HAMPSHIRE RUGBY

PRINCIPAL SPONSORS

 

COMMUNITY GAME UPDATE 11-08-20

 
Distribution list: Tuesday 11 August
 
 
Coronavirus (Covid-19) update
Please find below the thirty-fifth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

We have provided an update on the return to community rugby following a move to Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap and advice for clubs in local lockdown areas .

We have also announced two weekends of celebration in September – the NatWest Rugby Force Weekend on the 5th/6th, and the Pitch Up for Rugby Weekend on the 12th/13th.

There’s also a call for the rugby community to take part in our Diversity and Inclusion Survey.

Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here.

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition.
 
 
RFU headlines
Update on the return to community rugby
Last Saturday we announced a positive step forward on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, which has been updated to move from Stage B to Stage C.

Our roadmap was first published ahead of the Government releasing its framework for return to recreational team sport. When that Government guidance was issued there was a requirement to provide a detailed assessment of exposure risk through face to face contact across both contact and non-contact rugby together with evidence of mitigations put in place to allow for safe return in some format of the game. The latest roadmap reflects those discussions and provides further guidance to clubs on acceptable rugby activity within Stage C, as defined

The fact based medical assessment highlighted a significantly increased risk in transmission when playing full-contact rugby and therefore any form of contact rugby is still NOT permitted. Premiership Rugby will return this week but they are operating under Elite Sporting Guidance and strict Covid-19 testing regimes.

In order to move from group training in teams of six, we undertook an extensive process of submitting detailed fact based medical proposals to be scrutinised by the Government - including DCMS, Public Health England and N0 10. These proposals were approved last week and clubs can now play Ready4Rugby. Subject to satisfactory operation through August we hope to be able to move to inter-club Ready4Rugby in September. Other Touch Rugby activity (including O2 Touch centres) will also be able to recommence.

The introduction of these options is in addition to non-contact skills based group activity, carried out following the Government’s social distancing guidelines, which clubs would normally develop as part of their pre-season training. Guidance on acceptable training activity is provided in the Guidance on Restarting Competitive Grassroots Rugby, and also in this on-demand webinar. We would encourage coaches and clubs to share their best practice with others.

We are continuing to undertake detailed analysis on potential adaptations to the key high risk contact areas in the game, and will be seeking Government approval to bring back contact training when it is deemed safe to do so. We will keep you informed on this, in the meantime.

In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on their experience of Ready4Rugby. We are now calling on clubs to send in videos of their players engaging in Ready4Rugby activities to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and/or post the videos on their social media channels using #Ready4Rugby. Please ensure anything you post on social media reflect fully the approved format of the game.
 
 
Local lockdown guidelines
As more areas of the country are entering local lockdowns, clubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with local authorities. Clubs may need to limit their activities in line with any local restrictions and are advised to consult with the local authority in which their facilities are located should they be in any doubt.
 
 
Future Competitions Structure – CB opportunity
The Future Competitions Structure Group (FCS) are preparing a Recommendation Paper that will be shared with the Game (including CBs) on Friday 14 August.

We would also like to offer CBs the opportunity to speak directly with members of the FCS Group about the proposed recommendations to the adult male competitions structure (English Club Championships Level 3 and below).

CBs can sign up to one of ten sessions via an invitation which will be sent by email direct to the CB Honorary Secretary. The sessions will provide an opportunity for CB officials to ask questions and discuss the proposed changes. The sessions dates will take place on the following dates in August:

- 19th: 7pm
- 20th: 3pm and 7pm
- 21st: 3pm
- 24th: 3pm and 7pm
- 25th: 3pm and 7pm
- 27th: 3pm and 7pm
 
 
Rugby is back - we call on clubs across the country to join the celebrations
The rugby community is now able to recommence some larger group rugby activity, initially non-contact, subject to adherence with RFU guidance and also continuing to follow Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines, together with any local government lockdown restrictions that may be implemented.

With the move to Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap confirmed, there will be two weekends of celebration in September.

NatWest Rugbyforce will kick things off on September 5 and 6, enabling over 800 clubs to make improvements to their facilities. Now in its 12th year, a record number of clubs are getting involved with the nationwide initiative developed with the RFU. With the programme now able to return safely, NatWest is offering more support for the rugby community than ever before. Grants awarded to clubs have ranged from £500 to £3,000 to help clubs remain sustainable for longer in these challenging times.

Just a week later, we are calling on communities to ‘Pitch Up for Rugby’ and join their local clubs during the weekend of September 12 and 13. There will be action back on the pitch in the form of touch and Ready4Rugby, the new non-contact game which enables two teams of up to 10 players to engage in match activity.

Click below for guidance and information on the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends.
More Information
 
 
We want to hear your views about Diversity and Inclusion
Our sport is founded on inclusion and being open to all and we want rugby to reflect the diversity of society. We acknowledge that there are many great examples of inclusivity in our sport, but we believe that overall there is more we should be doing.

We are committed to a step change in tackling diversity and inclusion. As part of this, we are conducting a survey among our stakeholders as we really want to listen and hear your views and experiences. We want to understand what is already working, what we need to do to accelerate change and how we can do that. Your input is invaluable to help us achieve this.

We will be using the findings from our survey to inform the development of a new Diversity and Inclusion Plan, which will be published in the autumn. We know this is not a quick fix, this is the start of a continual drive to ensure our sport is open to all.

If you haven’t already done so, we’d really appreciate you taking some time to complete the survey, as well as sharing it with other members of your club or constituency.
Take Survey
 
 
 
Other important updates
Webinars: Volunteers and law & zero hour contracts - Thursday 13 August 7pm - 8pm
This webinar run by our legal partner, Irwin Mitchell, will cover the key legal issues in relation to volunteers and those engaged on zero hour contracts at your club.

Register now for the webinar and you will be automatically entered into a competition to win a signed England Rugby shirt.
Register
 
 
Eddie Jones’ webinar series - Leading High Performing and Effective Rugby Environments in the Adult Game
We would like to invite you to join Eddie Jones, England Head Coach, Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO, Steve Grainger, RFU Rugby Development Director and John Inverdale, the newly appointed Chairman of the NCA and a RFU Council member, on one the following webinars, which have been organised for the community game – just click on the date to register:

17 August 7-8pm NCA Level 3/4
24 August 7-8pm Level 5/6
26 August 7-8 pm Level 7-12

Eddie will chat to John about his experiences in managing and adapting to change and how to stay ahead of the game.

The invitation is for the roles of Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers, coaches and players’ representatives at clubs at level seven and below. Given the level of interest in the webinar we ask that there are no more than five representatives from each club.

Once all the events have taken place, an on demand version will be made available on englandrugby.com.

Places are limited so please book early.
 
 
Making Pitch In & Pitch Up a success - Thursday 20 August 7pm-8pm
This webinar will provide advice and tips on making both the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends a success.
Register
 
 
Catch up on previous webinars
For those who want to catch up on previous webinars, these are available on the England Rugby website. Please click on the links below:

Club Webinars
Referee Webinars
Coach Webinars
 
 
 
Other important news
World Rugby Transgender Proposal
The RFU has been contacted by World Rugby as part of their consultation on transgender rugby players. We are currently carrying out a detailed review of the proposals and evidence put forward by World Rugby in order to determine the RFU’s response to the consultation.
 
 
 
Rugby community doing great things
Today we thank Grasshoppers RFC for getting involved at the last minute to help us launch the Ready4Rugby event at Twickenham early Saturday morning. From Chair to coaches, players and parents/carers, all made a valuable contribution to helping the event run successfully. Click here to watch their involvement.

Players who have piled on some weight during lockdown and want to get fit again for the fast, new, non-contact rugby may want to sign up to an initiative launched by Old Albanians and raise money for charities which include the RFU Injured Players Foundation. The original Calorie Challenge was such a success that the club ran another and rolled it out to other clubs, and you can find out more below.

Northallerton Rugby Club in North Yorkshire lies in an area where tourism has suffered during lockdown and where a rugby club is a much needed part of the local community. You can see how they've been helping out below.
Calorie Challenge
Northallerton RFC
 
 
In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities being undertaken to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs, on englandrugby.com.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK are proud supporters of the rugby volunteers across England who make up an integral part of the game. Help us recognise your work by sharing your club and individual stories and videos with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click below to find out more about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme.
Recognition Programme

RETURN TO RUGBY UPDATE

 

Following the government’s publication of a framework for return to recreational team sport, we have been working to accelerate the safe return of community rugby.



Today we can confirm that our action plan to commence a safe and phased return to grassroots rugby activity has been approved by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (‘DCMS’).



The Return to Community Rugby Roadmap has been updated to show a move from Stage B to Stage C.



The rugby community is now able to recommence some larger group rugby activity, initially non-contact, subject to adherence with RFU guidance.



Any return is a decision for individual clubs to make and they must continue to follow government Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidelines, along with any local government lockdown restrictions that may be introduced.



The return will initially be through non-contact rugby focused on Ready4Rugby, a non-contact game, enabling two teams of up to 10 players to engage in training and match activity in their own club environment. Subject to satisfactory operation through August we hope to then be able to move to inter-club Ready4Rugby in September. Other Touch Rugby activity (including O2 Touch centres) will also be able to recommence.



In developing the action plan, the RFU was required to undertake a detailed assessment of exposure risk through face to face contact across both contact and non-contact rugby. Unsurprisingly, the assessment highlighted a significantly increased risk in playing full-contact rugby and hence any form of contact rugby is still not permitted. We will continue to explore and analyse adaptations to the key high risk face to face contact areas and seek to identify safe and appropriate ways to bring these back, initially into training, and subsequently potentially into match play. This will be subject to further government approval and a further statement on this will be made should we reach this point.

 
Full Details

CLICK HERE FOR NEW RTR ROADMAP

LONDON IRISH ACE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity for male players for the ACE (Academy Colleges & Education) was AASE.

Age Group U16s - School year 11 in September 2020 who wish to be considered for the ACE intake in season 2021-22.

 

 

Contact Richard Pryor at London Irish for more details  - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

ACE Program Update August 2020

 

RFU UPDATE FROM TERRY BURWELL

Please click HERE for an update from Terry Burwell our RFU Council Representative.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY GAME UPDATE 4-8-20

 
 
 
 
Coronavirus (Covid-19) update
Please find below the thirty-fourth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

We are awaiting approval of the Return to Community Rugby Action Plan we submitted to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ('DCMS'). We have today provided a reminder that we currently remain at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. We have also provided an update on adult league rugby and age grade national competitions.

Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access coronavirus information and updates here.

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition.
 
 
RFU headlines
Update on return to community rugby roadmap
In line with many other NGBs of sport, we have submitted our action plan to government in an effort to accelerate the return of some rugby activity. We are awaiting approval of this and hence we currently remain at Stage B on our Return to Community Roadmap. This means the only activity permitted is socially distanced non-contact activity in maximum group sizes of 6. For avoidance of doubt, this means no scrum training, tackle training or any other form of contact rugby and also means that touch and tag activity is not permitted. Any breach of this may invalidate insurance and is in breach of both RFU and government regulation. Clubs in enhanced lockdown areas must also comply with any additional local restrictions.

Having undertaken the required exposure risk analysis of face to face contact within game and training situations, our action plan to government is focused on a staged return, commencing with non-contact rugby - initially restricted to activity within individual clubs and focused on Ready4Rugby, a 10-a-side variant of touch rugby. We will monitor this over the first few weeks and, subject to satisfactory implementation, would then look to permit inter-club activity using approved non-contact formats. In parallel with this, we will be considering the potential for some adaptations to the high-risk elements of contact rugby to see whether appropriate mitigations can be introduced (a subsequent exposure risk analysis on this would have to be approved by government). If this proves possible we would again introduce this gradually, initially through training and subsequently in inter-club matches. This would then continue until it is deemed safe, and appropriate government permissions are in place, to move back to full contact rugby – at least four weeks being in place between commencement of full contact training and match play for full contact rugby.
 
 
Update on adult league rugby
As stated above, we are at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. We have to reach Stage F (which will not be reached until at least four weeks after Stage E) before full contact competitive league rugby can commence. As a result of the current position, the adult league season (Level 3 & below for men, Level 2 & below for women) will not commence in September. Unless there is a dramatic improvement in the prevalence of the virus in the community, the next announcement about when league rugby will commence for these levels will be on 1 September. The fixtures previously published will be amended at the earliest opportunity and this will be communicated to clubs.
 
 
Update on age grade - national competitions
In line with the announcement about adult league rugby, there will be no age grade national competition matches in September. A further announcement will be made on 1 September.
Roadmap
 
 
 
Other important updates
Webinars: Volunteers and law & zero hour contracts - Thursday 13 August 7pm - 8pm
This webinar run by our legal partner, Irwin Mitchell, will cover the key legal issues in relation to volunteers and those engaged on zero hour contracts at your club.

Register now for the webinar and you will be automatically entered into a competition to win a signed England Rugby shirt.
Register
 
 
Catch up on previous webinars
For those who want to catch up on previous webinars, these are available on the England Rugby website. Please click on the links below:
Club Webinars
Referee Webinars
Coach Webinars
 
 
New Legal & Tax Helpline
We are pleased to be able to continue to offer free advice on any legal or tax related matter. As the official legal partner to England Rugby, Irwin Mitchell have taken over the Legal and Tax Helpline. The support also includes an online legal document service, including documents such as employment agreements and privacy notices for your club’s website.

The new legal and tax helpline number is 0333 0100337.

Register below to access the legal document service.
Register
 
 
Pitch In for Natwest RugbyForce
As announced last week, NatWest RugbyForce 2020 is back and will now be running on the weekend of 5/6 September. Players and volunteers are encouraged to ‘Pitch In’ and roll up their sleeves to carry out much needed repairs and upgrades to club facilities in preparation for the return to play. There’s still one last chance to register for a grant of up to £500 to support your NatWest RugbyForce weekend, just click the link below and register by midnight on Sunday 9 August. If you’ve already registered, no need to take action other than start the planning!

We will continue to monitor government updates and all activities will fall within guidelines present at the time of the event. We will also provide support and guidance in the coming weeks on how to run your event safely.
More Information
Register
 
 
International ticket allocations
We have updated Ticketing Secretaries about the new method for allocating international tickets that will come into effect for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations (subject to the fully opening of outdoor stadia in accordance with government guidelines) and apply for four series of internationals through to and including the autumn series in 2022.

The new club allocation will be based on the cumulative number of 15-a-side matches played across the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons and is fixed until 2023. Clubs now have details of their individual allocation, which has been derived from the data entered onto the GMS Team Management module as at 22 May 2020.
 
 
 
Rugby community doing great things
Rugby communities and their members continue to provide support to local their local communities.

Today we highlight Henley RFC, who made sure that they used the lockdown to help themselves and their members.

In addition, Old Albanians and OA Saints were joined by other clubs in The Calorie Challenge to raise funds for the RFU Injured Players Foundation, the charity having helped a club player who fortunately made a good recovery from a potentially serious injury; NHS Charities Together COVID Appeal and Show Racism the Red Card. You can read more about both stories below.
Henley RFC
Calorie Challenge
 
 
In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities being undertaken to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs, on englandrugby.com.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK are proud supporters of the rugby volunteers across England who make up an integral part of the game. Help us recognise your work by sharing your club and individual stories and videos with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click below to find out more about the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme.
Recognition Programme
 
 

We use cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it. Cookies used for the essential operation of the site have already been set. To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them, see our Privacy Policy.

I accept cookies from this site

EU Cookie Directive Plugin Information