| Content: 1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Asset Improvement Loan Prospectus 2. RFU Transgender Policy Proposal – External Consultation 3. 2021 Women’s Six Nations kicks off this weekend Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Asset Improvement Loan Prospectus  We are delighted to launch our full prospectus for the Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Asset Improvement Loans programme. This is a partnership programme enabling government loans to be made available, via the RFU, to help clubs invest in their assets to enable them to reboot and become more financially resilient into the future. It has been designed and developed in conjunction with Sport England who continue to provide oversight. At the time of writing, government have confirmed that the programme is open to all incorporated clubs and we are continuing dialogue with them to look at ways by which this can be extended to unincorporated clubs. We hope to have this resolved next week but wanted to publish the prospectus today to enable clubs to have as much time as possible to consider the detail of the scheme and discuss their appetite to apply. Loan funding is available between £20,000 and £150,000 for facility projects that will help clubs to survive, diversify revenue, reduce operating costs and protect and grow their membership. This prospectus outlines the applications process and key facts about the three funding “buckets” available, as well as repayment terms, example costs and RFU support available relating to each eligible project category. We aim to open the application process next week, at which point detailed FAQs will be available to consult alongside the prospectus to enable clubs to determine whether to make an application, to select the most suitable project for your club and to calculate loan repayment terms. Further information will be published on our loans page next week. Loans Prospectus RFU Transgender Policy Proposal – External Consultation The RFU is conducting a review of its transgender policy which sets out the eligibility criteria for playing contact rugby union in England. As part of the review process, the external consultation for the proposed policy is now open. The consultation period will run until 5pm on Friday 16 April and we welcome your feedback. We encourage anyone who wishes to engage in the external consultation to read the proposed policy in full and watch the video before completing the survey. You can find all of this information, including the survey link and background video, via the button below. As the national governing body for rugby union in England, it is the responsibility of the RFU to regulate participation in order to promote the safe and equitable treatment of all taking part. Rugby Union is a sport for all and the RFU seeks to promote equal opportunities to ensure that anyone who wishes to play the game should be able to do so without prejudice. It’s important to consider the individuals involved and the sense of community and acceptance that our transgender players tell us rugby provides for them. As a contact sport, player welfare is paramount and the proposed policy seeks to strike a balance between inclusion, fairness and safe participation. Transgender Policy 2021 Women’s Six Nations kicks off this weekend The Red Roses’ opener against Scotland will be live on BBC iPlayer this Saturday, kick off 3pm. The full match day squad, captained by Emily Scarratt, is listed below. You can also watch the team’s preparations in O2 Inside Line: Red Roses, Season 2, Episode 1. Full Squad O2 Inside Line |
RFU Community Game Update 30th March
| Return to Rugby This edition includes: 1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Loans prospectus 2. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Grant update from Steve Grainger 3. Car Sharing – Updated guidance 4. First Aid – Updated guidance 5. Return to Rugby On-field guidance 6. Return to Rugby Off-field guidance 7. Warrior Camps to return in May – sign up now! 8. Government Restart Grants 9. Webinars and On demand videos Send photos and videos to @EnglandRugby of you gearing up for rugby; cleaning your boots, preparing the pitch and getting your kit ready with #ReturnToRugby. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Loans update  We hope that clubs have found the advance prospectus helpful and that they can continue to think about how they may wish to use the asset loan. In the video below, Ted Mitchell, tells us what they can be used for and details the terms attached to each loan. Both the video and advance prospectus can be found below. This can also be found on our loans page, with the application period set to open in early April. Advance Prospectus Prospectus Video Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Grant update from Steve Grainger Over the last few weeks we have been notifying clubs who have been awarded grants from the rugby Union Winter Survival fund, which will continue over the next few weeks. We are aware that some clubs are querying the amounts awarded. The video below explains how they have been calculated. Watch Video To read the rest of the update click on the link |
D1 Day is here
The Government Roadmap has moved to Step One – from today Monday 29 March
• Adult and age grade community rugby (including schools and colleges) may resume at Stage D1.
• O2 Touch, Tag and Ready4Rugby training and matches are permitted within the club and against other clubs. We will confirm travel guidance when published by government.
• Contact training (excluding scrums and mauls) is permitted to introduce contact gradually and prepare players physically for the next stage on the Return to Rugby Roadmap. Our guidance strongly recommends a maximum of 20 minutes contact in total per session, with regular hand sanitising breaks during and after contact skills training and equipment should be cleaned after use. Players should avoid face-to-face exposure of more than three seconds and more than 15 minutes of exposure at less than one metre with another player.
Community Game Update March 2021
| March 2021 – Return to Rugby |
| This edition includes: 1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Loans prospectus 2. Return to Rugby On-field guidance 3. Return to Rugby Off-field guidance 4. Adult Male Future Competition Structure 5. RFU Council 6. Warrior Camps to return in May – sign up now! 7. Richard Jones Legacy Send photos and videos to @EnglandRugby of you gearing up for rugby; cleaning your boots, preparing the pitch and getting your kit ready with #ReturnToRugby. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Loans update  We are now able to provide you with the advance prospectus alongside a video from RFU National Facility Development Manager, Ted Mitchell, that details the formats and the terms of asset loans available. This can also be found on our loans page, with the application period is set to open in early April. Advance Prospectus Prospectus Video Return to Rugby – on field guidance  Monday will see the return of rugby at Stage D1, with Stage D2 (from Monday 26 April). We have updated our Age Grade Document to now include the below. Adaptations to Age Grade Rugby for 2021-22 Based on feedback we have made changes to Age Grade Rugby for 2021-22. These enable teams to be combined either up or down one age in the teenage years, if there are not enough numbers to field full sides in a single age group. We envisage this will be the exception, but the ability to do so could make the difference for these players who have been particularly disrupted by the pandemic; their safe transition to adult rugby is one of our highest risks. The 17 year olds playing adult changes have been revised to support this. The Age Grade changes document, version three, is on the Return to Rugby page below. Guidance includes advice for incremental contact training, building up to a max of 20 mins per session, excluding scrums and mauls, recommended coach to player ratio, equipment use and sanitisation advice. Return To Rugby Return to Rugby – off field guidance Off field guidance can be found on the return to rugby page with some of the more common questions answered in our FAQs which can be found below. All guidelines apply from Monday 29 March Government Step 1B until Government’s Step 2 comes into force, which will be no earlier than Monday 12 April. Details on Easter camps and Summer activity can also be found on the return to Rugby page. The age grade out of season regulation (see 15.8) is suspended in 2021. This is replaced with an RFU Summer Training and Playing Framework this year to enable age grade players to catch up on missed rugby development opportunities safely. On Friday 9 April the summer rugby training and playing framework for age grade players will be launched, including CB, DPP and rugby camps. The framework will be operational from June to the end of August and will include contact training and inter club activity. Support Centre FAQs Sport England FAQs To read the rest of the update click on the link |
RFU Community Game Update 23rd March
Return to Rugby This week’s headlines include:
1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Loans and Grants update
2. Return to Rugby On-field guidance
3. Return to Rugby Off-field guidance
4. Training Courses including First Aid
5. Age grade activity – Easter camps & summer activity
6. Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer of the Year – 2020 winners unveiled & 2021 nominations now open
7. Webinars and on-demand videos
Send photos and videos to @EnglandRugby of you gearing up for rugby; cleaning your boots, preparing the pitch and getting your kit ready with #ReturnToRugby.
Return to Rugby Roadmap reminder
• Shareable JPEG version
• PDF version
Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Loans update
We are working through the final details with Sport England ahead of launching the RUWSF loans process and will publish further information shortly. The application period is set to open in early April.
Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Grants
The grace period for clubs to apply for a RUWSF Grant has now closed.
Clubs who applied in the first window will be contacted by the end of March. We are in the process of issuing award letters to clubs who have been successful in their application for a RUWSF Grant.
Those who applied during the grace period are likely to be contacted by mid-April.
Jade scoops top award
Cornwall RFU were delighted to learn that Falmouth RFC’s Jade Atkins had scooped the top award at the RFU Mitsubishi National Awards Ceremony held recently.
Having been awarded the Cornwall Volunteer award back in October, Jade beat off local award winners from across the rest of the country to come out tops.
Part of Jade’s award is the exclusive use of a Mitsubishi car for six months.
Paying fulsome praise to Jade, CRFU President John Sumnall said. “We were delighted to learn of you attaining first place in the RFU Mitsubishi Awards in the recent ceremony which will have been an experience that you will treasure for some time.
“Your brilliant and empathetic idea of tackling the question of how other family members could spend their time in the Club when not involved in rugby has opened up a new meaning to being a community rugby club. By involving the children and parents not on the rugby field in crafts and other activities whilst rugby activity is taking place was an inspired idea and should certainly encourage other clubs to adopt your idea. You have clearly ensured that those members of the family that are not actively involved whilst rugby is taking place have a warm welcome in the Falmouth RFC Clubhouse and must look forward to their next visit.
“Your success has brought pride not only to your family, but also to Falmouth RFC and ourselves. Once again, many congratulations.”
RFU Community Game Update 16th March
| Return to Rugby This week’s headlines include: 1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Grants update 2. Monday 29 March – Return to Rugby Stage D guidance 3. Age Grade Summer Activity 4. Easter Camps guidance 5. Webinars and on-demand videos 6. Mako’s thumbs up 7. Inner Warrior return in May – Sign up now RUWSF Grants deadline – 5pm on Monday A reminder that we have been given a grace period for clubs that weren’t able to compile their financial documentation in time to meet the original Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Grant application deadline. If you are a community club in Level 3 or below that needs financial support for survival and fulfil the criteria listed on the funding page below, please complete an application form by 5pm on Monday 22 March. You will also find the application form on the Funding page button below. Clubs who applied in the first window will be contacted by the end of March and should not apply again as their application will be discounted. We are in the process of issuing award letters to clubs who have been successful in their application for a RUWSF Grant. The process is expected to take a couple of weeks to complete. To read the rest of the update click on the link |
Return to Rugby Stage D Guidelines
RFU Covid Update 9th March
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update This week’s headlines include: 1. Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund – Grants update 2. Monday 29 March – Return to Rugby update 3. Steve Grainger takes grassroots players questions with Fill Your Boots 4. Re-starting the DBS application process 5. School of Hard Knocks – only a couple of spaces left 6. Mental Wellbeing and Know Your Lease webinars 7. International Women’s Day 8. Share your stories RUWSF Grants update  After the government’s positive funding announcement over the weekend (more information below), we are now able to update you on next steps for clubs who have applied for a Rugby Union Winter Survival Fund Grant. Following the closure of applications, the overall grant need was submitted to the government’s Independent Board of the Winter Sport Survival Fund. The final amount to be awarded to clubs is at the discretion of the Independent Board rather than the RFU. The Independent Board has since confirmed that grants will be capped at a maximum of £50,000 per individual club. However, if a club has demonstrated a grant need of more than £50,000 for purposes of survival, they will be able to apply for an additional cash-flow loan to provide further financial assistance. Applications are currently being assessed and clubs who have applied for a grant will be advised of the outcome of their application by the end of March at the latest. We are in the process of creating a mechanism for eligible clubs to apply for a cash-flow loan and will communicate to these clubs as soon as possible. We have also been given a grace period for clubs that weren’t able to compile their financial documentation in time to meet the original RUWSF Grant application deadline. If you are a community club in Level 3 or below that needs financial support for survival and fulfil the criteria please complete the application form below by 5pm on Monday 22 March. Clubs who applied in the first window will be contacted by the end of March and should not apply again as their application will be discounted. Funding Announcement Grant Application To read the rest of the update click on the link |
RFU CGU Return to Rugby Update
| Return to Rugby update All content in this email is embargoed until 5pm today (Friday 5 March). Content: 1. CB call 4pm today 2. Return to Rugby Roadmap 3. Steve Grainger video on provisional timeline for rugby’s return 4. Age grade rugby adjustments 5. Return to adult and age grade rugby timeline 6. Facilities update will follow upon government guidance being issued Return to Rugby Roadmap  We are pleased to be able to publish our provisional plan for a phased return to full contact rugby. It’s wonderful to see light at the end of the tunnel and we are as delighted as clubs and players across the country that they will soon be able to resume training and, subject to each step on government’s roadmap being achieved, progress towards contact fixtures and an exciting season of rugby for 2021/22 from September. Please note the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap has been revised to follow steps on the government roadmap. Please therefore disregard previous versions and only share the new ‘green for go’ roadmap below. We have removed Stages B and C as they are no longer currently relevant due to changes in government restrictions. Over the next couple of weeks, we will provide stage-by-stage guidance on our Return to Rugby page which will include all the information you’ll need for a gradual return to contact rugby. Guidance will include equipment that can be used at each stage and videos with our coach development team. While we are all incredibly excited about getting back out on the pitch, we should also be conscious of the need to build-up gradually after a long lay-off. The focus for all activity over the next three months should be on player retention and player safety. Until Monday 29 March, unless you are an age grade player taking part in organised school or college rugby activity, we remain at Stage A on the Return to Rugby Roadmap. This means individuals are only allowed to exercise alone or with one other from another household. Roadmap PDF Roadmap Image To read the rest of the update, click on the link |
