I know there are other sports that give fines for forfeits outside of the minimum notice window. Again, it's a barrier to participation.
I don't know if Subbies has any rules around this
The Competition Manual has a section dealing with forfeits as below. However, as you state:
I feel like if you penalise them, they will just walk away from playing entirely which isn't what anybody wants.
It isn't anyone's job to go get bashed on a rugby field in Subbies. I love rugby, but I'm pretty sure I could find something to fill my weekends if it suddenly disappeared.
Go back to the Colts discussion on this thread: if Premier Clubs were serious, they'd cap their numbers and tell the Colts to play elsewhere.
End results: those guys would probably leave the game.
I was at an event at our ground yesterday, and the guys from Parra Eels just can't believe how poorly structured rugby is, particularly alignment of Juniors and Seniors. To them, School footy is a nice-to-have. For us, it is becoming a massive hurdle.
9. FORFEITS
9.1 If a Club is forced to forfeit a match, it shall be the lowest grade(s) representing that Club, excluding Colts, which shall be forfeited.
9.2 If a club forfeits a grade higher than a grade already played on that day, then at the Board’s discretion, that club may be deemed to have forfeited all grades, excluding colts, previously played on that day. However, any point differential greater than 28-0 in favour of the non-forfeiting club will be preserved.
9.3 Clubs that advise the Union and opposition Club that they are forfeiting a grade, with the exception of Sutherland & Halligan Cups, by 10am on the Friday preceding the match will lose two competition points and half applicable club championship points from each forfeited grade. Clubs that advise the Union and opposition Club after 10am Friday will lose four competition points and full applicable Club Championship points from each grade forfeited, and may be liable for a $100 fine. The opposition team will still receive a forfeit result.
9.4 Any club which forfeits two or more competition matches in a grade (except Sutherland and Halligan Cups) shall be called to appear before, or give a written submission to the Clubs, Competition and Rules Sub-Committee at a time notified by the NSWSRU. The Sub-Committee may recommend to the Board appropriate action be taken in the form of a fine, suspension, or withdrawal from the competition, or additional loss of competition and/or club championship points.
9.5 A minimum of 11 players is needed to constitute a team for NSWSRU competition matches. Any team unable to field 11 players within ten minutes of the official kick-off time, or at any stage during the match, for whatever reason, including temporary suspensions or send-offs, shall forfeit the match without right of appeal. Teams playing against an opposition with less than 15 players are not required to match opposition team numbers.