By Mally (on 18/07/02)
July 18 2002

The following is a summary of the ERL Requirements for Entry into the Zurich Premiership, these only apply to in-coming clubs not the those currently in the Premiership.

Entry Criteria

Each season National Division One Clubs must comply with the following criteria by 31st March

1. Legal

i) Each club must be a Limited Liability Company.

ii) Clubs must disclose their ownership structure, satisfying the Premier Rugby Board & the England Rugby Board.

2. Club Administration

i) By March 31st clubs should make appointments covering 5 key areas:

• Chief Executive
  
• Financial Controller
  
• Director of Rugby/Head Coach
  
• Commercial Manager
  
• Academy/Youth Development Manager
  
• Community Development Marketing Manager
  

ii) Clubs must have appropriately qualified & equipped medical staff, contracted by 31st March, and present at all matches in the Premiership.

3. Facilities

i) Spectator Accommodation

Each stadium must have either:

a) Min. licensed capacity of 4800, of which seated capacity is notless than 2000, & covered & seated capacity is not less than 2000. Total covered including seated to be not less than 3000.

or

b) Minimum licensed capacity of 7500 - this requires a letter from the Chairman committing the company to meet year 3 and 5 requirements in the Ongoing Criteria.

ii) First Aid Points

Grounds must be equipped with first-aid points providing adequate care for for spectators in need of medical assistance in line with Local Authority requirements & the ‘Green Guide’.

iii) Pitch Perimeter and Maintenance

Playing fields must be the correct dimensions as per the Laws of the Game, meeting IRB & RFU regulations. Also the Premier Grounds all must have a grass surface.

iv) Dugouts

Two dugouts, each of which should hold at least 10 people.

v) Public Address System

Should be of good quality, with a good view & should be audible throughout all the stadium & clubhouse. Operators should be experienced and practiced personnel.

vi) Central control room - in each stadium, acting as a matchday operations centre for ground safety / ground management.

vii) Media Facilities

A press box in the stadium - appropriately equipped, open to the pitch, central to the halfway line, allowing people to work in comfort & it should meet ERC regulations. In addition each stadium should have a photographers room.

viii) Dressing Rooms

Each stadium should have securable dressing rooms, 1 for each team. Each area should be large enough for 22 players, have at least two urinals, two hand basins & six showers or baths. There must also be a separate securable dressing room for the Match Officials, at least capable of accommodating four officials, with 1 toilet, 1 basin and 2 showers or baths.

ix) Medical and Doping Control Room

A separate medical treatment facilities near both dressing areas, with easy access to the pitch & ambulance route, & equipped appropriately is required in every stadium.

x) Scoreboard

Each stadium should have scoreboards, which are visible in all parts of the stadium.

xi) Health & Safety

Clubs should demonstrate their compliance with the ‘Green Guide’ & their local authority’s safety advisory group.

xii) Parking

Parking facilities - depend on each grounds circumstance. However, there must be access routes and emergency parking reserved for the police, ambulance and fire services.

xiii) Floodlights - must be in every stadium so evening matches can be played.

4. Marketing

i) Central Support

Each club must have a ‘clean stadia’ policy:

a) Domestic Matches - Provision of all front line perimeter boards less four prime site boards for club sponsors.

b) ERC Matches - As per the ERC Participation Agreement.

5. Squad Issues

i) Each club must agree to comply with approved squad capping policy.

ii) The squad payments for the promotion-earning season must have complied with the PR rules and regulations for that season:

a) On a pro-rated basis for the season to 31st March;

b) For the whole season to the salary cap in force in the Premiership for that season.

iii) Appropriate player insurance cover must be in place.

6. New Grounds

i) Any club moving its ground after 31st March, the new arrangements must meet these ground criteria:

a) The club must be the owner or principal tenant;

b) The new ground must meet the criteria in place at the time of the move (section 3).

7. Other

i) By March 31st clubs must nominate a representative who would join the Board of PR once the club is promoted.

ii) The PR Code of Conduct must be signed by 31st March.

iii) The Premier Rugby Shareholders Agreement must be signed by 1st July.

iv) The deed of adherence (clause 24.2) of the LFA must be signed by the promoted club by 1st July.

v) Club must confirm that they are not breaching any of the following:

• RFU Regulations and Rules
  
• Relevant IRB Regulations and Rules
  
• Relevant Competition Regulations
  
• Green Guide
  

vi) Clubs have to confirm their understanding & acceptance of the Ongoing Criteria requirements.