| Return to Rugby |
| This edition includes: 1. Council update 2. 2021/2022 Travel Funding and RFU Competitions 3. Age Grade Summer Activity – July 4. Allianz Inner Warrior 5. Pitch up for Rugby 6. Club Support – VAT Recovery and Lease Reviews 7. News round-up including Pride in Brighton and helping at vaccination centres to #TackleCovid 8. Webinars and on-demand videos RFU Council vote in favour of Covid Recovery Plan and temporary pause on relegation  The RFU Council has today voted in favour of a range of structural changes to improve the financial stability and sustainability of professional rugby during the next three seasons while also providing benefits for England Rugby and the community game. The Covid Recovery Plan, with a temporary pause on relegation, follows a detailed consultation that was announced in February after the RFU Council voted in favour of no relegation from Gallagher Premiership Rugby or the Greene King IPA Championship for the 2020/21 season. The extensive consultation included Premiership Rugby and their clubs, Championship clubs, The RPA, RFU Board and RFU Council Read More Travel Funding and 2021/2022 season Further to announcements within the Community Game Updates on 15th and 22nd June, more information can be found below on travel funding support available for season 2021/22. The document provides information on: • Clubs travelling to play teams on Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey – women and men • Mainland clubs travelling to the Isle of Wight – men • Needs based travel funding. It also contains the Needs Based Travel Fund criteria, how to apply and the application form. RFU Competitions 2021/22 Season Both adult and age grade competitions are on track to begin in September. We do, however, need to be mindful of Government’s announcement scheduled for Monday 19th July regarding the provisional lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions. The situation is being closely monitored and we are ready to react if there is a change to that date. Application Form Travel Document To read the rest of the update click on the link |
RFU Rugby Camp Guidance
Community Game Update – 22nd June
| Return to Rugby – This edition includes: 1. Community rugby clubs boosted by £30 million government funding allocation 2.‘Pitch Up For Rugby’ will return between 4-12 September 3. First Aid and Immediate Care Provision Guidelines for the new season now available 4. Competition Organisers’ Guide – CB ONLY 5. Rugby Camp Guidance 6. Connecting with your players 7. News round-up including Travel Funding and July 4 National Thank you Day 8. Webinars and on-demand videos. Community Clubs boosted by Government Funding  We are thrilled that so many community rugby clubs across the country have benefited from the Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund. Over the past few months, community rugby clubs nationwide have been boosted by an allocation of £30 million of government funding, the biggest single investment in the community game, following collaboration between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Sport England, the RFU and the grassroots game. 512 rugby clubs have already received Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund grants totalling £18,275,903, with more set to receive funding through the loans programme. You can read the full story below. Read More Rugby Camps Guidance We have now consolidated our information regarding the organisation of rugby camps into one guide. This guidance is for all camp organisers at member clubs, educational institutions, Constituent Bodies (CB) and third party/commercial providers and can be found on the Summer Activity page below. It will support anyone organising and delivering a rugby camp at any time and specifically during the summer of 2021 when out-of-season regulations have been changed due to the impact of Covid-19. We strongly recommend that all organisers see this guide as the template for their activity. There is separate guidance for those responsible for rugby camp approvals (mainly CBs). If approvers have further questions please get in touch on agegraderugby@rfu.com. Summer Activity Guide To read the rest of the update click on the link |
England Rugby Mentoring Award
Dear Volunteer,
Do you want to play a role in supporting others to improve the rugby offer? Or do you already support other coaches, referees and volunteers? Then the England Rugby Mentoring Award could be the course for you! Please select the videos below to hear from Dylan Hartley and Sarah Hunter about the importance a quality Mentor has had on their careers:
England Rugby Mentoring Award- Dylan Hartley
England Rugby Mentoring Award- Sarah Hunter
The England Rugby Mentor Award aims to support those who wish to develop others they’re working with, whether that’s a fellow coach, referee or volunteer. The course will focus on behaviour change, learning and support of an individual with their practice. Irwin Mitchell have partnered with us to deliver this piece of work, with the aim of having a trained mentor in every club that offers U14-U18 Rugby.
The course is made up of one face to face day, plus an additional three remote sessions in November/ December/ January. Candidates will be required to attend all days and then complete a portfolio for one mentee that they’re working with throughout the season, to apply the learnings from the course back at their own rugby club.
Course are now live on the GMS Course Finder and we look forward to welcoming you onto the England Rugby Mentoring Award in July and August.
The specific link for the course running at Bodmin RFC is https://bit.ly/3zuLiHg
Kind Regards,
RFU Game Development
RFU Community Game Update 15th June
| Return to Rugby This edition includes: 1. Government Step 4 update and what this means for rugby 2. Regulation changes approved by RFU Council, Friday 11 June 3. Season 2021/22 Community Funding 4. Women’s leagues & fixtures release 2021/22 5. RFU Virtual AGM 6. Taxation of business support grants 7. News round-up 8. Webinars and on-demand videos Government Step 4 and what this means for rugby  Following yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister to delay Step 4 until Monday 19 July to enable more people to be vaccinated, we remain at Stage D2 on the rugby roadmap. We will continue to hold discussions with government around when it will be possible to move to Stage E and full contact training. In the meantime, we remind clubs and their members to follow all Covid-19 protocols and Stage D2 guidance. Please take particular care in light of the increase in Delta variant cases. A reminder of Covid protocols and Stage D2 guidance can be found on the buttons below. Stage D2 Helpdesk FAQs To read the remainder of the update click on link |
Law Change announced for Age Grade Rugby
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will introduce a law change to the tackle height in age grade rugby in England for the 2021/22 season.
The existing rules for those playing full contact rugby at Under 9 to Under 14 levels has an imagined line between the armpits as the maximum height of a legal tackle.
Under the law change, approved by the RFU Council, this rule now extends to Under 15 to Under 18 levels bringing the tackle height down from shoulder level to the armpit for those age groups.
This means all players who are permitted to tackle in full contact age grade rugby (those participating at Under 7 and Under 8 level play non-contact rugby) will do so at the same height.
Not all hero’s wear capes
The last 18 months have been trying to say the least for all of us. Can we play, can we train, or even socialise. Thankfully it looks like we are coming out the other side and September will be back to the real deal.
In lockdown our rugby community comes to the front and Alfie Martin is a fine example of this. On hearing an ex-college playing friend, Chae Jenkins, had become poorly he decided to do something about it. Alfie is walking over 250 miles to raise money for Chae and Cornwall Mind a mental health charity. Setting himself a target of £3000, he’s smashed it.
I had the pleasure of joining Alfie on the leg from Wadebridge to Newquay. Spending 6hrs with someone you get to understand the motivation and drive of a special young man. At a time when it’s easy to criticise the next generation, hats off to you Alfie. The whole of the Cornish rugby family is with you and wish you luck with the rest of the journey.
Today he’s walking from St Just to Penzance. If you would like to make a donation go to https://uk.gofundme.com/f/cornish-rugby-walk-for-chae-jenkins
Dave Saunter
CRFU Chair.
Community Game Update 25th May
| Return to Rugby |
| As a reminder, the Community Game Updates will now be fortnightly unless there are any important Government or Game updates. This edition includes: 1. Return to Rugby – Indian Covid-19 variant – 8 geographic areas (Check Govt updates!) 2. Stage D2 reminder 3. NatWest RugbyForce 4. Player data 5. Dates for the diary 6. Girls Cup changes 7. Allianz Premiership 15s Final and magazine show 8. Webinars and on-demand videos 9. Young Warrior Cheick To read the content click on the link |
Age Grade Rugby – End of Season
The Age Grade Rugby season ends on 31st May. The only permitted activity for June is:
• Tag Rugby – U7 to U18 boys and girls
• Ready4Rugby – U9 to U18 boys and girls
All players will move up to their new age grade on 1st August. Boys age grade players will remain with the same rules of play as for the 20-21 season until 1st Jan – as an example, U9s in 2020-21 still become U10s in 2021-22 but will play U9s rules from September to December and U10 rules from January. Girls age grade players will move as usual up to the new rules of play from 1st August 2021.
More details of what is permitted is at the Summer Activity Guidance https://www.englandrugby.com/…/Return2Rugby…
Community Game Update 18th May
| Return to Rugby We are delighted for everyone across the country that your clubhouses can finally re-open. We hope everyone enjoys being able to make good use of the facilities again! This edition includes: 1. Stage D2 still in effect – no scrums or mauls until further notice 2. Mental Health resources available to download 3. England Summer Series – book tickets now |
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| Stage D2 continues CBs and clubs are reminded that we must remain at Stage D2 on the return to rugby roadmap. As announced on Friday, Government has not given permission for community rugby to move to Stage E1 yet. This means that, until further notice, no scrums or mauls are permitted in either training or fixtures. The decision applies to all levels in the men’s and women’s game below the Gallagher Premiership, Allianz Premier 15’s and Greene King IPA Championship (which follow elite return to play protocols. We will continue our conversation with government around when it maybe possible to move to Stage E. Insurance cover for RFU clubs remains in place and as well as providing cover for usual activity, the insurance protects clubs against allegations relating to Covid-19, provided they are operating within RFU regulations and government guidelines. Clubs should undertake risk assessments of both their premises and any activity that is taking place to establish what measures need to be taken. This includes training sessions. Risk assessment should be kept on file. Further advice and resources can be located at England Rugby Insurance. Updates will be provided when available. Age Grade Playing Guidance has been updated We have reviewed the playing guidance and updated it to better suit players’ needs. • 1 September – 31 October – Current Age Grade (2020/2021 season) rules apply for all matches and training, internal and against another team. • 1 November – 31 December – New Age Grade (2021/2022 season) rules can be applied in training and internal matches only. Non internal matches must be played under 2020/2021 age grade rules. The changes can be viewed in more detail in the updated Age Grade document. Rugby Camps Guidance supporting organisers of rugby camps and those reviewing/approving CBs is being updated to help achieve alignment with the Summer Activity Guide. This will be available by the beginning of June. Current off-field guidance Yesterday, Monday 17 May, saw changes in off-field guidance. These can be found via our Help Desk FAQs, which includes current information on hospitality, travel and facilities guidance. We have also received updated guidance from Sport England around spectators which you can find on the FAQs. We ask that you read this carefully to ensure that when you have spectators, they stick to their groups of up to 30. While there can be more than one group of 30, it is important there is clearly defined space between groups and they do not join with another group to make it 60, 90 etc. Spectators are now permitted both indoors and outdoors in Step 3, but capacity limits apply. All spectators should maintain social distancing and must adhere to legal gathering limits whilst they’re spectating. There cannot be any groups larger than 30 people. Multiple groups of spectators are permitted. Spectators should minimise shouting or raising their voices. There is an additional risk of infection where people are shouting or singing in close proximity to others. It is important that all spectators (including supporters, parents and others) adhere to the legal gathering limits. In addition to being legal requirements punishable by fines, those violating the measures are endangering public safety and undermining the case for safe sport to be allowed to take place. More information can be found on the Government’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) grassroots sports guidance. Helpdesk FAQs Return To Rugby |
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| RugbySafe and Simplyhealth Mental Wellbeing Support During Mental Health Awareness Week last week, we and our trusted health partner Simplyhealth, published a range of material to help the rugby community enhance their wellbeing and provide support for those who might need it. A new mental wellbeing resource, as well as mental health awareness posters and on-demand webinars, can be accessed through our RugbySafe page below. RugbySafe Page |
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| Get tickets to watch England men This week marks the gradual return of supporters to sporting fixtures. With the Summer Series set to kick-off against the USA on Sunday 4 July. What better way to celebrate getting back to playing and watching rugby than a day out with your teammates at Twickenham? Tickets are on sale for both England v USA on Sunday 4 July 2021 and England v Canada on Saturday 10 July, and you can purchase them via the e-ticketing website below, with adult tickets ranging from £15 to £50, and junior tickets at £10, subject to availability. If you require accessible seating, please secure your tickets first and then submit a request. We will arrange for seats that are suitable for your requirements. Tickets must only be purchased in household groupings All tickets will be delivered via the Twickenham App to a mobile device. You can read more on our Covid-19 safety protocols below. Covid-19 Information Buy Tickets |
