Participation License Agreement for Competitions

2022 Season (Term)

Sydney Rugby Union conduct the Premiership Rugby (PR) competition currently held in Sydney and
Newcastle with 13 clubs. The Charter Hall Shute Shield (SS) is the preeminent club competition in
NSW for 1st Grade players at each Club. Ultimately SRU aim to have the competition be seen at the
number one club competition in the Southern Hemisphere.

The SS and PR competitions shall comprise of a minimum 18 rounds and finals to be determined by
the number of competing clubs.

Currently the twelve voting members of Sydney Rugby Union have signed the SRU Constitution
dated 18 January 2021. As outlined in Clause 23.4:

23.4 Participation in Union Competition

All Clubs who wish to participate in a competition conducted by the Union must enter an annual
Participation License Agreement with the Union or its nominee entity on such terms as approved by
the Board.

TERMS FOR COMPETITION

To be accepted into Premiership Competition(s) managed by Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) and run
under the Constitution dated and adopted 18 January 2021 the Club agrees to the following:

1. Clubs must have sufficient player numbers to ensure competitive teams are fielded in the
below competition formats:
a. A minimum of 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade.
b. A minimum of 1st Grade, 2nd Grade Colts and 3rd Grade Colts.
c. A minimum of a 1st Grade Women’s XV team (no later than 2023 season)

2. By 1 December 2021, submit a three-year Strategic Plan outlining the long-term viability of
the Club, including;
a. Community engagement – three-year plan to increase awareness and participation
of local community in matchdays and training programs;
b. Juniors development – three-year plan to increase participation in local junior clubs,
including list of schools the Club has run training programs for in 2021 and targets
for 2022;
c. Alumni engagement – three-year plan to increase engagement with past players,
including events and fundraising initiatives undertaken in 2021-22;
d. Diversity and inclusion - three-year plan to increase participation within a women's
rugby program, including fielding a women’s XVs team in 2023.
e. A financial projection encompassing strategic plan elements and including but not
limited to expenditure and income on football, marketing, game day and club
resources.

3. Demonstrate financial capacity to ensure club security and ability to be competitive within
competitions ie minimum income circa $550k accompanied by signed income/sponsorship
agreements showing income;
 4. Show appropriate governance and management structures with a Board and appropriate
officers;

5. Signed venue hire agreement for necessary infrastructure (playing and training fields,
sheltered seating, changerooms, and accommodation for administration) with Council (or
equivalent); and

6. Commit to continued education of coaches and other team management.

7. Provide SRU with Club audited accounts for the 2021 season and 2022 season budget with
signed income/sponsorship agreements within 30 days from club AGM.

8. Commit to adopting all Minimum Standards for 2022 as outlined below.

MINIMUM STANDARDS & CONDITIONS

It is always a fundamental requirement of the Club being granted and maintaining the right to
participate in the Premiership Competition during the Term that, it satisfies the following conditions:

9. The Club shall procure a paid position of Head Coach with the following:
a. Head Coach requires a level of experience and knowledge reasonably accepted at
the Premiership level, inclusive of a World Rugby Level 3 (or equivalent) coaching
accreditation (within 12 months);
b. Top 50 players require on-field training 3 sessions/week for 40 weeks;
c. Individual Performance Plans for Top 50 players, appropriately implemented and
supervised, to be submitted to SRU in the week of June long weekend;
d. The requirement of the above assumes a full-time coaching resource or equivalent
in time dedicated to position.

10. The Club shall procure a full-time paid position of General Manager with the following
qualifications:
e. Experience managing finance, people and delivering programs, equivalent at least to
the level of Head Coach;
f. Must meet all Competition deadlines;
g. Must respond to correspondence in a timely and professional manner.

11. Strength and Conditioning services to the top 30-50 players within each club. Club to
provide:
h. Access to a person with a minimum Aust. Strength and Conditioning Associating
(ASCA) Level 2 qualification.
i. Access to a gymnasium suitable for a high-performance environment.
j. Physical testing data to be shared with SRU, NSW Rugby Union and Rugby AU High
Performance staff.

12. Program Focused / Development Resource:

k. A person within each club responsible for the management and implementation of
development programs (core skills) beyond the Top 50 players.
l. This does not require a dedicated resource but must be contained within the
responsibilities of a staff members role.
 13. Medical and Physiotherapy services who attend both training and games as required.

14. Match Day Doctor to be appointed by each Club.

15. Compliance with all SRU Broadcast and Sponsorship Rights.

16. Adherence to Premiership Competition salary cap of $200,000 AUD, per season of the Term.

17. Provide SRU Club audited financial documents and annual report in a timely manner.

18. The Club will abide by the requirements set down in the Operations Manual relating to but
not limited to:
m. Competition rules
n. Judiciary regulation
o. Specific venue requirement
p. Medical requirements and guidelines
q. Commercial and broadcasting guidelines

19. Other criteria as issued by Sydney Rugby Union

Emergency Step In

If any Club has failed to comply with any obligation within the Participation Agreement and SRU
reasonably believes that the failure will or is likely to adversely affect the Premiership Competition
and the Club has not be able to remedy the failure, not withstanding having been given a reasonable
opportunity to do so, then SRU without notice may exercise its Step-In Right.

Intent for 2023 Season

It is the intent in drafting the 2022 Participation Agreement that the 2023 Participation Agreement
will be reflective of all elements contained within the 2022 Agreement. As per the SRU Constitution,
Participation License Agreements must be annual documents.

Sydney Rugby Union Limited

ACN 109 584 876

Participating Club

___________________________________________
This agreement is conducted between Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) and

________________________________________ Club

And signed by an authorised Club representative.

Date: _________________________

_________________________________________ Position: _____________________