| Community Game Update – August 2020 Content |
| 1. Update on the return to community rugby 2. Join the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby events 3. Local lockdown guidance 4. Adult Male Future Competition Structure 5. Safeguarding update 6. Diversity and Inclusion – complete the survey 7. Register for an Eddie Jones webinar 8. Running your Club – Virtual Workshops – Sept to Nov 2020 9. 2020 Annual General Meeting – Draft Minutes 10. Share your Ready4Rugby stories and videos To read the full update click on the link |
Recommendations for adult male competition structure published
The RFU Future Competitions Structure Group has released a recommendation paper on the adult male competitions structure (English Club Championship Level 3 and below) for implementation in the 2021/22 season.
This follows engagement with the game over the last nine months and evidence collection. The RFU acknowledges that players are playing less games each season due to lifestyle reasons and modern day demands on time.
The paper recognises the significant opportunity for rugby to develop an optimal playing offer and structure that protects the future health of the adult male game, meets the needs of current and future players, balances quality of experience and player welfare needs and limits travel, while protecting the sustainability of clubs.
The proposals include reducing league sizes, introducing league break weekends, and organising leagues that minimise travel, all essential to meet the game’s needs. Player feedback has also highlighted the importance of knockout rugby. Click here to read the plan.
Feedback is welcomed ahead of the RFU Council decision on Friday 2 October 2020. Please click here to share your views. You can also access FAQs here.
Additional documents
For any queries, contact Competitions-Development@RFU.com
Adopting a whole club approach to Covid risk assessments
In assisting clubs with Covid risk assessments and the sharing of good practice, it is clear that the most enduring and robust processes are those where there are ‘whole club’ approaches to managing training and the tracing of participants rather than individual team interpretations. Whereas the content of a training session will undoubtedly differ depending on age and gender, the Covid management processes and risk assessments should remain constant and coherent throughout the club.
This is especially important as we move through the return to play matrix. A recent RFU meeting outlined the significant hurdles that had to be overcome in order to obtain senior government approval to move from B to C and which will undoubtedly be repeated for any further easing. The situation is naturally fragile and hard earned concessions can be withdrawn. Therefore, CRFU would strongly recommend that all clubs have a common policy and process that is adhered to and enforced by club management for all teams within the club.
The RFU have created an excellent webinar explaining the underpinning rationale which can be accessed at this link https://www.workcast.com/register?cpak=4360816365574395 Ideally, all involved with the game including players, parents and those at a supervisory level should do the webinar and gain the certificate. Most certainly, DoRs, coaches, DoRs and team managers at all age groups and genders should make every effort to complete the 20 minute video as it will assist them in keeping the game Covid safe and demonstrating due diligence.
Several clubs have discussed their processes with CRFU RugbySafe and have allowed the sharing of their ideas so that the protections can be as robust as practically possible throughout Cornish rugby. If any club or team manager has any questions or would like a review of their processes, please contact rugbysafe@crfu.co.uk
Bob Hubble
Rugby Safe Lead
Latest RFU Coronavirus Update – 11th August
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update Please find below the thirty-fifth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update. We have provided an update on the return to community rugby following a move to Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap and advice for clubs in local lockdown areas . We have also announced two weekends of celebration in September – the NatWest Rugby Force Weekend on the 5th/6th, and the Pitch Up for Rugby Weekend on the 12th/13th. There’s also a call for the rugby community to take part in our Diversity and Inclusion Survey. To read the rest of the update click on the link Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
RFU Community Rugby Road Map – Stage C
Today we can confirm that our action plan to commence a safe and phased return to grassroots rugby activity has been approved by the Government.
The Return to Community Rugby Roadmap has been updated to show a move from Stage B to Stage C.
The rugby community is now able to recommence some larger group rugby activity, initially non-contact, subject to adherence with RFU guidance.
Any return is a decision for individual clubs to make and they must continue to follow government Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidelines, along with any local government lockdown restrictions that may be introduced.
The return will initially be through non-contact rugby focused on Ready4Rugby, a non-contact game, enabling two teams of up to 10 players to engage in training and match activity in their own club environment. Subject to satisfactory operation through August we hope to then be able to move to inter-club Ready4Rugby in September. Other Touch Rugby activity (including O2 Touch centres) will also be able to recommence.
To read the rest of the brief click on the link
It is highly recommended that all involved with the game at a supervisory level should do the webinar and gain the certificate. Most certainly, coaches, DoRs and team managers at all age groups and genders must do the webinar so that clubs can demonstrate due diligence.
Joint Statement from the CRFU regarding the latest RFU community game cuts
You will all by now have read in the press that our 3 County RFU employees Jonny, Phil and Neil are under serious threat of redundancy. The RFU in their wisdom, have decided the Community game should take the brunt of this current cost saving exercise.
Our thoughts are along the same lines as many messages we have received from the clubs, a great shame for rugby in Cornwall. All three have worked tirelessly to help our clubs in all manner of ways, always on call to help. An example would be the coaching work done with both St Just and Stithians last season. To say we are grateful for their work would be an understatement.
The RFU have taken the opportunity to totally overall current support with all RDOs and CRC roles now gone. These will be replaced with 2 new roles Club Development Officer and Coach Development Officer with a total of 44 in these new roles. Should the guys apply for these roles they will have a one in four chance of success.
Looking at the new roles it likely that we will share our newly appointed officers with our friends across the Tamar, although that is yet to be confirmed.
We have met with our RFU team and offered all support we can as a grateful County and will catch up with them again next week as part of a continual review.
On behalf of the CRFU we wish to pass our sincere thanks to the three not only for their hard work but also for their attitude and approach in setting the high standard of rugby in Cornwall.
Our best wishes go to them all and wish them luck over the coming weeks.
On other matters and in relation to the above:
We wish to assure all our Clubs, especially those with age group teams, that whatever the outcome of these change in job roles the CRFU is committed to supporting the Clubs to the level that they have received in the past and we will keep you advised of proposed developments.
The RFU have reduced the grant they give to each of the Counties down to 30% of the 2019/2020 award and as the Management Board we will be discussing at our next meeting what the implications of these are.
Can we also take this opportunity to remind you that we are at level B on the pathway back to play and yesterday it was announced that there will be no rugby in September level 3 and below.
Scotland RFU have moved to level C which allows for touch rugby but still no contact, so hopefully this will be announced soon for us.
Finally a lot of work is going on in the background to support both our Clubs and the County, we are both available to help if required.
Just last week we were in contact with Lancashire RFU who are very keen to visit Cornwall at the end of next season to play a match. This together with the visit of Crawshays Welsh and our discussions with other Counties in the South West to play County Rugby at most levels provides something positive for us all to look forward to.
We wish you well.
John Sumnall. Dave Saunter
President CRFU. Chairman CRFU
01872 572788 07554010480
Community Game Update: Coronavirus update
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update Please find below the thirty-fourth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update. We are awaiting approval of the Return to Community Rugby Action Plan we submitted to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (‘DCMS’). We have today provided a reminder that we currently remain at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. We have also provided an update on adult league rugby and age grade national competitions. RFU headlines  Update on return to community rugby roadmap In line with many other NGBs of sport, we have submitted our action plan to government in an effort to accelerate the return of some rugby activity. We are awaiting approval of this and hence we currently remain at Stage B on our Return to Community Roadmap. This means the only activity permitted is socially distanced non-contact activity in maximum group sizes of 6. For avoidance of doubt, this means no scrum training, tackle training or any other form of contact rugby and also means that touch and tag activity is not permitted. Any breach of this may invalidate insurance and is in breach of both RFU and government regulation. Clubs in enhanced lockdown areas must also comply with any additional local restrictions…………………. To read the rest of the update click on the link Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
RFU Safeguarding Bulletin August 2020
RFU Coronavirus Update 28th July
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update Please find below the thirty-third edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update. Having submitted our Return to Community Rugby Action Plan to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (‘DCMS’), we hope to announce a move to Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap soon. We have also announced dates for the NatWest RugbyForce Weekend. To read the rest of the update click on the link Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
Appointment of a Diversity & Inclusion Lead
Cornwall Rugby Football Union are looking to appoint the following volunteer role.
Diversity & Inclusion Lead
The Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) is strongly committed to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation by ensuring:
- that all rugby related environments are inclusive to all
- that diversity is positively embraced in all rugby situations
- that all current and future rugby players are represented across the game in all leadership roles eg coaches, managers, administrators etc.
The Lead will be a Member of the CRFU Management Board and attend meetings as appropriate.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will be providing a strategy for Diversity and Inclusion and the Lead will be expected to ensure that this will be fully implemented. The Lead will also be expected to develop and lead the implementation of a local strategy that meets the local needs of the CRFU.
Although all Disciplinary matters relating to racially aggravated verbal or physical abuse are the jurisdiction of the RFU the CRFU requires the Board Member to advise not only the CRFU but also the Clubs within the Constituent Body on these and other related matters. Related matters will include verbal and physical abuse where it has allegedly been personalised to an individual’s race, gender, sexuality etc.
The ideal candidate, who will be a volunteer, will be experienced in equality, diversity and inclusion matters, HR or related employment. A knowledge of rugby is not necessarily required.
If you are interested please contact the Secretary of the CRFU, Terry Williams (terry344@sky.com & 07753 114727). The Closing date is Monday 31 August 2020.
