| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update This week’s headlines include: 1. Return to Play guidance 2. Facilities guidance 3. Club Support Centre Other Updates 4. Coaching and refereeing courses 5. Webinars and podcasts 6. Inspirational Zainab 7. Raising awareness for mental health charities Please remember that until Wednesday 2 December we remain at Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, meaning no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken. From tomorrow, Wednesday 2 December, we will move to Stage E Roadmap Return to Play update  Following yesterday’s Government approval for adapted contact rugby to resume in the Community Game, we’ve compiled Return to Play guidance, for the new game and law variations which will come into effect for match play. This guidance below is designed to help clubs resume adapted contact training from Wednesday 2 December to give players time to prepare ahead of the permitted return to local friendly fixtures from Friday 18 December. Please note, there is no obligation for players and clubs to play 15-a-side adaptations. Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby matches up until and beyond 18 December. This simply provides clubs with an opportunity to play adapted contact rugby should they wish. Adapted Stage E rules/laws for Age Grade Rugby have also been approved for U7-13 and U14-18. The move to Stage E will allow the restart of Tag Rugby for U7s and U8s. The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed schools/colleges can return to playing sport in line with approved NGB action plans. Universities will need to align rugby with their planning for student engagement, testing and return home in December. It remains an education institution decision whether playing rugby is possible within their own requirements and measures. These law variations will be reviewed as the season progresses and as restrictions are changed. We understand our return to play is a huge moment for our sport and for you as clubs and CBs. We all share a collective desire and responsibility to get this right. Now, we really need to be as safe as we can be so that we can continue the phased return to rugby for our local communities without further interruptions. Return to Play Webinar support will be available tomorrow on the Coronavirus Hub resources page. Law Variations Video Explanation Facilities guidance Government guidance has just gone live as we issue this evening’s CGU. We will therefore interpret the guidance overnight and update our facilities and travel guidance, alongside rugby specific FAQs, tomorrow on the Coronavirus Hub on the link below. This will cover clubhouses, changing rooms, showers, travel and tier implications. Please direct any queries to clubsupport@rfu.com. You can read the Government guidance below. Government Guidance Coronavirus Hub To read the rest of the update click on the link |
Community Rugby set to return with adaptations, moves to Stage E
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) welcomes the news that Government has given its approval for 15-a-side contact rugby union to return at grassroots level, subject to adaptations.
This comes after extensive research and consultations with Government into mitigating the risks of close contact. By using law variations, this will limit the risk of prolonged face-to-face contact, allowing the community game to resume (everything below the Greene King IPA Championship and Allianz Premier 15s).
Clubs will be able to begin adapted training from Wednesday 2 December in preparation for local friendly fixtures recommencing from Friday 18 December when the following law variations will come into effect:
- There will be no scrums or mauls in the game.
- Instead of a scrum, the game will begin with a free kick. This free kick cannot be taken quickly.
- A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout.
- A team awarded a penalty or free kick will no longer be able to choose a scrum option.
- A team awarded a penalty or free kick at a lineout can instead choose another lineout at the same mark.
Further details on the variations (Law 5 – Time, Law 16 – Maul, Law 18 – Lineout, Law 19 -Scrum, Law 20 – Penalty and Free Kick) can be found here. These law variations will be reviewed as the season progresses and as restrictions change.
“We are delighted that our submission has been approved to return to a format of 15 a-side rugby and we thank Government for working with us to find a solution that enables the safe return of the community game,” said RFU Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger.
“In recent months, we have received growing support from clubs and players in favour of adaptations, with law variations preferable to the option of no rugby at all. This is wonderful news for community clubs, their volunteers, players and supporters around the country, who can now look forward to playing contact rugby for the first time since March.
“We now need to be as safe as we possibly can be and comply with all off-field social distancing and Covid-secure guidance to ensure we can continue our phased return to full contact rugby when it is safe to do so.”
England Head Coach Eddie Jones added: “I know how much work has gone into getting international rugby back.
“Having community rugby back is the next step in getting the game up and running and I am pleased for everyone involved in the community game, which has gone through a very tough time. They can now get excited about having rugby back in their lives.”
Clubs in all tiers will be able to return to Stage E on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap from Wednesday 2 December. Further guidance on travel within and between tiers will be issued following publication of government guidance.
There is no obligation for players and clubs to play 15-a-side adaptations. Clubs will still be able to play Ready4Rugby matches up until and beyond 18 December.
Adapted Stage E rules/laws for Age Grade Rugby have also been approved for U7-13 and U14-18. The move to Stage E will allow the recommencing of Tag Rugby for U7s and U8s.
Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed schools/colleges can return to playing sport in line with approved National Governing Body action plans.
Further Government guidance is expected today on travel, changing, spectators and clubhouses.
A light at the end of the tunnel
| Following Government’s announcement last week that outdoor team sport can resume from Wednesday 2 December, we are delighted to confirm that Government has today approved our submission to return to 15-a-side contact rugby, with some adaptations. Further detail on these adaptations and associated laws will follow tomorrow. However, they are briefly summarised below: • There will be no scrums or mauls in the game • Where the game would restart with a scrum, this will be replaced with a free kick • A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout What does this mean clubs can now do? • Clubs can resume adapted training for 15-a-side contact rugby again from this Wednesday. Further detail to follow tomorrow. • Clubs can resume friendly fixtures from Friday 18 December – this is to allow players to prepare properly and safely, having not been training over the past month. • Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby if they have matches coming up from 2 December to 18 December and beyond. There is no obligation to play adapted 15-a-side contact fixtures. Further detail to follow Further Government guidance is expected today on travel, changing, spectators and clubhouses. We will be working overnight to interpret this information and will provide a detailed briefing in tomorrow’s CGU, on the Coronavirus Hub and Club Support Centre, together with more information about adaptations to the game. |
Return to play & facilities reopening
| Following Thursday’s tier announcement, we know clubs have a number of questions to address and we want to reassure you that we are working hard with Government to clarify outstanding areas so that we can provide you with answers and clear guidance. As you will appreciate, the return to grassroots sport in the covid landscape is a complex and fast-moving world for Government to manage. We will continue to support their efforts to provide clarity for clubs as quickly as possible. As soon as we are in a position to do so, we will provide Clubs and CBs with on field and off field guidance for each tier, so you are confident about returning to play safely and excited about rugby restarting. Guidance for each tier will include: • Which stage on The Return to Community Rugby Roadmap clubs will be able to play. • Equipment that will be permitted. • Facilities guidance (for clubhouses, bars, changing rooms, showers, toilets) • Travel implications • Spectators management • Group mixing rules Until Wednesday 2 December, we remain in national lockdown and at Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. This means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken. Please keep an eye out for communications in the coming days. We will share an update with you as soon as we have received and interpreted Government guidance around sporting facilities, so that we can provide clarity on what it means for clubs in each area. Roadmap |
RFU statement re HMG financial support package announced today
| We have been working hard with Government to develop a financial support programme for the game as well as permission to return to play when it is safe to do so. Today’s announcement demonstrates Government understands the need for rugby to be supported and we would like to thank everyone we consulted with in the game for your feedback which allowed us to provide clear and detailed submissions. Funding has been made available to help the survival of those sports who are not able to have spectators up to the end of March and the Sports Minister has estimated that the funding package for all sports will consist of £250m in loans and £50m in grants. The funding must be applied for and justified against certain criteria to be defined and is therefore not guaranteed. This news is positive for rugby and we will continue to work with Government to understand the details of the application process, the criteria under which submissions will be measured, and the composition of the independent panel and delivery mechanism. We will update you on this process in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Government announcements can be read below. Announcement Minister’s Statement |
RFU Community Game Update – November 2020
| Content: 1. Check out England Rugby social media channels this weekend 2. RFU Cluster Fixture Proposals 3. Age Grade Playing Calendars 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 4. Age Grade Registration – GMS Data Tidy-Up 5. Postponement of 2020/21 Level 3 Coaching Award 6. University Clusters and Partners Update 7. Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union Courses are back 8. NatWest Rugby Club Finance Guide 9. Warrior Camps return 10. Information – England Men’s and Women’s forthcoming fixtures Welcome to the November 2020 Community Game Update. We hope you find the update useful, and if you have any feedback, queries or content that you would like to feature, please email Chris Dodd, Communications Executive (chrisdodd@rfu.com). Our communications to you are based on the data held in the Game Management System (GMS). Please check the information held on this system is up to date and active. This communication is only sent to the roles highlighted in the distribution list above. Please share it with others in your club who need to see it. To read the rest of the update click on the link |
RFU Community Game Update, 10th November
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update In this week’s edition, we bring you an exciting opportunity to watch England Rugby for free in the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, on Amazon Prime. We also share a new Sunday morning streamed activity to keep our age grade players active and connected with their clubs during the national lockdown. We will mark Armistice Day in a number of ways this week. A poppy has been painted on the training pitch at the Lensbury, where a one minute silence will be held at 11am tomorrow. In addition, both the England Men and England Women will wear poppies at their matches on Saturday 14 November to pay tribute to the men and women who served and sacrificed to defend our nation and to secure our freedom. RFU Headlines  How your rugby communities can watch England’s fixtures for free this autumn We have been working with Amazon to provide an opportunity for fans to take advantage of a free one-month trial with Amazon Prime so you can watch England Rugby during the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, while also supporting your club. To help grassroots clubs generate revenue, Amazon are opening up registration for clubs to become Amazon Associates. The club will receive £3 for every member of the community who signs up to Amazon through the club’s unique Associates link. This money will be paid directly to the club and, while there may not be a huge cash injection, every little helps during these challenging times. The registration process will take 5-10 minutes. We will share templates to help clubs promote this offer in the coming days. Click below to read the step by step guide. If you want to see how the England squad have been preparing for the upcoming fixtures, watch the below episode of the Next Level, and please share the link on your channels. We will advise clubs of the broadcaster for both fixtures in the Women’s Autumn Internationals in the November edition of Community Game Update on Friday ahead of England playing France in Grenoble on Saturday 14 November (KO 1.15pm), and then at Twickenham on Saturday 21 November (KO 12pm). To read the rest of the update click on the link |
Community Game Update 5th November
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update RFU Headlines Community rugby – current status England is now in national lockdown until Wednesday 2 December and all team sports have been suspended, including club age grade and adult rugby activities below Championship and Premier 15s. With effect from today, we return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. This means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken until at least Wednesday 2 December. While group training sessions are banned, a maximum of two players (or one player and one coach) can participate in socially distanced (two metres plus), individual training sessions in a public outside space, but not a garden, without sharing equipment. FAQ’s from Sport England are available below. Government Guidance FAQs To read the rest of the update, click on the link |
RFU Roadmap return to stage A
| Parliament has today voted in favour of the Government’s national lockdown proposals aimed at curbing the increase in Covid-19 cases in England, which take effect from tomorrow (Thursday 5 November) until Wednesday 2 December. In addition, the Government has announced the cessation of all community team sports during this period, which applies to Age Grade and Adult rugby activities below Championship and Premier 15s. With effect from tomorrow, we return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. This means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken until at least Wednesday 2 December. While group training sessions are banned, a maximum of two players can participate in socially distanced (two metres plus), individual training sessions outside without sharing equipment. We will now review what the implications of this national lockdown plan mean for clubhouses, schools, colleges, universities, etc., and will provide more detailed information in the Covid-19 Community Game Update tomorrow. In addition, we would like to advise that the RFU Competitions Team is working with the Competitions Organising Committees for Men and Women to finalise alternative competitions models in place of the cancelled 2020/21 league programme. These will be entirely optional for clubs and will have no impact on promotion/relegation. They will focus on local cluster leagues and offer a framework for clubs to Return to Play (in some format once we have government approval to do so). It is intended to circulate these proposals, inviting clubs to participate, on Friday 13 November. |
RFU Update 3rd November
| We recognise that Tuesday is club training night and are therefore issuing our weekly communication earlier than usual today on one topic only. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a national lockdown last Saturday, we continue to speak regularly to the Government to seek clarification on what the national lockdown restrictions, coming into force on Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, mean for community rugby. We recognise that there is significant speculation circulating regarding potential outcomes. However, we currently do not know what the precise implications of these restrictions are. We expect to issue a further communication as soon as we receive a further update, which is likely to arrive over the next 24-36 hours, once the plans have been considered by Parliament tomorrow. Until the Government issues a further announcement, we continue to be able to operate at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap and, therefore, usual Tuesday night training sessions can take place today. Clubs impacted by local tier 2 and tier 3 restrictions should follow any local authority guidance that is in place for their venues. You can find out more on the link below. Given the current situation, today’s edition of the Covid-19 Community Game Update will be issued later this week. |
| Local Guidance |
