The appeal by Rockaway is denied.

On September 27, 2025, Rockaway forfeited an Empire league match.  As a result, Empire’s Director of Rugby, after several conversations with Rockaway understanding their positions and arguments, declared that Rockaway would be ineligible for the playoffs that season, pursuant to the current Empire League Competition Rules.

Rockaway contacted USAR about how to appeal, and Empire was encouraged to hold a full appeal. The appeal hearing was held over two days and concluded on January 12, 2026. In addition to Rockaway, every team possibly affected by the forfeit ruling was invited to participate. Every party was given the opportunity to fully present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and ask questions from every party including the Empire representatives. The hearing was recorded and has been posted.

Rockaway argued in sum and substance that their schedule was changed with inadequate notice, that a similar situation occurred with Suffolk but had a different result, and that the Empire website was down during a portion of the fall season so that they were unable to obtain the competition rules.

The Empire GU Executive Committee sat as the Appeals Committee and unanimously finds the following findings of fact.

1. There was a six (6)-day period when Empire website was migrating to a new host, but the Competition Rules were always available on the Web.

2. The Competition Rules have not changed in many years, and have been published on the web site for at least 10 years

3. Other league match forfeits have always led to ineligibility for playoffs, and such decisions are always published

4. The Competition Rules are discussed at AGM's, including the 2025 AGM, a meeting at which every team is required to send a representative

5. The Suffolk incident was not similar to the Rockaway incident

6. Rockaway agreed to the change in schedule, and the changes were timely, giving ample notice to all division teams

7. The Competition Rules are regularly provided to all teams via email

8. The 2024 Pre-season meeting agenda, a meeting at which every team is required to send a representative, included a link to the then and current Competition Rules.

The Committee finds that Rockaway had multiple means of notice for the longstanding rule and practice of declaring any team that forfeits a league match ineligible for post season playoffs. Rockaway knew, or should have known that they would become ineligible for post season playoffs when they forfeited there league match. Furthermore, Rockaway presents no unique facts or circumstance that would allow a deviation from the published and long established rules. The decision of Empire’s Director of Rugby to make Rockaway ineligible for post season playoffs stands.

Rockaway should immediately refer to USAR and its Constitution and Bylaws should they desire to appeal this decision as there are short deadlines that must be kept.

Regards, Gary Lee Heavner Certified World Rugby Judicial Officer (JO) (845) 300-1710