii) pay a fee as determined by The League for the Home Final rights for a Qualifying or Elimination or Semi Final.

47.3 A Major Round match shall be programmed by The League to be played on a neutral oval when a Member Club chooses not to request either a Home Final or a Final to be played on a neutral oval of their choice or when a Member Club’s application has been rejected by The League.  

47.4 The League shall endeavour to match teams from the same Member Club to play at the same venue.

(a) a minimum of one (1) match shall be played before a Men’s “A” Division Major Round match.

(b) priority shall be given to a Men’s “B” Division team to play such earlier match to the highest ranked “A” Division team.

47.5 Member Clubs shall be notified by The League of their confirmation to host a Home Final.

47.6 A Final Four system shall be played at the end of the Minor Round in a Division comprising eight (8) teams or less.

(a) an eight (8) team Division Major Round program may be changed at the discretion of The League.

47.7 Where a Final Four system is played the following programme shall be used: 

(a) in the first week of the Major Round the team finishing third at the completion of the Minor Round shall play the team finishing fourth in the First Semi Final and the team finishing first shall play the team finishing second in the Second Semi Final.

(b) in the second week the winner of the First Semi Final shall play the loser of the Second Semi Final in the Preliminary Final

(i) the winner of the Second Semi Final shall have a bye.

(c) in the third week the winner of the Preliminary Final shall play the winner of the Second Semi Final in the Grand Final.

(d) the winner of the Grand Final shall be the Premiership winner in the Division.

(e) The League may at its discretion schedule both (a) and (b) on the same weekend.

47.8 A Final Five system shall be played at the end of the Minor Round in Divisions comprising nine (9) teams or more

(a) A nine (9) teams Division Major Round system may be changed at the discretion of The League.

47.9 Where a Final Five system is played the following programme shall apply.

(a) in the first week of the Major Round the team finishing second at the completion of the Minor Round shall play the team finishing third in the Qualifying Final and the team finishing fourth shall play the team finishing fifth in the Elimination Final 

(i) the team finishing first at the completion of the Minor Round shall have a bye.

(b) in the second week the loser of the Qualifying Final shall play the winner of the Elimination Final in the First Semi Final and the winner of the Qualifying Final shall play the team finishing first at the completion of the Minor Round in the Second Semi Final.

(c) in the third week the winner of the First Semi Final shall play the loser of the Second Semi Final in the Preliminary Final

(i) the winner of the Second Semi Final shall have a bye.

(d) in the fourth week the winner of the Second Semi Final shall play the winner of the Preliminary Final in the Grand Final.

(e) the winner of the Grand Final shall be the Premiership winner in the Division.

47.10 Should a Draw occur in any Major Round match the following shall apply

(a) teams shall break for five minutes at the completion of the drawn match and swap ends.

(b) the competing teams shall play five minutes of extra time in each direction.

(c) the extra time shall be played including time on if the drawn match had been played with time on.

(d) if at the end of the extra time played the scores remain drawn the teams shall swap ends and play five minutes of extra time in each direction.

(e) if at the end of the second extra time played the scores remain drawn the match shall be determined by the first team to score.

(f) the winner of the toss of a coin by the two Captains shall determine which direction the teams shall kick in the last extra time played.

47.11 The League retains the right to change a Major Round match venue during the week preceding the match. 

47.12 Officials of The League may carry out an inspection of the oval, change rooms, Umpire’s Room, scoreboard and any other facilities and advise Member Clubs the venue may not be suitable for a Major Round match to be played if affected by un-natural forces or risks.

47.13 A Draft for Major Round matches and oval locations shall be listed on The League’s website by 5.00pm on the Monday prior to each week of Major Round matches. 

(a) the official confirmation of Major Round matches and oval locations shall be posted on The League’s website on the following day - Tuesday - by 5.00pm.

47.14 Each Member Club is required to provide two Match Day Officials per Major Round match.

47.15 During Major Round matches the number of interchange players each team is permitted to play are

(a) Divisions 1 to 7 – four (4).

(b) Division 1 to 6 Reserves – four (4)

(c) Division 7 Reserves, C Divisions – seven (7).

(d) Women’s Divisions – eight (8).

47.16 Both participating Member Clubs in a lowest Division scheduled Major Round match shall agree for more than two matches to be played on the same oval on the same day except when one Member Club has three (3) Senior teams playing on the same day.

(a) in such situation The League retains the right to programme these three (3) matches, and this Division’s Grand Final, to be played on the same oval on the same day.

47.17 For a Major Round match each participating Member Club is to enter into the Competition Management Tool a Team sheet including a maximum of two (2) emergencies by noon on the Friday prior to the scheduled match.

47.18 Alcoholic drinks are not permitted to be taken into a Major Round venue.

47.19 For the first week of the Major Round the highest ranked qualifying team at the end of the Minor Round

(a) shall have their choice of shorts, guernseys, coach’s box and change room.

(b) shall supply the Match Day Official, Timekeeper, and scoreboard attendant.

(c) may apply to play their Major Round match on their Home ground or to be played on a neutral ground of their choice subject to availability.

47.20 The winning Second Semi Final team becomes the highest ranked team and shall for the Grand Final

(a) have their choice of shorts, guernseys, coach’s box and change room.

(b) supply the Match Day Official, Timekeeper, and scoreboard attendant.

47.21 The losing Second Semi-Final team becomes the highest ranked team and shall for the Preliminary Final

(a) have their choice of shorts, guernseys, coach’s box and change room.

(b) supply the Match Day Official, Timekeeper, and scoreboard attendant.

47.22 The League shall determine where a Major Round match is played when two or more Member Clubs request to play a Home Final on the same oval of their choice. 

47.23 Any Member Club applying to host a neutral Final shall fulfil The League’s minimum requirements including but not limited to

(a) the ground surface shall be in a reasonable condition.

(b) the change rooms shall have reasonable facilities for players, Umpires and Trainers.

(c) reasonable facilities provided for spectators.

(d) ensure there is a scoreboard and a scoreboard attendant for all matches played on the day.

(e) fulfilling The League’s obligations to its Major Sponsors.

(i) the Member Club shall be sponsored by SABC.

(ii) the venue shall exclusively supply SABC products for this event.

47.24 Where applicable, admission fees for neutral ground Major Round matches shall be determined by The League.

47.25 A Member Club participating in a Major Round match shall be entitled to have thirty-five (35) persons per team admitted at no cost if there is an Entry Fee at such match.

47.26 A Premiership winning Member Club shall submit a photograph of their winning team to The League as directed.

(a) The League may impose a Fine for failure to supply such photograph.

47.27 The League and/or Tribunal and/or The Investigation Committee shall retain the rights to impose a further Fine and/or penalty upon a player or Member Club Official or Member Club for any offence incurred during the Major Round.

47.28 Determine any matter(s) not provided for in these Rules and Regulations as it sees fit.