Club Council Accepting Nominations for Committee Chairs

The Senior Club Rugby Council (“Council”) is the new national governing body for senior clubs in the U.S., and is accepting nominees for election as Council Chairs for five (of seven) committees: Competitions; Discipline; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Eligibility; and Training & Development.

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Persons elected as Committee Chairs will be members of the Council Executive Committee. They will be responsible for leading the initial work of recommending for Council adoption:

1. committee Terms of Reference
2. a process for determining and selecting committee membership

Committee Descriptions

The following are preliminary committee descriptions developed by a Council ad hoc working group. They are included here to assist the nomination process. Final responsibilities will be outlined by the Committees and recommended to the full Council.

The Competitions Committee’s preliminary responsibilities will likely include:

• Match Organizer responsibilities in Senior Club Rugby National and Regional Championship competitions
• empowering the autonomous conduct and management of competitions by union match organizers
• the development of annual competition standards and regulations in a timely and public manner
• empowering the autonomous management of Union Club competitions while sustaining development of national playoff structures
• hearing and deciding cross/inter-competition disputes and appeal of competitive matters

The Discipline Committee’s preliminary responsibilities will likely include:

• the development and annual maintenance of Disciplinary Procedures for Senior Club Rugby in a timely and public manner
• empowering the autonomous conduct and management of disciplinary standards by union match organizers
• hearing any disciplinary appeals arising from National Championships and coordinating the hearing of any disciplinary appeals that are directed to the Council by member unions

The Eligibility Committee’s preliminary responsibilities will likely include:

• the development and annual maintenance of Eligibility Regulations for Senior Club Rugby in a timely and public manner
• empowering the autonomous conduct and management of eligibility standards by unions and other match organizers
• reviewing requests for waivers of eligibility in a consistent and public manner, to the extent allowable under privacy standards

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee’s preliminary responsibilities will likely include:

• ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion is a strategic priority of the Council, its committees, and member unions
• reviewing and supporting inclusivity, diversity and gender equity in the membership of the Council and its committees
• contributing to the equitable application of Council programs and standards
• coordinating efforts with the other standing committees to assist in ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion inform their work. At the DEIC’s option, members may sit as observing members of any other Standing committee.

The Training & Development Committee’s preliminary responsibilities likely include:

• liaising with the USAR National Office and Unions to develop and administer training, education and administration resources
• supporting delivery of training, education and development programs, camps, festivals and courses with and through the Unions
• communicating advice for the identification, enhancement, and maintenance of proper rugby facilities

Interested in chairing a Council committee?

• If you’re a USA Rugby member in good standings, then contact your GU president (contacts listed here) for information on how to apply.
• GU presidents will submit their strongest candidates for each chair position to the Council on Friday, June 19, for elections.