| The government has announced a framework for the return of recreational team sport which is applicable from Saturday 11 July. This is a welcomed development and a positive step towards the return of some form of competitive rugby. The framework was developed following discussions with other team sports, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The next step is for the RFU to develop it’s own rugby action plan, based on the framework, specifically considering the Coronavirus transmission risk and demonstrating mitigations and any adaptations to the game that are required. This will need to be agreed to by government, PHE and HSE before it can be implemented within clubs. Due to the intrinsic nature of rugby and the proximity of participants, it is recognised that there is the potential for an increased risk of droplet transmission. Working with expert medical advice and applying the activity exposure framework to various formats of rugby, we will update following our discussions with government. In the short term, it is likely that the format of rugby the community game is able to play will be a modified version, not the full 15-a-side game. We will update the game as to when it can move to the next stage of the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap in the coming weeks. For now we remain at Stage B of the roadmap. Under previously announced guidance, Premiership Rugby clubs moved to Stage 2: Elite Sport Return to Training Guidance on Monday 6 July, which allows for the resumption of close contact training. This involves a detailed set of protocols and includes a COVID-19 testing programme. Championship and Premier 15s clubs are eligible to return under the elite guidance should they chose to do so, or can follow the community return to rugby roadmap. We will continue to provide updates to the game throughout the process. Please click below to remind yourself of the RFU’s Return to Community Rugby Roadmap and read the latest framework for the return of recreational team sport announced by the government. Roadmap  Framework |
RFU Community Game Update 7th July
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) update Please find below the thirtieth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update. There’s an update on two enhancements being introduced to the Game Management System for the 2020/21 season and news that a webinar is scheduled for Thursday 9 July to provide more clarity on these developments. To access 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 twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
A message to the Rugby Union Community in England from RFU CEO Bill Sweeney
My thoughts and those of all of us at the RFU are with everyone impacted by COVID-19, both across the country but also within our own rugby union community.
As you will be aware the long-term financial challenges are significant for the whole economy. We like many rugby clubs rely on revenue from matches and events at Twickenham Stadium and we re-invest this revenue back into the game.
Our detailed scenario modelling shows there may be a short-term impact of £107 million in lost revenues and we also know there will be a much longer-term effect. We are projecting a 4-5 year recovery with cumulative revenue reductions of around 20%.
To read the rest of Bill’s message click on the link
RFU Community Game Update, Tuesday 30th June
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-ninth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. We have now published resources to support those clubs who may wish to re-open their facilities from Saturday 4 July. We have also provided more detailed information regarding a return to competitive playing for the 2020/21 season. To read the rest of the communique please 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 twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
RFU Community Game Update – 26th June
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-eighth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. Today we lead on the plans for competitive matches (league and cup) in the adult and age-grade game next season, once the government gives the go ahead for rugby to restart. To read the full communique 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 twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
Return to Competitive Playing for 2020/21 Season
There are a range of 2020/21 competition models that can be applied at different season start dates as and when it is deemed safe to return to play i.e. when we reach Phase F on the RFU Return to Rugby roadmap. The models allow for any potential interruption in the season as a result of Covid-19, while providing clubs, schools, colleges, universities and players with a framework for meaningful competitive rugby with greater flexibility to enable games to be played.
Model 1 if rugby resumes in September 2020
Model 2 if rugby resumes in November 2020
Model 3 if rugby resumes in January 2021
The models were developed by two working groups, one for the adult game and the other for age grade rugby, and the outcomes were approved by the RFU Governance Committee last week. Each group has considered player welfare, flexibility in response to Covid-19, adaptable models that prioritise local matches early in the season to reduce travel, support club revenue, and maintain player participation. Headlines for each area of the game are laid out below with links to further information and FAQs where required.
RFU Community Game Update 23rd June
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-seventh edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. In light of today’s announcements on the easing of social distancing restrictions, we are in active discussions with other team sports, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about how we accelerate some form of a return to community rugby. We have developed guidance on the re-opening of additional club facilities, including risk assessment guidance and checklists, and this is ready to be released once the full implications of today’s announcements (particularly around reopening of bars) are understood. Also in the next week we anticipate being able to issue an update on the plans for competitive matches (league and cup) in the adult and age-grade game next season. To read the the remainder of the current 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 twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. |
RFU Community Game Update June 19th
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-sixth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. We’ve announced that all Adult Male Future Competition Structure virtual consultation sessions are now available on demand webinars and made a last call for feedback on this review. We’ve also provided a link to the National School Sport Week at Home campaign which starts tomorrow. In addition, we note a new series of club support virtual webinars is running from 1 July and that SOS Kit Aid is collecting unwanted kit that clubs may have after clearing out their storage cupboards in lockdown. We’ve received lots of great stories from rugby communities doing great things. Please do shine a light on any individuals who are leading the charge and delivering exceptional community initiatives during the pandemic and send stories to veemontebello@rfu.com or patriciamowbray@rfu.com. We would also like to advise everyone that, as the volume of Covid-19 related news has now quietened down, twice weekly editions of the Covid-19 Community Game Update will become weekly from Tuesday 30 June and we will revert to a monthly Community Game Update to communicate more general updates from July. Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. Click on link for remainder of this update |
Latest Community Game Update 18th June
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-fifth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. We’ve provided an update on our commitment to improving diversity and inclusion. There’s also information regarding the RFU Annual General Meeting that took place last Friday, news about the National School Sport Week at Home campaign which starts on Saturday 20 June and a reminder that a Rugby Groundsmen Connected webinar is taking place on Thursday. Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. To read the rest of the update click on the link |
Latest RFU Community Game Update Friday 12th June
| Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update Please find below the twenty-fourth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. Bill Sweeney has given an update on the revised international ticketing allocation process for the 2020/21 season. We’ve also provided an update on the Adult Male Competition Future Structure webinars and there’s new guidelines and a webinar on demand available to support coaching teams during Stage B of the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. In addition, there’s information about the Rugby Groundsmen Connected webinar taking place next Thursday. Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here. Past editions of these twice-weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition. To access the remainder of the update click on the link |
