NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RULES

The State Playoff and Championship is limited to NCHSRA Division I teams only.  Each team is further limited to a 23 player roster, comprised of any eligible Division I or Division II player.

2017 NCHSRA State Cup Championship

2017 NCHSRA State Cup Rugby Champions: Myers Park

MVP: Adam Phifer (12)

2017 Season:

Round 1 (Saturday 29th April @ Charlotte RFC): As agreed to at the December 2016 SHS league and coaches meeting, the top 4 seeded teams will contest for the championship:

1st Seed vs 4th Seed (Game 1)

2nd Seed vs 3rd Seed (Game 2)

Championship Round - Finals (Saturday 5th May @ Rocky River HS):

Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 – Championship Trophy

Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2 – Plate trophy

Determining winner:

1. The semifinals and finals playoff, follow a single elimination format.

2. If teams are tied after full time, the team with the most tries scored will define the winner.

3. If still tied, sudden death penalty kicks at goal from the intersection of the 22 & 15 meter lines – either from the left or right of the uprights. Kicks must be alternated between players. No one player is allowed to take more than 1 (one) kick.

Conference Rules

NCHSRA is divided into geographic conferences.  As new teams are added Teams may be transferred into a different conference at the beginning of a new season.  The ultimate goal of NCHSRA is to mirror the conference structure of the NCHSAA.

1. Each Team will play every other team in its conference at least once during the competitive NCHSRA season.
2. Teams may play cross conference matches during the NCHSRA season.  These games must be scheduled and approved by NCHSRA.
3. Only official conference games will count toward the Conference Championship.
4. Point Tabulation: Points will be awarded toward the Conference Championship using the following point system.  At the conclusion of each match each Team will receive points based upon their Team’s outcome.

4 Points           Win     

2 Points           Draw  

1 Point             Loss within 7 points or less of the team that wins

1 Point             Scoring 4 tries or more in a match

0 Points           Loss of more than 7 points

5 Points           Forfeited match ( Refer to Ground Rules above)

** Qualification of “differential margin”: A maximum differential will apply – defined as 35 scoring points between the losing and winning team. I.e. a winning team can only earn up to 35 differential scoring points in any one game

Mercy Rule:

When point’s difference reaches 35, the referee will stop the game and invite both head coaches onto the field to agree continuing playing options which can but not be limited to:

• Playing on as is
• Ending the game
• Allowing unlimited subs
• Any other options that both coaches agree on
• In practice, the coach of the team that is losing should suggest what he would prefer

Determining Conference Champion

1. The Conference Champion is determined by the Team with the most competition points in the conference.
2. Position in the competition table shall be determined by the compilation of competition points as set out above.
3. In the event of a tie on points, position will be determined by points scored for and against. The team with the highest (positive) differential margin (points scored “for” versus points scored “against”) being the leading team.
4. If a tie still exists, position will be determined by the previous conference result of match (head-to-head) between the teams vying for position.
5. If still a tie, the team who has scored the most tries, will define the leading team.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RULES

The State Playoff and Championship is limited to NCHSRA Division I teams only.  Each Team is further limited to a 23 player roster, comprised of any eligible Division I or Division II player.

State Championship Cup & Plate Finals

1)    As the conferences build out over the years, the championship format will change.

b)    Seedings will take place after completion of all regular league season games within each conference.

a)    If at the end of the conference stage, more than two Teams are tied on points then the following process shall be used to determine the placing’s:

i)      The Teams concerned shall be ranked by reference to the number of points scored in all conference Matches. The Team with the highest number of points scored in the conference Matches shall be ranked higher in the conference competition table: if the tie remains unresolved then:

ii)     The margin of points scored for and against a Team in all conference Matches will be considered. The Team with the highest positive margin of points shall be ranked highest in the conference competition table.

Qualification of “differential margin”: A maximum differential will apply – defined as 35 scoring points between the losing and winning team. I.e. a winning team can only earn up to 35 differential scoring points in any one game: if the tie remains unresolved then:

iii)    The margin of tries scored for and against a Team in all conference Matches will be considered. The Team with the highest positive margin of tries shall be ranked higher in the conference competition table, if the tie remains unresolved then:

iv)    The Teams concerned shall be ranked by reference to the number of tries scored in all conference Matches. The Team with the highest number of tries scored in the conference Matches shall be ranked higher in the conference competition table: if the tie remains unresolved then:

v)     The tie will be resolved by the toss of a coin between the Team Managers concerned. Following the completion of the conference games, the Group winners and the second placed teams will progress to the Cup and Plate Competition. 

2)    Prior to the Championship Playoff Round, if any of the seeded teams declines to, or is ineligible to participate in the Championship Playoffs, the Team with the next highest point total in its conference will assume its position.  Each subsequent eligible Team will then move up to fill the vacant seed position before it.

3)    Once the Championship Round commences the failure of a Team to meet Match eligibility will result in a forfeit.

State Championship Bowl & Shield Finals

The same rules and playoff structure as listed above for the State Championship Cup & Plate finals will apply in determining the State Championship Bowl & Shield winner.