The latest edition of this podcast sees both RFU CEO Bill Sweeney & Director of Rugby Development Steve Grainger, join the usual team for a frank discussion well worth a listen, click on the link
Return To Play & Off Field Activity Guidance 2 December 2020
We have today shared further guidance for community rugby in England, after The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] issued updated guidelines on the return to recreational team sport from Wednesday 2 December.
This includes all friendly fixtures and training for males and females, Age Grade and adult, for all contact and non-contact rugby below the Greene King IPA Championship and Allianz Premier 15s. This includes Education institutions however the ultimate decision remains at the discretion of the individual institution.
Organised outdoor rugby activity with approved adaptations for both match play and training is permitted across all three tiers from Wednesday 2 December.
However, it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government’s latest COVID-19 guidance and RFU guidance to ensure we can continue our phased return to play. Clubs should limit the time spent congregating at a venue before and after rugby activity, so please consider having strict meeting times or staggering start times.
Changing rooms and showers
• Changing rooms and showers can be used across all tiers.
• Clubs must identify a maximum capacity for each changing room based on its size and the requirement to manage usage to ensure social distancing is achieved at all times.
• The amount of time each person spends in a changing room must be kept to a minimum and restricted solely to changing (no team talks or celebrations etc).
• Good hygiene must be promoted and facilitated and enhanced cleaning practices must be in place in all changing rooms.
• Participants should still be encouraged to arrive changed, and shower at home where possible.
Travel to participate in rugby activity
• Adult players living in Tier 1 or Tier 2 can travel within and between Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas to train or play.
• Adult players living in Tier 1 or Tier 2 cannot travel into a Tier 3 area to train or play.
• Adult players living in Tier 3 can travel within their own specific Tier 3 area to train or play.
• Adult players living in Tier 3 cannot travel into another Tier 3 area, nor into a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area, to train or play.
• Age Grade players may, due to Government exemptions for U18s, travel across all tiers to train or play. However, to protect all involved, we strongly recommend that wherever possible training and match play follows adult guidelines.
• Age Grade players can be accompanied by one parent or carer from, or into, a Tier 3 area to train or play.
• Volunteers (including coaches and match officials) may travel across all tiers where necessary to enable participation to take place. However, to protect all involved, we strongly recommend this is kept to an absolute minimum.
• Additional exemptions are in place for people with disabilities. To read these and the rest of the Guidance click on the link – PDF
Guide to Adapted Contact Rugby Activity in Stage E
The link below takes you to the more detailed RFU Guidance on what we can do in this return to rugby at Stage E.
Remember there are still very important rules that we HAVE to follow restricting the amount and type of contact, numbers who can train etc.
Clubs found to be in breach of this guidance may face disciplinary action and/or invalidate their liability insurance.
This guidance is only 6 pages long with all of these things laid out clearly. Well worth a read to familiarise yourself with what to expect
Community Game Update 1st December
| 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.
DBS Processing – now resumed by RFU
We have had a number of queries relating to DBS processing in the current lockdown and with social distancing restrictions. Whilst earlier in the year the decision was made to suspend the DBS process, the RFU have decided at the current time that DBS applications can be submitted as normal. We would remind you all of the need to carry out ID checks in accordance with the DBS ID guidance and as such face to face verification and hard copy documents must be seen prior to the applications submission. This should be carried out in line with the government advice/restrictions relating to social distancing. Further DBS guidance can be found on the England Rugby website on this link. For any further queries/guidance please contact us via our dedicated email account – dbseapp@rfu.com
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 Coronavirus Update 24th November
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update |
| This week’s headlines include the Government Winter Sport Package funding and positive news that grassroots sport, including a format of rugby, will be allowed to resume from Wednesday 2 December across all levels, although there will be some restrictions across the tiers. Both topics are discussed in more detail in our video below with RFU Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger. You can also read a summary below. However, as we are awaiting confirmation from Government on tier, travel and contact implications, we will provide a more detailed update to the game later this week. In today’s edition, we also bring you news on how immigration could affect rugby clubs, an update on the latest #GetYourShirtOn virtual rugby sessions and share a message from England players on why they love seeing your club shirts at Twickenham in #ShowYourShirt. Can you spot your club shirt in the gallery below? Finally, there are reminders about our Club Support Centre during Covid, and how your friends and family can support your club by watching England for free on Amazon Prime Video. 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, including club age grade and adult rugby activities below Championship and Premier 15s.  Steve Grainger Video To access the full update click on the link |
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 |
