Tournament Format
MENS
There will be 12 teams in 3 pools of 4 teams. Each pool consists of one team seeded 1-3, one team seeded 4-6, one team seeded 7-9, and one team seeded 10-12.
All decisions regarding the seeding of teams are the sole responsibility of the tournament organisers.
Play will commence with the teams in each pool playing against one another.
On Day 1, the team listed first in the programme will kick off, defending the scoreboard – end.
On Day 2 for the Knockout Stages, team representatives will toss a coin with the referee during half time of the preceding game.
In each pool game, two points will be awarded for a win and one point per team for a draw. There will be no extra-time.
Pool standings
● If two or more teams in a pool finish level on points awarded to them under rule 17 above, the team which has scored most tries is the winner.
● If the try count is equal, the team which has the highest for/against points difference is the winner.
● If the for/against points difference is equal, the winner is the team scoring most points.
● If the most points scored is equal, the outcome will be determined by the toss of a coin.
On completion of the pool games at the end of Day 1, each team will be Re – Seeded as follows, for The Knockout Stages:
• Seed 1 The Best Placed Pool Winner
• Seed 2 The Second-Best Placed Pool Winner
• Seed 3 The Third Best Placed Pool Winner
• Seed 4 The Best Placed Pool Runner Up
• Seed 5 The Second-Best Placed Pool Runner Up
• Seed 6 The Third Best Placed Pool Runner Up
• Seed 7 The Best Pool Third Place
• Seed 8 The Second-Best Pool Third Place
• Seed 9 The Third Best Pool Third Place
• Seed 10 The Best Pool Last Place
• Seed 11 The Second-Best Pool Last Place
• Seed 12 The Third Best Pool Last Place
Seeding Criteria for The Knockout Stages
For the 3 Winners of The Pools, the seedings 1,2, and 3, will be decided as follows:
● The Pool winner scoring most points will be seeded higher
● If two or more Pool Winners finish level on points, The Pool Winner that has scored most tries will be the Higher Seed.
● If the try count is equal, the Pool Winner that has the highest for/against points difference will be the Higher Seed.
● If the for/against points difference is equal, the Pool Winner that has scored most points will be the Higher Seed
● If the most points scored is equal, the Higher Seed will be determined by the toss of a coin.
The above format also applies to:
• The Runners Up in each pool.
• The Third Placed Teams in each pool.
• The Last Placed Teams in each pool.
WOMENS
● Prior to The Knockout Stages, the tournament will be played as a Pool, using The Round Robin Format for the 5 teams.
● Each team will play all of the other 4 teams, to decide the Pool Standings.
● Teams have been seeded 1 – 5.
● All decisions regarding the seeding of teams are the sole responsibility of the tournament organisers.
● For the Round Robin Pool Games, the team listed first in the programme will kick off, defending the scoreboard – end.
● For the Knockout Stages, team representatives will toss a coin with the referee during half time of the preceding game.
● In each pool game, two points will be awarded for a win and one point per team for a draw. There will be no extra-time.
Pool standings
● If two or more teams in the pool finish level on points awarded to them under rule 13 above, the team which has scored the most tries is the winner.
● If the try count is equal, the team which has the highest for/against points difference is the winner.
● If the for/against points difference is equal, the winner is the team scoring most points.
● If the most points scored is equal, the outcome will be determined by the toss of a coin.