The league shall consist of 11 clubs (Blaydon, Carlisle, Darlington, Darlington Mowden Park, Durham City, Middlesbrough, Morpeth, Penrith, Sunderland, Tynedale and Westoe). Playing two league games, one at home and one away, in each season with every other club.

The position of a Club in the League shall be established by awarding four League points for a win and two points for a draw. In addition, one bonus point will be awarded to a team; [i] on each occasion it scores four or more tries in a League game or [ii] on each occasion it loses a League game by seven points or less.

If two or more Clubs have the same number of League points at the end of the season the final league positions shall be determined firstly by the number of wins achieved and then on the basis of match points scored. A Club with a larger number of wins in the League shall be placed higher than a Club with the same number of League points but fewer wins. If Clubs have equal League points and an equal number of wins in the League then a Club with a larger difference between match points “for” and match points “against” shall be placed higher in the League than a Club with a smaller difference between match points “for” and match points “against”.

Should two Clubs have the same number of League points and an equal number of wins and the same match points difference, a Club having scored more match points “for” shall be placed higher in the League than a Club having the lesser number of match points “for”. If this still does not establish the positions then the Clubs involved shall be ranked according to the number of matches won, excluding the first League match of the season. If necessary this process shall be extended to exclude the second match, third match and so on until the final positions are established.

All matches shall be played under the laws of the English Rugby Football Union. Kick off times to be arranged by participating clubs.

Any bona-fide member of a club shall be eligible to play in league matches. A player who has played for the 1st XV is eligible to play for the 2nd XV the following week and thereafter, providing that his 1stXV have a game on that same weekend.

In the case of any particular hardship arising from the above Rule, application may be made to the League Secretary, who will submit it to the League Committee for a decision.

No club shall be allowed to play any member or members of another club in order to strengthen their own team for league matches. The exception to this rule may apply to front row players only, who with the permission of the opposition club, may be brought in from elsewhere when that club has insufficient such players, to allow a game to go ahead.

Up to four replacements will be allowed in any game, two of those replacements to be capable of playing in the front row. Each club will be allowed to use more than four replacements for a given game, as long as the opposition is aware of the situation before the game and preferably not on match day but at least the day before! In the event of a team not having the necessary front row requirements, the game will take place with uncontested scrums and the four* league points will be awarded to the team with the full compliment.

* updated due to points for win changing

Rolling substitutions shall be allowed in all games.

In League games that are double headers with Northumberland league games, a maximum of 3 replacements will be allowed.

The appointment of the referees will be made by the home club through their local appointments panel.

Any club wishing to resign from the league must give notice of twenty eight days to Craig Johnston/John Shotton of Tynedale RFC.

Clubs participating need to pay a £50 bond to the league, which will be held and returned at the end of the season unless a fine has been issued.

© jcj 2006