URC Play-offs: Tiebreaker Permutations

SPOTLIGHT: The United Rugby Championship play-offs are here, and match permutations for various scenarios come into play to decide a winner.

THE KNOCKOUT STAGE

In the event of a tie at fulltime of a Final Series Stage Match, the winner of that Match shall be determined by reference to the following rules:

Extra time will be played in accordance with the protocol set out at Appendix Two to these Championship Rules, and the club that scores the most points in such extra time shall be deemed the winner of that Match.

If the scores are tied after extra time, then the club that has scored the most tries in that match (including extra time) shall be deemed the winner of that match.

If the scores are tied after extra time and the clubs have scored the same number of tries in that match (including extra time), then the winner of the match will be determined by a place-kick competition conducted in accordance with Appendix Three to these Championship Rules.

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

In the event of a tie at fulltime in a URC Final, then extra time will be played, consisting of two periods, each of ten minutes.

If the score is still tied after extra time, the team that has scored the most tries in the match will be deemed the winner.

If the teams are still tied on points and tries at the end of extra time, then the winner will be determined by a place-kick competition.

In the event that a place-kick competition is required, each team will nominate three goal kickers who will take six place kicks between them from different positions along the 22 metre and 10 metre lines.

The team with the most place kicks scored will be the winner. If the teams are tied at the end of their six kicks, then sudden death will apply.

Only players in the playing area at the final whistle of extra time may be nominated for the place pick competition.

No substituted players or players who have been shown a red card may take part at any time, including any player who has received a yellow card and who remains in the sinbin at the time of the final whistle of extra-time.

SCHEDULING

Matches will ordinarily be played on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday of the respective weekends designated by United Rugby Championship.

In the event that a match has begun but is then abandoned after 60 minutes or more have been played (i.e., at least 20 minutes into the second half):

The match will be deemed to have been completed, and the result at the time of the abandonment will stand as the match result; and the procedure regarding any Citing Commissioner Warnings, Temporary Suspensions and red cards received in respect of the Match and/or any incidents in the Match that are the subject of citing or Misconduct complaints will be the same as if the Match had been completed.

In the event that a match has begun but is then abandoned after fewer than 60 minutes have been played (i.e., fewer than 20 minutes into the second half), United Rugby Championship shall decide, in its absolute discretion, whether:

The match will be deemed to have been completed, in which case clause 3.6.1, above, will be deemed to apply; or

The match will be replayed in full, in which case:

United Rugby Championship shall select a date, kick-off time and venue for the replayed match.

The procedure regarding any Citing Commissioner Warnings, temporary suspensions and red cards received in respect of the match and/or any incidents in the match that are the subject of citing or Misconduct complaints will be the same as if the Match had been completed; and for the avoidance of doubt, a club participating in a replayed match may select a different team and/or squad from the team/squad it originally selected for the abandoned match.

The match referee will determine whether or not 60 minutes or more of a match have been played at the time of abandonment.