Irish Colleges Rugby Union

1. The name of the Union shall be "The Irish Colleges Rugby Union" (hereinafter referred to as the Union).

2. The Union shall be affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union and shall conform to its rules, laws, bye-laws, regulations and directives.

3. The objective of the Union shall be to promote, foster and develop the game of amateur rugby union football in the third level education Colleges, institutes and Universities in Ireland; to assist and further the effort of affiliated members in the provision of playing fields, equipment and accommodation; to arrange competitions; to set down Regulations for competitions; to arrange trials, representative matches and international matches at home and abroad; and to take all such steps necessary and or advisable for preventing infringements of the bye-laws of the International Rugby Football Board the regulations relating to Amateurism and the laws of the Game or other improper methods or practices in the Game and to protect it from abuse.

(i) - Membership of the Union shall be at the discretion of the Union upon a decision of the Executive Committee.
(ii) - Membership of the Union may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

5. Each Constituent member shall have a committee to manage its affairs and shall consist of at least the following Officers, a Chairman, an Honorary Secretary an Honorary Treasurer, a Captain and a Contact Person.

(i) - The management and control of the affairs of the Union shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee which shall consist of the following Officers; the President the immediate past-President, the Honorary Executive Secretary, the Honorary Competitions Secretary, the Honorary International Secretary, the Honorary Competitions Secretary, the Honorary International Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Development and Public Relations Officer.
(ii) - The Executive Committee may co-opt from time to time up to two additional members.
(iii) - The President, when attending meetings, shall chair General Meetings and Executive Committee Meetings and shall have a casting vote at all such meetings.

7. The Auditor appointed to audit the accounts of the Union may be permitted to attend and address a meeting of the Executive Committee or a General Meeting of the Union at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

8. Each Constituent member shall be entitled to nominate one voting delegate to attend a General meeting of the Union.

9. The Annual General Meeting of the Union shall be held in May, unless the Executive Committee shall otherwise decide.

10. A Special General Meeting of the Union shall be called upon a decision of the Executive Committee or on a petition signed by at least six Members duly submitted to the President or Honorary Executive Secretary. The date, time and place of such a meeting shall be decided on by the Executive Committee.

11. Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent by the Honorary Executive Secretary at least fourteen days before the day of the Meeting.

12.

(i) - The Accounts of the Union shall be audited and submitted to the Annual General Meeting for confirmation.
(ii) - In exceptional circumstances, the audited accounts may be submitted at a General Meeting with the agreement of the Annual General Meeting.

13. The quorum of a General Meeting shall be twelve.

14. A General Meeting and an Executive committee meeting may be adjourned to such a time, place and date as agreed by the members attending the Meeting.

15.

(a) - The Executive Committee may co-opt a person to serve as an Officer of the Union until the next Annual General meeting in the event of the resignation, incapacity, illness or death of an Officer.
(b) - The Executive Committee may co-opt up to two additional members as full members of the committee if they feel such would be in the best interests of the Union.

16.

(i) - The Officers of the Union shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from the floor upon being proposed and seconded individually by an Officer or by a voting delegate and with the agreement of the individual so nominated.
(ii) - The election of an Officer shall be by way of a secret ballot.
(iii) - Officers of the Union shall have voting rights at all General Meetings.

17. The following business shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting or at adjournment thereof;

(a) - Consider and approve with or without amendment, the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting
(b) - Receive and confirm a report from the President.
(c) - Receive and confirm a report from the Honorary Executive Secretary.
(d) - Receive and confirm a report from the Honorary Competitions Secretary.
(e) - Receive and confirm a report from the Honorary International Secretary.
(f) - Receive and confirm a report from the Public Relations Officer.
(g) - Receive and confirm a report from the Honorary Treasurer which report shall include the audited Account and Balance Sheet of the Union.
(h) - Receive and confirm a report from the Honorary Development and Immediate Past President.
(i) - Elect individually, the Officers of the Union.
(j) - Appoint an Auditor.
(k) - Adjudicate on all matters submitted by a Member of the Union.
(l) - Consider and determine motions in any matter that affects the proper management and welfare of the Union submitted to the Honorary Executive Secretary within the time specified under standing orders.
(m) - Determine the annual affiliation fee of Members.

18.

(i) - The Executive Committee shall appoint the Selection Committee under the Chairperson of the Honorary International Secretary.
(ii) - The Selectors shall be the Honorary International Secretary, three persons representing Members on Geographical basis and the Coach.
(iii) - The Chairman shall have a casting vote of all meetings of the Selection Committee.
(iv) - The Honorary International Secretary shall be responsible for the management and organisation of Trials, Representative and International matches. He shall be assisted in this by the members of the Selection Committee under his direction.
(v) - The financial budget of the Selection committee shall be advised to the Executive Committee as and when appropriate.

19.

(i) - The Executive Committee may appoint such and so many sub-committees that are required to ensure the efficient management of the affairs of the Union.
(ii) - The President shall be an ex-officio member of all sub-committees.
(iii) - The minutes of sub-committees shall be confirmed the Executive Committee and the business transacted at meetings shall be brought to the notice of the Executive Committee at the earliest possible date for confirmation.

20.

(i) - The Executive Committee shall appoint delegates to Committees and sub Committees of the Irish Rugby Football Union where appropriate and to other bodies established for the furtherance of Rugby Union Football.
(ii) - Such delegates shall make a report of business transacted at meetings to the Executive Committee as soon as practicable.

21. The Union may borrow monies, accept gifts, covenants grants and any support from persons and bodies as the Executive committee deems appropriate for the welfare of the Union.

22. The Union may appoint trustees at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

23. A member wishing to play a team outside of the jurisdiction of the Irish Rugby Football Union either home or away should note the following regulations.

(i) - The Irish Rugby Football Union's consent must be obtained for the arrangements by a university, institution or college (hereafter referred to as college) recognised by the IRFU through that college's affiliation to the Irish Colleges Rugby Union, to visit any country outside the Four Home Unions or to play matches in Ireland against a visiting team from such a country.
(ii) - Timing of an Application by a College for Approval

(a) - A written application in respect of any such home fixture shall be made at least two months before the date of such a fixture, to the Irish Colleges Rugby union which shall advise the IRFU concerning the application from such a college.
(b) - For tours to countries outside Europe notice will be given to the I.C.R.U. not later than 4 months before the proposed tour.

(iii) - Content of an application for approval

(a) - Full details are required of the games to be played, the number of players and team managers travelling, and the proposed financial arrangements.
(b) - Evidence that the Governing Union of the "foreign" team has given its approval to the fixture is essential, pending such evidence being produced only provisional approval will be given by the IRFU. Letters of consent and approval must have been interchanged by the two Unions before the party leaves Ireland.
(c) - In negotiating with the 'foreign' team the Irish College must ensure that the 'foreign' team is clear regarding the approvals and exchange of correspondence detailed in (b) above and that the approval for any visit or game being played is subject to those requirements being met.

(iv) - Numbers travelling Unless exceptionally authorised by the IRFU the numbers travelling outside the Four Unions must not exceed 25 players, a manager and up to 4 officials.
(v) - Reporting Back - Where approval has been given a brief report of the game(s) and a financial statement in respect of the approved visit must be furnished within one month of the game or in the case of a tour,the final game.