See poster for details.
Papa Johns Cup – Update
All fixtures are now available in the link
Latest information on this competition from the RFU in the link
Community Game Update 14 March
| Community Game Update Read Online |
| 1. ACTION REQUIRED Tackle Height Survey The RFU has launched a series of initiatives, including face-to face and virtual forums and an online survey, to listen to and learn from people across the game by consulting on the process around implementation of a lower tackle height in the community game. Read more and take part in the survey in this piece. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Volunteer Recruitment Project Applications are now open for a £500 grant to support the recruitment of more volunteers. Read more and apply via the link in this article. International Ticketing Allocations Following indicative allocations sent in the summer, we hope that club administrators have continued to enter all club fixtures via the Team Management module on GMS. Only fixtures uploaded by 26 May 2023 can be attributed towards a club’s new ticket entitlement. GMS Drop in Sessions Having recently trialled a GMS Technical Support Session designed to answer any questions users may have about the Game Management System, we will now run these sessions on a monthly basis. Find out when they are and sign up in this section. DBS Update Service The project to integrate the DBS Update Service is now nearing its conclusion. Read this piece for more information about how this service can reduce the administrative burden for volunteers. 3. FOR AWARENESS Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC) – Latest from HMRC HMRC has issued a newsletter for all Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) which we’d recommend all clubs who are a CASC, or considering becoming a CASC, to read. Find it in this article. Age Grade Playing Calendar 2023-24 We are pleased to provide the National Playing Calendar for 2023-24 in this piece. This is the framework for national competitions and player pathway activity throughout the year. Read Online |
RFU Community Game Update 14 February
| Tuesday 14 February Stay up to date with news about the community game by following @RFU on Twitter here. |
| Community Game Update Read Online |
| 1. ACTION REQUIRED Update on end of season scheduling Exceptional weather conditions and unique circumstances have led to a considerable number of teams in RFU Leagues not playing as many matches as they usually would have at this stage of the season. The effect of this is that some teams need to play matches beyond the scheduled league completion date, ultimately also affecting the Papa John’s Community Cup and County Championships. Find out more information in this piece. Transfer Deadline Reminder for RFU Leagues With the end of the league season approaching, clubs are reminded about the registration transfer deadline. For men’s clubs playing in the National Leagues and below and women’s clubs at Championship 1 and below it falls on the 17 February 2023. For those playing above those levels it is 31 March 2023. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Honda Volunteer of the Year 2023 nominations closing soon! The Honda Volunteer of The Year Awards 2023 nominations are open for the three categories: Game For All, Unsung Hero and Challenging Spirit. Nominate your amazing volunteers before Friday 24 February. Final call for claims: Community Rugby Support Fund 2022/23 The Community Rugby Support Fund for 2022/23 claim window closes on 19th February. As with last year, the purpose of this fund is to support voting member clubs, CBs and referee societies who are in greatest financial need. Energy saving tips for your clubhouse The RFU teamed up with Shaunagh Brown and Medway RFC to help your club reduce their energy bills. Watch the video in this piece and find more information online. England Rugby Advanced Coaching Workshop webinar 2023-24 The England Rugby Advanced Coaching Workshop webinar is now available to book until midday on Sunday 5 March. The webinar is a pre-requisite for those looking to book onto Part 1 of the England Rugby Advanced Coaching Award – Developing Advanced Coaching Practice. Find out more in this piece. Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP’s) – How to book Rugby 365 Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) are available for hire in many areas of the country all year round and available to rugby clubs at heavily subsidised rates. Find out more about them and where they are located in this article. Opportunity to join our new Women’s Competitions Advisory Group (WCAG) With the 2025 Rugby World Cup due to be held in England, there couldn’t be a better time to help shape the future of RFU Women’s Competitions. This is your opportunity to join a new group of volunteers involved in the women’s community game, who will act as an advisory body and will support game-led development of the competitions landscape. 3. FOR AWARENESS Every Game Matters For A Chance To Play At Twickenham As part of the RFU’s #PlayTogetherStayTogether campaign, every team participating in a men’s merit table/league or women’s national challenge league (including the Allianz Inner Warrior Series) now has the chance to play at Twickenham Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday, 1 May, 2023. More details can be found in this piece. Inclusion and Diversity Community Game Survey Last autumn, the third RFU Inclusion and Diversity Community Game survey took place. It remains an RFU strategic objective to drive rugby union in England to reflect the diversity of society, to improve diversity of all facets of our game and to continue to create an inclusive environment for all. Find out the results of the survey and the next steps in this piece. The County Championships 2023 The return of the Bill Beaumont, Gill Burns and Jason Leonard Men’s National U20 County Championships in the 2022/23 season will feature improved competition structures to enhance player experience. Find out more here. Thank you from the Safeguarding Team! We are really pleased to be able to report that all clubs to whom the Safeguarding Audit applied, submitted on time. We really appreciate the time and effort that clubs and volunteers have taken to get this done. Read Online |
Jason Leonard attends Cornwall Wooden Spoon Event
First picture shows the CRFU President John Sumnall,Colin Hatch U20 Team Manager, Rich Kevern U20 backs coach, Jason Leonard OBE, Paul Hurrell CRFU kit man, Tyler Gendall U20 forwards coach, Ethan Pearce-Cowley U20 captain and Alan Milliner chair of Wooden Spoon and RFU Council member
The second photograph shows Jason Leonard OBE presenting the Cornwall U20 captain Ethan Pearce-Cowley with the “Jason Leonard” cup
We apologise for the anger and concern created among the rugby community
| The RFU Board, Council and executive staff apologise for the anger and concern that has been created among the rugby community by announcing the decision to lower the tackle height from next season. In our desire to act quickly to reduce head impacts and concussions in the community game, which represents 99% of the rugby playing population in England, we have upset many of you who are the champions, volunteers, and ambassadors of our game. We fully acknowledge we got the engagement wrong, and we are truly sorry. In making our decision we were aware that France have lowered the tackle height, New Zealand will be doing so and World Rugby supports this approach. We, like the French, used the term “waist and below”; this has caused misunderstanding and confusion. We would now like the game to help us define how we describe a lower tackle height to reflect what the research is telling us in a way that is understood by all. Consequently, the risk of head injuries should be reduced if tackling below that optimum height. We will now begin a series of forums and workshops with players, coaches, match officials and volunteers, to explain and develop the details of the domestic law variation. A large body of scientific evidence (links to documents below) demonstrates the risk of head injury and concussion for players can be reduced by lowering the tackle height to prevent head on head contact. However, we also accept that the rugby community has other concerns that this change may bring and we need to listen, understand and respond to those concerns. We will start inviting players, coaches, match officials and volunteers to these forums from early next week, so that we can all work together. Rationale Paper Science Presentation |
Reduction in tackle height from season 23/24
| RFU Council approves reduction in tackle height across community rugby in England from 2023/24 |
| Issued by Rugby Football Union |
| To support player welfare, the RFU Council agreed on Monday 16 January to lower the height of the tackle across the community game from 1 July 2023. Designed to improve player safety and informed by data, this change aims to reduce head impact exposure and concussion risk in the tackle for both the ball carrier and tackler. Evidence from studies has consistently demonstrated that higher contact on the ball carrier and closer proximity of the ball carrier and tacklers’ heads are associated with larger head impacts (as measured by smart mouthguards) and an increased risk of concussion. Lowering the height of the tackle and encouraging the tackler to bend more at the waist will minimise the risk of this occurring while maintaining the tackle as an integral part of the game. The RFU Council’s unanimous vote will result in law variations from next season, 2023/24, with the tackle height being set at waist height or below. Ball carriers will also be encouraged to follow the principle of evasion, which is a mainstay of the game, to avoid late dipping and thereby avoid creating a situation where a bent tackler may be put at increased risk of head-on-head contact with the ball carrier through a late or sudden change in body height of the ball carrier. The changes will apply across the community game (clubs, schools, colleges and universities) at both age-grade and adult levels – National One and below in the men’s game and Championship One and below in the women’s game. Programmes to support players, coaches and match officials, including detailed law application guidelines are being developed to ensure players, match officials and volunteers will be ready for next season. Speaking about the law change to be implemented in season 2023/24, RFU President Nigel Gillingham said: “Players’ welfare must always be at the centre of decisions we make about how we play the game of rugby. Evidence from our own research and from around the world clearly shows that lowering the tackle height will reduce head impact exposure and the risk of concussion. The RFU Council is able to influence how the game is played at the community level in this country and, therefore, has unanimously supported the decision to lower the tackle height to waist level. The tackle will remain the primary method of stopping the ball carrier using safe techniques that are taught from an early age. “While this change will apply to matches in the community game in England, the RFU will continue its work to reduce head impacts in contact training in both the community and elite games and be supportive of any law changes that World Rugby proposes for matches at the elite level that will further reduce head impact exposure.” What to expect Reduced tackle height for all community rugby: Tackles must be made at the line of the waist and below. The aim is to put players’ heads in the safest possible place by defining in law where the line of the tackle may start. A greater focus on the actions of the ball carrier: Ball carriers will be encouraged to follow the principle that rugby is a game of evasion, and they should avoid late dipping and thereby avoid creating a situation where a bent tackler may be put at increased risk of head-on-head contact with the ball carrier through a late or sudden change in body height of the ball carrier. Match officials will focus on the actions of the ball carrier as well as the tackler when head contact occurs. Further background to the change for next season Player welfare remains at the heart of all decision-making. By making the decision now, the RFU Council has demonstrated its continued commitment to player welfare and recognised the importance of giving coaches, match officials and players time to prepare. Based on extensive research and evaluations of law changes in England, South Africa, France and New Zealand, evidence demonstrates that a waist height tackle or below is the optimal height to provide a meaningful reduction in the height of contact on the ball carrier, a reduction in the risk of contact with the ball carrier’s head and a reduction in the risk of contact for the tackler’s head. A lower tackle height is also associated with a reduction in the magnitude of head impacts, a key target for reduction. France, which introduced similar changes in its domestic game in 2019, reported a 63% reduction in head-on-head contacts. It also reported this move has led to a more fluid game with reduced levels of kicking, increased passing, offloads and line breaks. |
Community Game Update 19 January 2023
| Community Game Update Read Online |
| 1. ACTION REQUIRED RFU Council approves lowering of the tackle height across community rugby in England from 2023/24 To support player welfare, the RFU Council agreed on Monday 16th January to lower the height of the tackle across the community game(Adult & Age Grade) from 1st July 2023. Find out more information about the law change and what to expect, including training support in this piece. Mandatory Player Registration 2023/24 From next season, all players, in all formats of the game (including non-contact), will be required to register to play rugby within RFU member clubs annually. More information on the benefits and next steps in this piece. Age Grade Rugby Update & Actions The new year signals the restart of Age Grade Rugby in clubs, schools and colleges. This article contains reminders and actions for a few key elements to get your rugby back underway for the second half of the season. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Programme – Facility fund closes 31st January Part of the Rugby World Cup 2025 impact programme is to help improve club facilities and the experience for female supporters and players. Clubs can apply for funds to support female toilet upgrades and sanitary packages before the deadline on the 31st. Club Rugby Support Fund 2022/23 The Community Rugby Support Fund for 2022/23 is now live. As with last year, the purpose of this fund is to support voting member clubs, CBs and referee societies who are in greatest financial need. The claim window closes on 19th February. Every Game Matters For A Chance To Play At Twickenham As part of the RFU’s #PlayTogetherStayTogether campaign, every team participating in a men’s merit table/league or women’s national challenge league (including the Allianz Inner Warrior Series) now has the chance to play at Twickenham Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday, 1 May, 2023. More details can be found in this piece. Honda Volunteer of The Year Nominations Now Open The Honda Volunteer of The Year Awards 2023 nominations are now open for the three categories; Game For All, Unsung Hero and Challenging Spirit. Nominate your amazing volunteers before Friday 24th February. The National Rugby Survey The National Rugby Survey 2023 will be live between 20 January until 17 February and will be shared via email and social media. The survey is targeted at anyone who has been involved with community rugby in the 2022/23 season in some way. 3. FOR AWARENESS RFU Leagues & Papa Johns Community Cup update Read information about potential changes to the end of the league season date after the exceptional weather conditions experienced so far this season, plus the latest on the Papa Johns Community Cup. Submission Of Payment Of Player Declarations Declarations of payment of players are due to be submitted between 1 March and 30 June 2023. Find out more in this piece. Divisional U18s Programme returns in 2023 The RFU has confirmed the Divisional U18s programme – a culmination of matches played between the 28 Constituent Bodies – will return in 2023, providing a higher level of representative rugby and development opportunities for players, coaches and management. Read Online |
NHS Ambulance Strike Days
| Important information regarding NHS Ambulance Services |
| There are planned NHS Ambulance Services strikes on Wednesday 11 January and Monday 23 January. As most community rugby activity takes place on different days this is unlikely to affect many community club activities. If your club has training/fixtures on these dates you may wish to limit it to non-contact. Clubs should factor this into your risk assessment and planning of any activities taking place on those days, dependent on the ambulance provision available to you. |
Community Game Update 6 December
| Tuesday 6 December Stay up to date with news about the community game by following @RFU on Twitter here. Community Game Update Read Online 1. ACTION REQUIRED The deadline for your 2022 Club Safeguarding Audit is 31 December A reminder to all clubs who offer age grade activity, you must complete the Safeguarding Audit by 31 December 2022. You can find further information on how to conduct the audit in this section. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Programme – Facility fund Part of the Rugby World Cup 2025 impact programme is to help improve club facilities and the experience for female supporters and players. From today, 6 December 2022, clubs can apply for funds to support toilet upgrades and sanitary packages. More information is in this piece. Tackling energy use in rugby clubs and using Artificial Grass Pitch (AGPs) As energy prices rise and impact clubs across the country, we share some tips on reducing these costs. These include using AGPs, which could help save on the club’s electricity bills by reducing your floodlight usage and wear on pitches. Discover how you can book a local 365 AGP in this section. 3. FOR AWARENESS Age Grade affiliations reach over 150,000 players, incentives and GMS support trainers Age grade affiliation has reached over 150,000 players in the 2022/2023 season. In this article, Farnham RUFC and Hackney RFC share their experiences of how affiliation has worked for them. Also, a reminder of our incentives for age grade affiliation and GMS support trainers for clubs. Ways to support retention of players from age grade to adult rugby Hear from Surrey and Cheshire Constituent Bodies and clubs who have been running U21/U23 competitions to retain university players who might otherwise be lost from the game. Developing female match officials #Inspire 50 inspiring female referees lined up at England v Japan as part of the new Inspire campaign to attract more female match officials to the sport. This section discusses how you can get involved and more about the programme. Off-field support services for clubs A reminder of the off-field services for clubs, including guidance in legal and tax matters, licensing and VAT support. Many of these are free for clubs, so if you need help, read this article. Read Online |
