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COMMUNITY GAME UPDATE 1-5-20

Distribution list: Friday 1 May
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update
Please find below the twelfth edition of our Coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

In this edition there are reminders about the international ticket allocation process, support packages available to the rugby community and VAT reclaim opportunities. We’ve provided information on three online activities taking place next week which club members can register to take part in, as well as asking clubs to share their activities supporting their own financial positions.

Please visit our dedicated web portal on the England Rugby website to access Coronavirus (Covid-19) information and updates here.

We’ve also captured past editions of these twice-weekly updates on this part of the website. Click here if you need to find a previous edition.
RFU headlines
International ticket allocations to community rugby clubs

In the March and April editions of the CGU all clubs were reminded that international ticket allocations to community rugby clubs from the Guinness Six Nations 2021 for the following two seasons, including the autumn series 2022, will be based primarily on the cumulative total of a club’s 15-a-side matches for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, registered on the GMS Team Management module, as a proportion of the national total of matches. Clubs were reminded to load 15-a-side fixtures and results onto their GMS Team Management module for their U14 to adult teams for the 2019/20 season.

The Covid-19 limitations curtailing the season will not affect to any measurable degree the individual allocations to club because, while every club will have less matches than expected, this reduces the overall national total against which every club’s total is compared to determine the number of international tickets allocated. All community clubs are strongly encouraged to ensure the results of matches for 2019/20 that ended on Monday 16 March 2020, particularly those fixtures that clubs have to load manually, are entered into their GMS Team Management Module. As previously advertised, this must be done before Friday 22 May 2020. There will not be an opportunity after this date to add additional fixtures or the outcome to count towards international ticket allocations. This is the last opportunity to remind clubs of this.

For more information regarding the method for uploading fixtures please click below. If you have a technical issue with GMS, please contact the GMS service desk via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Uploading Fixtures
Other support available
Support which may be available through the Sport England Community Emergency Fund and/or the various financial schemes announced by the government is easy to access on the England Rugby website:

Sport England Community Emergency Fund: click here
Government support: click here.
Other important updates
Tuesday Training Webinar with Stuart Lancaster – 7pm on 5 May

The England Rugby Tuesday Training webinars focus on coach and referee development topics each Tuesday, giving participants the opportunity to continue developing themselves during the rugby lockdown.

Click here to register for the webinar regarding the principles of defence with Stuart Lancaster.

Rugby Groundsmen Connected Live Twitter Q&A – 3pm on 7 May

A Rugby Groundsmen Connected Live Twitter Q&A will be taking place using the hashtag #ASKRGC

This is an opportunity to use social media to ask questions direct to our Twickenham grounds team, including our Head Groundsman Jim Buttar.

Anyone can join in live and ask a question about any element of pitch maintenance and we would also encourage people to post photos in their tweets to bring their questions to life.

Please follow @rugbygroundsmen on Twitter for more information. And don’t forget our COVID 19 specific advice for pitch maintenance is available here.

Easyfundraising webinar- a fundraising solution for clubs - 7pm on 7 May

We’ve been hearing how clubs are using easyfundraising to bridge their funding gap during lockdown. Clubs have been benefitting from free cash donations when their club community use easyfundraising to shop online with well-known retailers like Amazon, John Lewis, eBay, Just Eat, Viking, Argos, Screwfix and 4,000 others. Luctonians have raised over £15,000 and Eccles over £12,000 over the years using easyfundraising.

This is a simple way to keep funds coming in and it’s completely free to set up and use. To set up an account click here.

Easyfundraising are hosting this webinar for clubs so that their team can talk through how to maximise returns. Click here to register for this webinar.

VAT Reclaims webinar - on demand

We ran a successful VAT reclaims webinar with over 200 in attendance. The webinar explained what VAT reliefs can potentially be applied and illustrated how to make a claim for your club. To watch the webinar on demand click here.

VAT helpline

We have engaged the services of Russell Moore, a former partner at leading sports advisory accountants Saffery Champness, to provide a VAT helpline service to clubs. The first 30 minutes of advice is free to clubs, with any additional services provided at greatly reduced rates. Clubs can contact the helpline either by calling Russell on 07710 329317 or by emailing their enquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
 
 
 
Rugby community doing great things
We continue to hear about the great work that clubs are undertaking to raise funds to support the NHS, carers and their local communities. This includes clubs such as Barnes RFC who are running the Big Barnes one million kilo lift to raise funds for the NHS in memory Garry Garrett. Click here to find out more.

Clubs boosting their finances

From Gordano’s virtual bar to Reading’s online quizzes and Blaydon’s Just Giving appeal, rugby clubs have been fundraising to offset the financial effect of closing during the pandemic.

We’re running a webinar next week to highlight how clubs can raise funds through easyfundraising. In addition, for clubs who have websites, it is worth investigating the use of any donation tools that may be set up, for example as used by clubs such as Anselmians, Chinnor and Dinnington, so that members can donate money in lieu of match fees, membership fees, beer and food.


We know that other clubs continue to undertake inspirational activities to raise funds for good causes or to secure their own financial positions. We would love to hear more so please share your story 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..