In 2020, there were 649 teams who played at 81 host venues with over 2000 participants.

The matches will be played in a two bowl triples format. The matches will consist of two sets of five ends with a one end tie-breaker if the sets are evenly split. One optional roll up end per match (for all players registered in a team).

To ensure quick play, there are to be no jack rolls – jacks are to be placed by the team that controls the mat. Ideally, there will be two jacks for each rink of play (one jack at each end).

Teams can consist of all male, all female or mixed teams, which makes the BPL Cup a purely open gender competition. All players within one team must be from the same club which is affiliated to your State and/or Territory Association.

Teams can register a minimum of three and a maximum of four players, but only three players can participate at any one time. Teams can substitute players during matches, following the completion of an end. Teams can also substitute players during the competition, at the completion of matches. All players must be registered via the BPL Cup registration portal (via www.bowls.com.au/events/BPL-Cup) before the preliminary round that they wish to participate in.

Each team may comprise of all males, all females or mixed. BPL Cup is an open gender competition

Playing positions between the three (3) players may be altered after the completion of an end.

As this is a Club based competition, all players within each team have to be affiliated with the same Club

The matches will be played in a two bowl triples format. The matches will consist of two sets of five ends with a one end tie-breaker if the sets are evenly split. One optional roll up end per match (for all players registered in a team).

To ensure quick play, there are to be no jack rolls – jacks are to be placed by team that controls the mat. Ideally, there will be two jacks for each rink of play (one jack at each end).

First to play

First set: teams will toss a coin and the winner of the toss can choose whether their team places the mat and jack, and then delivers the first bowl or tells the opposing team to place the mat and jack, and then deliver the first bowl (the opposing player cannot refuse).

Second set: the winner of the first set shall place the mat and jack and then deliver the first bowl. If the first set is a draw, the winner of the last scoring end in that set shall place the mat and jack.

The first and any further ends of a tie-breaker: teams should toss a coin and the winner of the toss has the options as described in 2.1.3 above.

In all ends after the first end of each set, the winner of the previous scoring end shall place the mat, advise the skip the length of jack and then deliver the first bowl. If, however, the first end of the first set is a tied end, the first to play in that end shall also play first in the second end of the first set.

Each team will have one power play each set which will double the shots for their team only for one end. Teams must nominate to use a power play before the commencement of an end for the power play to take effect – the opposing team must be informed of the intention to use a power play before placement of the mat. Both teams can choose to use their power play on the same end. If a team has not utilised their power play before the fifth end of a set, then the fifth end will automatically become that team’s power play.

If the jack is killed it will be re-spotted on the two metre mark at the end of the “T”

A skipper is allowed to be at the head while the leads and seconds deliver their bowls

Movement to the head – leads cannot follow their bowl. Seconds can only follow their second bowl each end.

Skips must walk back to the mat end together, however skippers may follow either bowl

Slow play will not be tolerated with an aim to complete each match within 75 minutes.

All rounds, from Preliminary Rounds to National Finals will consist of sectional play.

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to alter the Conditions of Play for the National Finals if circumstances necessitate alterations.

The minimum number of teams for a Preliminary Round event to be held is four teams. The maximum number for any Preliminary Round is sixteen teams.

Sectional Winners and Ladder rankings will be determined in the following order:

Firstly, by the highest number of game points (wins) scored – a win is worth three points and there cannot be any draws.

If game points are equal, the team with the highest number of sets won shall be ranked higher – one point per set won and 0.5 points for a drawn set.

If game points, and sets won are equal, the team with the highest net total shots (total shots for less total shots against) over all games in the section shall be ranked higher (shown as score difference on the ladder).

If game points and sets won, and net total shots are equal, shot percentage will be used which will divide a player/teams’ total of shots for, by the total of shots against to calculate a shot percentage. The player/team with the highest shot percentage will be ranked higher.

If everything is equal, the head to head game will be used to separate the teams.

The points tables linked from the BPL Cup webpage (under the National Events tab of www.bowls.com.au) should reflect the above ranking order in each case.

Contrived Results

The Committee shall have power to investigate a game or the actions of the clubs or any players involved in a match if it suspects the assistance or collusion of any person or club have colluded to contrive the result of a match. If the Committee decides to carry out an investigation, it will conduct such inquiries as it sees fit and invite submissions about the match or conduct of players and will give any person the opportunity to be heard.

If the Committee finds that clubs or players have colluded to contrive the outcome of a match the Committee may in its absolute discretion do one or more of the following:
A) Suspend a club or player from playing in future matches;

B) Take any other action that it deems appropriate.