Selection Policy and Guidelines

Timing of Selection

 

1.      Selection for all teams will be made by the relevant coaches on the Monday of each week. The selected teams will be entered on to the Website, and team sheets will be posted on the Rugby Section Notice Boards the next day (Tuesday). Meeting times and transportation modes will be posted at the same time.

 

  1. The First team coach will consult with the Second and Third team coaches and managers to ensure there is a rational and sensible  movement of players based on selections and availability between the three teams to avail the opportunity for those players where appropriate to make their way into the Division 1 teams.

 

  1. Fourth team will select their team based on available players after the three top teams have completed their selections.

 

  1. The expectation is that all teams will be entitled to 3 fresh players (excepting Point 8b under Selection criteria heading below) to start ‘on the bench’ with the remaining 4 players being selected from the lower grades who should have played at some point on that same day.

 

5.     Meeting times for games and transportation modes will be posted at the same time.

 

Selection Criteria

 

Whilst selection is entirely at the discretion of the relevant coaches (and where applicable, managers), coaches will be guided by and have the following factors in mind when considering selection each week.

 

1)     Except in exceptional circumstances, in order to be considered for selection for one of the top 3 teams, a player is expected to attend at least one (and, ideally both) training sessions in a week. If a player can only attend one session, the second session is preferred.

 

2)    A player who would normally be considered for one of the top 3 teams, but who is absent because of national squad/team commitments will not generally be selected at a lower grade as a consequence thereof but might initially be selected as a reserve at their previous grade.

 

3)    A player who would normally be considered for one of the top 3 teams, but who is:

(a)      absent from both training sessions in a week with reasonable excuse (this is deemed by the coach as to whether it is acceptable or not) ; or

(b)     not available for a Saturday match with reasonable excuse

may initially be selected as a reserve for their previous team or may be selected to play for a lower team.

 

4)     A player who might normally be considered for one of the top 3 teams, but who is:

(a)      absent from both training sessions in a week without reasonable excuse; or

(b)     not available for a Saturday match without reasonable excuse;

must expect that the following week they might not be selected for the team they previously played and/or might not get selected to play in any of the top three teams  (generally players might expect to start back by playing one team lower than previously).

 

5)    The only exception to the guidelines set out in paragraphs 1-4 (above) is if adherence to these guidelines in a particular case would create an obvious capability gap or risk of injury in pivotal positions (e.g. Front Row). In which case selection will then be at the discretion of the coaches.

 

6)    Any player who is not selected to play for one of the first three teams can (subject to HKRFU selection rules) be selected for any other team.

 

7)    Any player who is selected to play for any team and who then makes themselves unavailable for that team without reasonable excuse, or who fails to turn up for the Saturday game, will generally not be considered for selection in any team the following week, barring exceptional circumstances.

 

8)    Reserves will be selected and expected to fulfill their commitments on the following basis:

 

(a)   When 1st Grade plays in Hong Kong a fresh bench of three reserves will be selected with the remaining four reserves to be made up of players who have participated in the lower grades on the day. Players named are expected to fulfill their commitments as part of selection.

(b)  When 1st Grade play outside of Hong Kong (ADICS Tournament) a fresh bench of seven reserves will be selected and expected to travel as a squad.