CITING PROCEDURES

These procedures apply for those matches where Citing Commissioners are not
appointed and are therefore in accordance with IRB Regulation 17.

There are two distinct methods by which players may be cited to appear before a Disciplinary Committee to answer complaints that they have committed acts of illegal and/or foul play not detected by match officials.

A. Citing by Nominated Officials

1. Each Union, Affiliate or Club participating in a Union sanctioned match may cite a player for an act or acts of Illegal and / or Foul Play committed during that Match provided that such alleged act or acts has or have not been detected by the referee and / or touch judges.(IRB Regulation 17.6.3{a})

2. The person reporting the citing must be a Nominated Official and witness to the incident and not submit a citing upon the request of others.

3. For the purposes of the Citing Procedure, Nominated Officials are –

a. An office bearer of the union pursuant to the constitution;
b. A President of a Union, Affiliate or Club;
c. Any member of an affiliated Referee’ Association or a Affiliate’s Referee Association;
d. Such Members of Committees or sub-Unions as authorized by the Union

4 Each Union, Affiliate or Club participating in a match may cite a player for more than one alleged incident of Illegal and/or Foul Play in the same Match.

5. Each Union, Affiliate or Club participating in a Match may cite more than one Player in any Match.

6. A citing complaint must be completed in writing by a Statutory Declaration delivered by hand, fax or post to the Secretary of the Competition Administrators at their registered office no later than 5:00pm on the second business day after the completion of the match. Any supporting evidence must accompany the complaint.

7. Upon receipt of the Statutory Declaration, a report will be obtained from the match referee to ensure that the matter had not already been detected or dealt with during the match. (ie: a citing is not intended to be an opportunity to re-referee an incident or its interpretation if already detected and acted upon).

8. The Judiciary Chairman (or nominee) should first satisfy himself / herself that there is sufficient or reasonable evidence of prima facie case to justify a citing prior to a hearing date to be determined.

9. The cited players Club will be provided with a copy of the citing complaint and advised of the time, date and venue of the hearing of the Judicial Committee to consider the complaint.


B. Citing by the Union Board or its Nominee

1. The Union Board or its nominee has the power to cite a player for an act or
acts of illegal and/or foul play committed during a sanctioned match
regardless of whether or not such alleged act or acts has or have not been
detected by the match official.

2. The citing complaint must be in writing addressed to the cited players club
and shall advise a time, date and venue of the hearing of the Disciplinary
Committee to consider the complaint
3. The citing complaint must be made within twelve (12) months of the date the
match was played.


1. The hearing of the citing complaint shall occur substantially in accordance
with the procedure prescribed in the Judicial Procedures.

2. Any penalties imposed shall be substantially in accordance with those set out
in the Judicial Procedures.

3. The cited player may continue to play until the date set down for the hearing
of the citing complaint by the Disciplinary Committee.

4. If the cited player fails to attend the hearing on the date nominated, he/she is
suspended from playing until such time as he/she attends a hearing on a date
mutually agreed by the player and the Disciplinary Committee.
Queensland Rugby Union Ltd
Citing Procedures 2005