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NRFC Police Vetting Process and Procedure

The safety and welfare of children and young people involved in rugby is paramount.

As part of the New Zealand Rugby's focus on ensuring a safe environment for Small Blacks Rugby, all coaches registering for Small Blacks Rugby (aged 12 and under) and referees registering solely for Small Blacks Rugby are required to undergo Police vetting.

Police vetting provides parents, families and whanau with the confidence that children are participating in sport supported by coaches and referees who are not considered as posing a risk to their safety.

Police vetting aims to protect our more vulnerable members of society from any risks posed by people who may have displayed behaviour that could be detrimental to others' safety and wellbeing.

What Police vetting looks for:

Police vetting search the Police database for information held about the person being vetted.

Information may include:

  • conviction history,
  • location of the court,
  • the date of the offence,
  • the offence itself; and
  • the sentence imposed.

Criminal conviction information is released in accordance with the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

Offences that will disqualify you from the NRFC.

A person that has been found guilty of certain offences against children and others will be automatically disqualified from coaching or refereeing Small Blacks Rugby.

Convictions warranting automatic disqualification are as follows:

  • Murder
  • Sexual offences
  • Indecency offences resulting in imprisonment
  • Kidnapping
  • Offences connected with child prostitution
  • Possession or publication of child pornography
  • Assault and/or violence and/or harassment towards a child
  • Possession of drugs for supply resulting in imprisonment
  • Recidivist drink driving resulting in imprisonment

How Police vetting works

When you register to coach or referee for NRFC, you will be asked to complete a Police vetting consent form.  You must bring a driving licence when registering.

The forms will then be provided to Police for vetting.  The results of the Police check will be confidentially considered by a New Zealand Rugby authorised personnel.

If more investigation is required, in the interests of natural justice, a senior representative from New Zealand Rugby will discuss this information with you in confidence before making a decision concerning any registration application.

To ensure fairness to all Small Blacks coaches and referees, applicants who refuse to consent to Police vetting will be ineligible to coach or referee Small Blacks Rugby.