Durham County RFU Admin
- Sep 4, 2020
- 71 min read

RFU Community Game Updates

Updated: Dec 9, 2020

Distribution list: Tuesday 8 December

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateThis week’s headlines include:

1. Steve Grainger video update on Return to Rugby, including travel

2. Return to Play guidance

3. Facilities guidance

4. Club Cluster Competitions

5. Inner Warrior

Other Updates

6. Webinars and podcasts

7. #ShowYourShirt reaches 600

8. Dursley’s new strip

We are now at Stage E which means tag and contact training can now continue under adaptations with matches allowed from Friday 18 December. There is no obligation to return to matches straight away and we would encourage a staged return to contact for players.RoadmapRFU HeadlinesReturn to Rugby updateRFU Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger gives an update on the return to rugby and travel guidance.Watch VideoRFU HeadlinesAllianz Inner Warrior ReturnsAs we return to rugby, we bring you even more good news with the return of the Warrior Camps from January 2021. Clubs will have until Friday 18 December to register their interest using the form below and if you have any questions please get in touch via innerwarrior@rfu.com or check out our Facebook page.More Information Register TodayReturn to Play updateLast week’s return to rugby has been welcomed and appreciated at all levels. Linked below is a reminder video of the new adaptations approved from Age Grade to adult rugby, as well as webinars supporting the Return to Play.

Alongside this, we will be hosting a live Webinar with Steve Granger, Director of Rugby Development, on Tuesday 15 December at lunch time so please send us your questions. You will be able to register below from Friday on the Coronavirus page via the link below.

A reminder that clubs and players are under no obligation to return to contact matches from Friday 18 December.

Return to Play support is also available below, and click for Club Support Centre FAQs.Webinar Resources Coronavirus PageFacilities guidanceWith current guidance from DCMS and Government being updated regularly, we will be helping our clubs to stay up to date around travel, bar and social space guidance, as well as that for changing rooms and other facilities. Using our FAQs section, alongside an easy to use infographic that can be found below, we hope to see rugby clubs returning to a more normal state in the coming weeks and months.

If you do not find an answer to your query there, please contact clubsupport@rfu.com and we will respond as quickly as we can.Support Centre Quick GuideClub Cluster CompetitionsWe are considering options for managing the potential issues caused by clubs being in a Tier that doesn’t permit travel outside of their area. More information will be sent to clubs this week via their local organising committee so please keep an eye out. Start dates for these are still to be confirmed.Webinars and PodcastsReturn to Play Webinar support is available below:

Stage E - U7-U13

Stage E - U14-U18

Stage E - Adult

Return to Stage E with Steve Grainger

This live webinar with Steve Granger, Director of Rugby Development, at midday on Tuesday 15 December, is being held to answer your questions on the return to rugby and Stage E on the Return to Community Roadmap. Please send questions to clubsupport@rfu.com or register and tune in to ask them live.

Coaching the game

An England Rugby panel will take questions from coaches focusing on coaching the game and the opportunities the adaptations might bring for player development in Stage E - Wednesday 9 December 7pm – 8pm. Register here.

Preparing Players for a Return to Rugby

Tim Hall – England U18s Strength & Conditioning Coach will be leading this Webinar on preparing players for a return to rugby – Thursday 10 December 7:30pm – Register here

You can see all our previous Coaching, Refereeing, and Club webinars online.Other important updates#ShowYourShirts hits 600This weekend, not only did we see England’s men win the Autumn Nations Cup in a climatic finish in front of 2,000 fans, but 600 of your clubs shirts also showed the community game was behind the team as well as reminding people of the efforts of volunteers around the country who have worked so hard to keep their clubs going during the pandemic. Thank you to all the clubs that sent us their shirts.

You can see photos of them using the below link. If you wish to use them in any advertising all we ask is you credit “RFU collection via Getty images”.Shirt ImagesDursley’s new stripDursley RFC have been doing some exceptional stuff during the pandemic not only shaving their heads for NHS Combined Charity Fund but also decided on a Year of Fundraising for the British Heart Foundation after the loss of their Colts Coach which saw them scale Mount Snowden in their budgy smugglers.Dursley RFCWe want to highlight the wonderful activities that our clubs and their teams are doing on our England Rugby channels. Please share your stories and videos with ChrisDodd@rfu.com or PatriciaMowbray@rfu.com.

Information on Travel between Tier 3 Areas

Following the RFU and Government guidance regarding the return of community rugby, we have received an update from DCMS (Department of Culture, Media and Sport) on the issue of travel within and between Tier 3 areas:

Currently the majority of the North East is in the Tier 3 category. This is split into two distinct areas:

• North East Combined Authority (Tier 3)

Consists of the seven councils: County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

• Tees Valley Combined Authority (Tier 3)

The five local authorities of Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland.

Government regulations state that there should be no travel outside of or between Tier 3 Combined Authority areas.

Therefore, clubs and individuals can travel and play within their Combined Authority Tier 3 area, but they cannot travel to another Tier 3 Combined Authority area to play rugby.

For example, if you live in County Durham, you are free to travel to Northumberland to play rugby because both locations are in the same Combined Authority area.

However, if you live in Hartlepool, you cannot travel to County Durham to play because this would mean you are travelling between Tees Valley Combined Authority and the North East Combined Authority.

This will clearly have implication for some clubs and individuals who play/reside across the different Tier 3 areas and you should ensure you fully understand and comply with the travel restrictions for your own circumstances.

Exemptions

Travel is permitted where it is necessary to enable sport for disabled people, sport for educational purposes, or supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, to take place, but should still be minimised and kept to short distances only.

Further information

More details can be found on our Coronavirus Hub.

FAQs can be found here and will continue to be updated.

Latest UK Government Guidance can be found here.

Rugby Activity

We are now at Stage E on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

Summary of law variations can be found here.

Return to Play webinar support can be found below:

Stage E - U7-U13

Stage E - U14-U18

Stage E - Adult

Return to Rugby

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 Governme

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.

Pre-send Distribution list: Wednesday 11 November

Council Members, Rugby Development

Distribution list: Friday 13 November

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers, Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCommunity Game Update – November 2020Content:1. Check out England Rugby social media channels this weekend

2. RFU Cluster Fixture Proposals

3. Age Grade Playing Calendars 2020/2021 and 2021/2022

4. Age Grade Registration – GMS Data Tidy-Up

5. Postponement of 2020/21 Level 3 Coaching Award

6. Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union Courses are back

7. NatWest Rugby Club Finance Guide

8. Warrior Camps return

9. Information - England Men’s and Women’s forthcoming fixtures

Welcome to the November 2020 Community Game Update. We hope you find the update useful, and if you have any feedback, queries or content that you would like to feature, please email Chris Dodd, Communications Executive (chrisdodd@rfu.com).

Our communications to you are based on the data held in the Game Management System (GMS). Please check the information held on this system is up to date and active.

This communication is only sent to the roles highlighted in the distribution list above. Please share it with others in your club who need to see it.Check out England Rugby social media channels this weekendOn Saturday community rugby clubs will be recognised at England v Georgia in the Quilter Internationals 2020, part o

f the Autumn Nations Cup, including the club shirts we’ve received so far as part of the Show Your Shirt campaign, you can read more below.

On Sunday we’ll kick off the #GetYourShirtsOn campaign, which aims to keep a

ge grade players active and engaged with their clubs during the national lockdown.

We will be live streaming fitness and rugby activities for 6-18 year olds on the England Rugby YouTube channel on Sunday mornings throughout November. These sessions, led by England legends, will include a mix of fun activities for all age grade players (and their parents!) to enjoy.Club ShirtsRFU Cluster Fixture ProposalsFollowing the decision from the RFU Council to cancel the 20/21 League Season for Men’s (Level 3 and below) and Women’s (Level 2 and below) RFU Leagues, plans have been developed to instigate local cluster fixtures, to help facilitate a return to contact rugby when permitted t

o do so (hopefully in the New Year). This local cluster competition would not be used to determine League positions for the 2021/22 season.

The proposal is based around five principles:

• Providing clubs with structured local competitive fixtures

• Based on contact rugby (either full contact or adapted variations dependent on Government advice)

• Minimised travel times

• Local clusters of up to seven teams (this number will vary according to specific regions and agreed local needs)

• Relaxed regulations to remove barriers to participation

All teams in RFU Leagues (Men's level 3 and below / Women's level 2 and below) will have been contacted by their Organising Committee on Friday 13 November with more detailed information about local clusters and how you can sign up. Equally, clubs are free to opt out if they wish to play in another locally organised model, or to simpl

y arrange matches on an ad-hoc basis.Age grade playing calendars seasons 2020/21 and 2021/222020/21 Age Grade Playing Calendar

We are pleased to confirm the following points relating to the Age Grade Playing Calendar this season, as outlined to RFU Council on Wednesday 11 November which you can read on the button below.

The staging of all these activities and format of play must be in line with our Return to Rugby Roadmap and the Government Covid-19 guidance in place at the time.

2021/22 Age Grade Playing Calendar

Due to the impact of Covid–19 it has not been possible to release the Age Grade Playing Calendar for 2021/22. We are aiming to have this out in December to enable planning for next season.Age Grade CalendarAge Grade Registration – GMS Data Tidy-UpTo help with preparation, we will be assisting clubs with tidying up their data, starting with the removal of the duplicated email addresses against age grade records. This process will involve removing a duplicate email address against a record that is under the age of 15 where the email is shared with the parent/guardian linked to their account.GMS Help PortalPostponement of 2020/21 Level 3 Coaching AwardDue to the recent Gove

rnment lockdown announcement, the uncertainty this brings regarding a full return to rugby and potential future local restrictions, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the 2020/21 England Rugby Advanced Coaching Award (formerly Level 3 Coaching).

The course requires participants to demonstrate a range of coaching knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours that they might not get the opportunity to demonstrate in what remains of this season, through an amended game format or via a remotely delivered course. We therefore believe postponing gives the participants the best opportunity to develop and enjoy the experience the full course would offer.

It is our intention to start the 2021/22 course in May 2021, all eligible participants

will be contacted and offered the opportunity to apply in the spring. The pre-requisite courses and work for applicants who were intending to apply for the 2021/22 course will run in the New Year. This will be communicated directly to clubs, schools, colleges and universities, via EnglandRugby.com and social media channels.Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union Courses from Friday 1 JanuaryA new booking process is in place in which clubs will liaise directly with the tutors to organise courses, allowing for some local flexibility and better engagement between the club and the tutors.

Clubs/venues hosting a course will be required to ensure they can provide a Covid-safe environment. One-day closed events, i.e. all attendees are from the same club, and

held in a room booked for exclusive use that allows for appropriate social distancing to help mitigate risk of Covid transmission and reduce the additional cleaning, administration, etc. as per the RFU’s community club guidance and facility re-opening guidelines.

Please note that the ability for clubs to host courses and tutor availability may be affected by local/national government restrictions in place at the time of a course.First Aid CoursesNatWest Rugby Club Finance GuideFollowing the Natwest RugbyForce weekend in September, NatWest have produced The NatWest Rugby Club Finance Guide, which is a practical guide to help support your club.

The guide covers: creating a budget, looking at the bigger picture, boosting your income and a support toolkit and resources for long term sustainability.Read GuideWar

rior Camps returnThe successful Inner Warrior campaign will return in January, when we will encourage clubs to host a Warrior Camp to welcome players back into the club environment. Further information about how to sign up to host a Warrior Camp will be available in early December. In the meantime, get in touch via innerwarrior@rfu.com for advice and support.Key dates and where to watchWe are delighted to confirm that England Women’s Autumn Internationals against France will be shown live on BBC TV.

November:

14 – England Women v France Women (1.15pm) (Stade des Alpes, Grenoble) – BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

14 – England Men v Georgia Men (3pm) (Twickenham Stadium) – Amazon Prime

21 – England Women v France Women (12pm) (Twickenham Stadium) – BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

21 – England Men v Ireland Men (3pm) (Twickenham Stadium) – Amazon Prime and Channel 4

28 - Wales Men v England Men (4pm) (Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli)– Amazon Prime

December:

06 – England Men v TBC (Twickenham Stadium)

Distribution list: Tuesday 10 November

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateIn this week’s edition, we bring you an exciting opportunity to watch England Rugby for free in the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, on Amazon Prime. We also share a new Sunday morning streamed activity to keep our age grade players active and connected with their clubs during the national lockdown.

We will mark Remembrance Day in a number of ways this week. A poppy has been painted on the training pitch at the Lensbury, where a one minute silence will be held at 11am tomorrow. In addition, both the England Men and England Women will wear poppies at their matches on Saturday 14 November to pay tribute to the men and women who served and sacrificed to defend our nation and to secure our freedom.RFU HeadlinesHow your rugby communities can watch England's fixtures for free this autumnWe have been working with Amazon to provide an opportunity for fans to take advantage of a free one-month trial with Amazon Prime so you can watch England Rugby during the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, while also supporting your club.

To help grassroots clubs generate revenue, Amazon are opening up registration for clubs to become Amazon Associates.

The club will receive £3 for every member of the community who signs up to Amazon through the club’s unique Associates link.

This money will be paid directly to the club and, while there may not be a huge cash injection, every little helps during these challenging times.

The registration process will take 5-10 minutes. We will share templates to help clubs promote this offer in the coming days. Click below to read the step by step guide.

If you want to see how the England squad have been preparing for the upcoming fixtures, watch the below episode of the Next Level, and please share the link on your channels.

We will advise clubs of the broadcaster for both fixtures in the Women’s Autumn Internationals in the November edition of Community Game Update on Friday ahead of England playing France in Grenoble on Saturday 14 November (KO 1.15pm), and then at Twickenham on Saturday 21 November (KO 12pm).Amazon Guide Next LevelCalling on age grade players to #GetYourShirtOnDespite the community club game being suspended due to the national lockdown, we want all our age grade players to stay active and connected with their clubs.

So, we will be starting weekly Sunday fitness and rugby activity live streams for U6s - U18s on the England Rugby YouTube channel throughout November. These sessions, led by England legends and experts, will include a mix of fun activities for all age grade players (and their parents!) to enjoy. We want everyone joining in wearing their club shirts and sharing their pride on social media using #GetYourShirtOn.

Keep an eye on the England Rugby social media channels for the build-up.England Rugby TwitterCommunity rugby - current statusDue to England being in national lockdown, we are at Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. This means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken until at least Thursday 3 December, including club age grade and adult rugby activities below Championship and Premier 15s.

While group training sessions are banned, a maximum of two players (or one player and one coach) can participate in socially distanced (two metres plus), individual training sessions, without sharing equipment, in a public outside space, but not a garden.Government Guidance RoadmapRugby in schools, colleges during national lockdown – Department for Education (DfE) ClarificationWe have been able to update our statement on school and college rugby following Government clarification last week as follows:

Schools and colleges are able to play rugby but must follow the DfE guidance for schools and FE settings. This has been further clarified here. In summary, this means:

• Rugby can be played as part of the curriculum, i.e. in PE and games lessons, timetabled activity during the school day and as part of courses, such as BTEC Diplomas in Sport and GCSE/A-Level PE.

• No extra-curricular rugby clubs, training and activities (outside of the DfE guidance on childcare provision for parents) or inter-school/college matches are permitted.

• Activity must continue to be played to the RFU Government-approved action plan, i.e. play the formats and follow off-field logistics as permitted before half term and lockdown (Ready4Rugby, O2Touch and limited contact training in approved group sizes).

We continue to encourage schools and colleges to provide rugby union for the health and wellbeing of their students during lockdown, in particular with community sport being unavailable. However, we also recognise that there are a large number of additional factors for Headteachers/Principals to consider and that it is ultimately their decision whether they can play in line with the Government guidance.

Further RFU resource, guidance and support is available below.DFE Guidance R2R KitbagOther Important UpdatesTime’s running out to show club shirts at TwickenhamGiven the popularity of the initiative for clubs to have their shirts on seats at Twickenham during the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, to help create a visual representation of clubs at the stadium, the deadline has been extended to the end of November.

We want to have as many club shirts as possible during the matches, particularly for the final fixture on Sunday 6 December. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your club involved!Show Your ShirtWebinars and PodcastsThe England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line

This podcast series is back with a new host, Dylan Hartley. The former England captain speaks to players from inside the England Men's and Women's camps. You can listen to the podcast below, and follow the stories on Twitter.

The following webinars will take place on Thursday 12 November:

10am - England Colleges Rugby Football Union Members Live Webinar

Join the ECRFU, RFU and AOC Sport live for the latest webinar, including interactive discussions on the college game and a live panel Q&A session. Register for the webinar.

7pm - Preparing, planning and dealing with severe wet weather and problem areas on your pitch

This Rugby Groundsmen Connected webinar gives ideas and tips that clubs can consider now, prior to the really wet weather hitting. It will include ideas and guidance on dealing with problem areas of pitches and offer some advice on what to do following heavy rain and intensely wet periods. Register for the webinar.

The following webinar is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday 17 November:

Exploring the Funding & Club Support Opportunities through Covid-19 Restrictions

This webinar will inform clubs about the potential funding and support available from Government, Sport England and England Rugby to help clubs through the Covid-19 restrictions. Register for the webinar.

The following webinar is scheduled for 10am on Thursday 19 November:

Students RFU Live Webinar – Keeping University Players Engaged

Join the SRFU RFU and BUCS live for the latest webinar, followed by an interactive session on keeping players engaged. Register for the webinar

You can see all our previous Coaching, Refereeing, and Club webinars online.England Rugby Podcast Twitter

Rugby communities doing great thingsLast week the rugby world remembered Police Sergeant Matt Ratana, who was also Head Coach at East Grinstead RFC.

In addition, we highlight the work undertaken by the Kings Cross Steelers over the last 25 years to help make rugby more inclusive.

We also wanted to say a big thank you to all our rugby clubs who have been helping to supply their local communities during this pandemic. This includes those who helped to provide free schools meals for children during the half term and a thank you also to those like Exeter College who have brought new players into the game.

As we head into the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, we want to highlight the wonderful activities that our clubs and their teams are doing on our England Rugby channels, and also on the England Senior teams' news boards. This week we have recognised the Warrington U8s, you can see their message in the video below.

Why not send in your club’s news through England Rugby channels or via the email addresses below so we can recognise as many clubs as possible during the forthcoming games. Please share your stories and videos with chrisdodd@rfu.com or PatriciaMowbray@rfu.com.Matt Ratana Warrington

Distribution list: Thursday 5 November

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) update

RFU HeadlinesCommunity rugby - current statusEngland is now in national lockdown until Wednesday 2 December and all team sports have been suspended, including club age grade and adult rugby activities below Championship and Premier 15s.

With effect from today, we return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. This means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken until at least Wednesday 2 December. While group training sessions are banned, a maximum of two players (or one player and one coach) can participate in socially distanced (two metres plus), individual training sessions in a public outside space, but not a garden, without sharing equipment. FAQ's from Sport England are available below.Government Guidance FAQsClub facilitiesAlthough leisure and sports facilities must stay closed, clubhouses can remain open to provide take away, click and collect and food delivery services up until 10pm. They may also be used in other limited circumstances including:

- education and training (including for schools to use sports and leisure facilities where that is part of their normal provision)

- childcare purposes and supervised activities for children (i.e. parent and baby sessions or play groups)

- blood donations and food banks

- to provide medical treatment (i.e.. for flu vaccines or mobile testing centres)

- for elite sports persons (including indoor and outdoor sports facilities) – only if the facilities are used by Premiership, Championship or Premier 15s sides.

Please contact the Club Support Centre if you have any questions.Club Support CentreRugby in schools, colleges and universities during national lockdownFollowing the confirmation of Department for Education guidance on Wednesday 4 November, we can confirm what the national lockdown means for rugby in schools, colleges and universities.

University rugby is subject to the same restrictions as our community clubs, i.e it returns to Stage A on the Return to Rugby Roadmap until Wednesday 2 December.

Schools and colleges are able to play rugby but must follow the DfE guidance for schools and FE settings. In summary, this is:

• Rugby can only be played as part of the curriculum – i.e. in PE and games lessons and as part of courses, such as BTEC Diplomas in Sport and GCSE/A-Level PE

• Activity must continue to be played to the RFU government-approved action plan – i.e. play the formats and follow off-field logistics as permitted before half term and lockdown (Ready4Rugby, O2Touch and limited contact training in approved group sizes)

• No extra-curricular rugby clubs, training and activities or inter-school/college matches are permitted.

We believe there are major health and wellbeing benefits in schools and colleges providing rugby union and physical activity to their students during lockdown; in particular with community sport being unavailable. However, we also recognise that there are a large number of additional factors for Headteachers/Principals to consider and that the expertise they have developed in the last six months will ultimately guide their decision to play. Further RFU resource, guidance and support is available below.DFE Guidance R2R KitbagRugby 365 updateAll Rugby 365 facilities will be closed until Wednesday 2 December. Customers and host clubs who had bookings have been contacted, and credits will be made for all cancellations. Please contact Rugby365 below if you have any enquiries.Contact Rugby365Other Important UpdatesRFU Training Courses for Coaches and Match OfficialsDue to the national lockdown, RFU coach and referee training courses planned for November and December have been pushed back to January and February 2021. Those who have booked will automatically be transferred to a new date and updated course details will be issued. We will also contact club venues to re-arrange dates.Watching rugby this AutumnThe national lockdown means that clubs cannot open their doors for members to watch the November Quilter Internationals 2020 matches, part of the Autumn Nations Cup. We are, therefore, in discussions with Amazon regarding a possible revenue generating offer for clubs. We will provide further details next week.

Also, next week we will advise clubs of the broadcaster for both fixtures in the Women’s Autumn Internationals as England face France at Twickenham and away in Grenoble.Webinars and PodcastsThe following webinars will take place on Thursday 12 November:

10am - Crowdfunding webinar

Could you successfully raise £60,133 with 519 supporters in 45 days? Hull Ionians have done so during the pandemic to save their clubhouse. Sign up to our Crowdfunding webinar below to find out exactly how you could benefit as a club.

10am - England Colleges Rugby Football Union Members Live Webinar

Join the ECRFU, RFU and AOC Sport live for the latest webinar, including interactive discussions on the college game and a live panel Q&A session. To sign up, please click below.

7pm - Preparing, planning and dealing with severe wet weather and problem areas on your pitch.

You can see all our previous Coaching, Refereeing, and Club webinars online.Crowdfunding ECRFU Webinar

Distribution list: Tuesday 27 October

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers, Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers

Coronavirus (Covid-19) updateIn today’s edition, we provide advice and tips on Return4Rugby, Sport England funding and affected areas in the Covid-19 tier system and take the opportunity to look at the origins of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’

With regard to showing the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup, Amazon has managed to secure a solution for pubs and clubs which we will be communicating with the game shortly once Amazon have finalised the detail. In the

meantime, England v Ireland on Saturday 21 November will be shown on Channel 4, which will be available to any club who has a TV license.

We will also be shortly announcing the broadcaster for both fixtures in the Women’s Autumn Internationals as England face France.

We are constantly working with Government to return to rugby but, as a reminder,

we are still at Stage D on the Roadmap, and RFU guidance, as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines, must be followed. Local restriction powers lie with their local authorities and clubs need to check the latest position, as restrictions may change frequently over the coming weeks.

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

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on the website.RFU HeadlinesReturn4Rugby adviceBelow we have tips and guidance for training. Ho

wever, as we start to see matches take place there continues to be a real need to keep players safe. Any foul play incidents resulting in a red card will still involve the club adhering to the normal disciplinary process, including letting their CB know and arranging a club disciplinary hearing.

We have some ideas and tips for those delivering rugby in education and the age grade game, including some session plans and guidance on how to enthuse, support and stretch your players.Return4RugbyOther important updatesSport England Return to Play FundSport England have launched a new £16.5 million fund to give additional h

elp to the sport and physical activity sector during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Return to Play Fund will support groups, clubs and organisations, including rugby clubs, who have been impacted by restrictions. This will be split into three strands, Small Grants, Community Asset Funds and Active Together. You can find out if your club is eligible for support via the link below.Sport England FundRevised local lockdown restrictionsWe are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines. In all cases, clubs must conduct a risk assessment and ensure compliance with Covid-19 secure guidance.

Clubs can check what local restrictions are in place in their area.

Tier 1 - Medium:

Current nationwide rules will apply to areas in this tier. With regards to sporting activities in tier 1, exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, or indoors if the rule of six is followed.

Tier 2 – High:

In tier 2, exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with, or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability

sport.

Tier 3 – Very High:

Sporting activities in tier 3 are the same as tier 2 areas, although additional measures agreed with local authorities could include the closing of venues such as leisure centres and gyms, while ensuring provision remains available for elite athletes, youth and disabled sport and physical activity.

With Covid-19 rates rising, keeping players, coaches and support staff safe is vital.

Our Club Hub offers PPE to support the game. Find out how to register and see the product guide.

We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information about what you need to know about the Government’s local Covid-19 alert levels.Rule Of Six Area Tier InfoTest and trace and handling of Covid-19 positive testsClubs are reminded of the need to have a Test & Trace system in place. You can find out more about NHS Test & Trace below, or read about

Howdens Test and Trace here.

In the event of positive tests occuring within a club, including retrospective cases, each case should be registered via the Positive Test Notification Form, which can be accessed on the link below. This information is requested to allow us to monitor the number of confirmed positive Covid-19 tests occurring in clubs and to ensure that clubs have the

appropriate support.NHS Test & Trace Notification FormWebinars and PodcastsWatch Sarah Hunter with Irwin Mitchell's Mentoring Club below, as well as the lastest episode of the England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line.

You can see all our previous Coaching, Refereeing, and Club webinars online.O2 Inside Line Sarah HunterThe Story of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'This week saw the release of the educational documentary on the origins of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'.

It explains the story and the meaning behind the song, describes how it became associated with rugby, reflects on the views of players past and present and allo

ws fans to make up their own minds about its use.Swing LowRugby communityToday we are asking you to vote for two inspiring women, Kate Nicholls of Witney Rugby Club and Zainab Alema of Barnes RFC, both shortlisted for The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year 2020.

Alongside this, Dom Palacio and Richmond Rugby are supplying local children with free school meals during half-term.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs and stories from around the game.

Please share your stories and videos with chrisdodd@rfu.com or PatriciaMowbray@rfu.com.Inspiring Women Free School Meals

Distribution list: Tuesday 20 October

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers

Coronavirus (Covid-19) updateIn today’s edition we update on the restart of training courses for 2020/2021, highlight new Sport England Funding, affected areas in the

Covid-19 tier system, wearing of gloves by players and guidance on fireworks.

We are constantly working with Government to return to rugby but as a reminder that we are still at Stage D on the Roadmap, and RFU guidance, as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines, must be followed. Local restriction powers l

ie with their local authorities and clubs need to check the latest position, as restrictions may change frequently over the coming weeks.

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

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on the website.RFU HeadlinesResumption of England Rugby Training CoursesWe intend to resume England Rugby Training courses from November. Coaches and referees working with Kids

irst Rugby age groups and those new to contact rugby will start first, with Player Welfare and Award courses shortly afterwards.

This webinar explains how we intend to implement the training programme, with resources to share with clubs, education and referee societies. It also outlines the pla

ns for the 2020/21 England Rugby Advanced Coaching Award (formerly Level 3 Coa

ching) course.

Courses will be available to book through the online course booking system, and you can also find a range of free webinar and eLearning courses below.

Digital coaching and refereeing resources can be found on our Keep Your Boots On YouTube channel.

Courses will only run where it is safe to do so, following local and national guidance from Public Health England and practical activities on courses aligning with the RFU guidanceBook Courses WebinarsOther important updatesSport England Return to Play FundSport England have today released a new £16.5 million fund to give additional help to the sport and physical activity sector during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The Return to Play Fund will support groups, clubs and organisations who have been impacted by restrictions. This will be split into three strands, Small Grants, Community Asset Funds and Active Together. You can find out if your club is eligible for support via the link below.Sport England FundPlayers wearing glovesAs the weather gets colder we understand players will want to wear gloves. We have updated our guidance. Our advice is that they are changed for a different pair at least every 15 minutes. Players wearing gloves cannot effectively sanitise the gloves' surface, increasing the risk of infection and transmission. The key way to reduce the risk of infection and transmission during rugby activity is through regular sanitising of hands.Revised local lockdown restrictionsWe are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines. In all cases, clubs must cond

uct a risk assessment and ensure compliance with Covid-19 secure guidance.

Clubs can check what local restrictions are in place in their area.

Tier 1 - Medium:

Current nationwide rules will apply to areas in this tier. With regards to sporting activities in tier 1, exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place

outdoors, or indoors if the rule of six is followed.

Tier 2 – High:

With regards to sporting activities in tier 2,exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possibl

e for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport.

Areas in this tier are included on the below button which details which areas are in Tiers 2 and 3.

Tier 3 – Very High:

With regards to sporting activities in tier 3, it is the same as for tier 2 areas, although additional measures agreed with local authorities could include the closing of venu

es such as leisure centres and gyms whilst ensuring provision remains available for elite athletes, youth and disabled sport and physical activity.

Areas in this tier are included on the below button which details which areas are in tiers 2 and 3.

We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to play

ing rugby union. You can read more information about what you need to know about the Government’s local Covid-19 alert levels.Rule Of Six Area Tier InfoTest and trace and handling of Covid-19 positive testsClubs are reminded of the need to have a Test & Trace system in place. You can find out more about NHS Test & Trace below, or read about Howdens Test and Trace here.

t club webinar on demand is Understanding Corporation Tax where we look at how corporation tax applies to rugby clubs. It includes what income is taxable, what reliefs are available and how clubs can comply. Click below to watch the webinar, as well as Irwin Mitchell's webinar covering good club guidance.

You can see all our previous Coaching, Refereeing, and Club webinars online.Corporation Tax Club GuidanceFireworks – Covid-19 and insurance requirementsAt this time of year, many clubs would normally be planning their annual bonfire and fireworks event. If you are considering going ahead with an event this year, you will need to consider the COVID-19 risk as well as the risk assessment of your

bonfire and fireworks display itself. Outdoor events can continue, but to be insured you must be able to comply with both COVID-19 guidance, which you can read below, and also the insurer’s usual safety requirements, which are also below. If you are unable to comply with the guidance you should not proceed with your event.Covid-19 Guidance Insurer's RequirementsRugby communityToday we’ve highlighted much loved seven-year-old rugby hero Patryk Milner from Sandbach RUFC, missed by all who knew him and whose organs have saved three lives.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diversit

y and inclusion at clubs and stories from around the game.

Distribution list: Friday 16 October

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers, Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers

Community Game Update – October 2020Content:1. Viewing the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup

2. Show your club shirt at Twickenham

3. Changes to RFU Regulations

4. Response to World Rugby Transgender Guidence

5. Guidance on players wearing gloves

6. Allianz supporting the women’s game

7. Rugby Development team update

8. England Schools membership 2020-21 season

9. Nominate your club’s Unsung Hero in BBC Sports Personality of Year awards

Welcome to the October 2020 Community Game Update. We hope you find the update useful, and if you have any feedback, queries or content that you would like to feature, please email Chris Dodd, Communications Executive (chrisdodd@rfu.com).

Our communications to you are based on the data held in the Game Management System (GMS). To ensure you receive the communications that you want to f

rom the RFU, please check the information held on this system is up to date and active. In addition, if you know of a colleague who should be receiving these updates, but isn’t, please help them to check their details on GMS.

This communication is only sent to the roles highlighted in the distribution list above. Please share it with others in your club who need to see it.ShareViewing the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations CupThe countdown is on fo

r the start of the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup. We are actively working with Amazon on a solution for as many clubs as possible to show the matches in their clubhouse. Further details will be announced shortly. Please note that the Quilter International, England v Ireland on Saturday 21 November will be on Channel 4.

As a reminder, the Quilter Cup: England v Barbarians match on Sunday 25 October is on Sky Sports, the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations 2020 is on BBC and ITV on the Saturday 31 October and Italy v England in the Women’s Six Nations 2020 on Sunday 1 November is on Sky Sports.Show your club shirtYou may not be able to take your seat at Twickenham this autumn but our clubs and CBs can. We want you to send us on

e of your shirts to fill a seat at Twickenham as England compete in the Quilter Internationals as part of the Autumn Nations Cup. We want to create a visual representation of all our member clubs and CBs standing together at this time. It’s quick, easy and free to send your team’s shirt in.

We are working with a delivery partner to provide you with free postage, so more details on this and guidelines will be sent out shortly.

By sending your shirt in, you will also be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 signed England shirts for your club or CB.

Join us and show your shirt this autumn at Twickenham.Changes to RFU Regulation

sA summary is below highlighting the key changes to the Regulations for the 2020-21 season. As a reminder, the regulations in full can be accessed through RFU Regulations.Read ChangesResponse to World Rugby Transgender GuidanceThe RFU along with other nations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA has not chosen to adopt the World Rugby Transgender Guidelines at this time and will keep its current policy in place for now.

The current policy follows World Rugby’s former transgender guidelines where athletes must apply to the RFU for permission to play. For transgender females this include

s providing evidence of testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to application and they must keep their serum testosterone concentration below that level for as long as they wish to play in the female category. All requests are reviewed by a panel including the RFU Head of Regulation & Integrity, RFU Player Welfare Manager and a medical representative appointed by the RFU. It is important to note that we have fewer than ten transgender women currently playing in England and there has been no associated increase in injury.

The ban proposed by World Rugby would mean excluding those people immediately without any ability for them to appeal or for their particular circumstances to be considered individually.

The RFU welcomes the work undertaken by World Rugby however it believes the evidence is not advanced enough for us to be content that a blanket ban could not be challenged.

The RFU wants to keep the welfare of all players at the heart of its decision making. At the same time, rugby has always been an inclusive sport and so when considering this complex subject, we believe we also need to make sure we are taking an approach which supports inclusivity while protecting fairness and safety for female players.

The World Rugby Transgender Guidelines have created many sensational headlines

and while this is a complex subject that invokes many strong views, it is important to highlight that the RFU response is carefully considered.

As a next step the RFU will work with other Unions to continue to develop scientific work, to answer outstanding questions so that we can develop guidelines that can be implemented globally. Our aim is to work with World Rugby to find a solution that is as inclusive as it can be, whilst achieving fairness and safety for women. The RFU will also undertake further consultation with players in the women’s game to understand their views.Players wearing glovesHaving had numerous queries on players wearing gloves, our previously communicated position was that gloves should not be worn. Howev

er, we understand that players may wish to wear them during the cold weather. Our advice is that they are changed for a different pair at least every 15 minutes. Players that wear gloves cannot effectively sanitise the surface of the gloves, increasing the risk of infection and transmission. The key way to reduce the risk of infection and transmission during rugby activity is through regular sanitising of hands.Allianz supporting the women’s gameAllianz Insurance is the new Insurance Partner of England Rugby and the title partner for the Premier 15s, with the official name of the competition being ‘Allianz Premier 15s’.

Allianz is committed to supporting the top-flight women’s domestic rugby competi

tion in England, England Rugby teams and the community game, in line with its commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity and excellence. Allianz Insurance has a long history in rugby and is excited about turning its support and attention to the women and girls’ game which is a strategic priority for the RFU. The partnership with Allianz is expected to accelerate the growth and support the retention of female players over the next 12 months and beyond through increased awareness activities and programmes like Inner Warrior.

The rugby community can expect to hear more about this partnership in the coming months, as we all gear up to the next round of Warrior Camps scheduled to take

place in January 2021.Allianz PartnerRugby Development team – New rolesWith some significant change, we would like to place our thanks to staff who have left the RFU, we would like to thank each and every one of them for their service during their time here.

This change means we will work differently to still achieve great things in the game. The full structure is attached and in this edition we wanted to profile three roles that are field based that clubs and CB’s may come into contact with.New Roles Team StructureEngland Schools membership 2020-21 seasonEngland Rugby Football Schools Union has removed the need to pay for membership from the start of the 2020-21

season. Instead, schools can now register their membership below, where they need to complete their contact details, as well as pledging to follow RFU Regulations and guidance. If you have not done so, please register your school using this easy process now.RegisterNominate your club’s Unsung HeroNominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year's 2020 Unsung Hero awards are now open until Sunday 25 October 2020.

If you know someone at your club who has gone to extraordinary lengths for their local community during an unprecedented year, make sure you put them forward.

Young people aged 15 and under will also be celebrated for the very first time this year thanks to the introduction of the Captain Tom: Young Unsung Hero award.

On the Friday 2 October, we showed our support for East Grinstead in nominating Matt Ratana.

To nominate your Unsung Hero and/or Young Unsung Hero visit the BBC website below.Nominate Today

Distribution list: Tuesday 13 October

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateToday there is a video message from Steve Grainger, Rugby Development Director at the RFU. In addition, we have provided an update on next steps for the Adult Male Future Competition Structure Review, the impact of the Covid-19 tier system

being introduced by the Government and also on the wearing of gloves by age grade players.

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

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here to find previous editions.RFU HeadlinesReturn to community rugby updateSteve Grainger, Rugby Development Director at the RFU, provides an update on our continuing plans to get rugby returned. Please share this video with your rugby communities.

We remain at Stage D on the Roadmap. RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines, must be followed. Where local lockdown restrictions are in place, local authority guidelines must be followed.Steve GraingerReturn to community rugby – age grade regulationsAny mixed age non-contact activity under Regulation 15.6.2, must be risk assessed appropriately and follow best practice as outlined in the Codes of Practice, which includes ensuring parental consent is in place. Where 17 year olds are participating in contact training, Regulation 15.6.1 m

ust be followed.Regulation 15Adult Male Future Competition Structure Review - UpdateOnce again, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the many webinars and surveys that have been conducted over the last 12 months regarding the future competition structure (English Club Championship Level 3 and below). Click below to read the plan.

A detailed summary of responses from the Future Competition Structure Survey conducted over the summer, separated by player and non-player feedback, can be accessed here. In addition, the results from the survey conducted in February 2020

are available here.

As Covid-19 restrictions are still with us, and we remain uncertain of the timing and nature of the 2020/21 season, the Community Game Board have taken the decision to pause implementation of any changes to league structures (should these be approved at a future date by RFU Council) to season 2022/23. Work on the review remains a priority and will be discussed again at the RFU Council meeting on 27 November, where it is likely a vote on some key matters of principle will be taken.

We will also contact Honorary Secretaries at adult male clubs (levels 3-12) in the near future to ask for their input into a survey which aims to help us better understand t

he level of interest from clubs to entering Lower XVs teams into the RFU Leagues Pyramid to up to Level 7. At the same time we will share some draft criteria for this happening. The outcome of the survey will assist the FCS Group in understanding the number of teams coming into the pyramid. Whilst there is no commitment from clubs at this stage, the information will provide an important steer in assessing the level of interest from clubs and any potential impact on future structures.

We thank you for your continued support in this important process. The majority of people agree that we have a significant opportunity for rugby to develop in order to provide an optimal playing offer and structure that protects the future health of the adult male game while meeting the needs of current and future players. Players are looking for a balance of quality of experience, welfare needs and less travel. Mean

while, we must also ensure we protect the sustainability of clubs.Read PlanRevised local lockdown restrictions effective Wednesday 14 OctoberDue to the rise in the number of positive Covid-19 cases, as well as an increase in hospital admissions, the Government has announced its intention to introduce a new three tier system of local lockdown measures, effective Wednesday 14 October 2020. Clubs must follow the current guidance until then.

We are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines. In all cases, club

s must conduct a risk assessment and ensure compliance with Covid-19 secure guidance.

Clubs can check what local restrictions are in place in their area. The three tier system being introduced is:

Tier 1 - Medium:

Current nationwide rules will apply to areas in this tier. With regards to sporting activities in tier 1, exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place

outdoors, or indoors if the rule of six is followed.

Tier 2 – High:

With regards to sporting activities in tier 2, exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors. These will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with, or for youth or disability sport.

Areas in this tier include the following, and you can access links to the various guidelines.

Leicester

Greater Manchester

Lancashire

North East of England

West Midlands

West Yorkshire

New areas impacted by local restrictions and included in tier 2 are below, please note that at the time of releasing CGU only local authority guidelines had been pro

duced:

Cheshire

Derbyshire

Nottinghamshire

South Yorkshire

Tier 3 – Very High:

With regards to sporting activities in tier 3, it is the same as for tier 2 areas, although additional measures agreed with local authorities could include closing of venues such as leisure centres and gyms whilst ensuring provision remains available for elite athletes, youth and disabled sport and physical activity.

Liverpool City will be the first area to be included in this tier and the impacted are

as are Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

Click here to access Government guidelines regarding what clubs can/cannot do in Liverpool City.

Clubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with their local authorities and to check the latest position regarding local restrictions as they may change frequently over the coming weeks.

We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information about what you need to know about the Government’s local Covid-19 alert levels below.Rule Of Six Covid-19 Alert LevelsTest & Trace and handling of Covid-19 positive testsClubs are reminded of the need to have a Test & Trace system in place. You can find out more about NHS Test & Trace below

, or read about Howdens Test & Trace here.

In the event of positive tests occurring within a club, including retrospective cases, each case should be registered via the Positive Test Notification Form, which can be accessed on the link below. This information is requested to allow us to monitor the number

of confirmed positive Covid-19 tests occurring in clubs and ensure clubs have the appropriate support.NHS Test & Trace Notification FormWebinars and podcastsUnderstanding Corporation Tax for Rugby ClubsThis webinar, at 7pm on Thursday 15 October, will explore how corporation tax applies to rugby clubs. Including what income is taxable, what reliefs are available and how clubs can comply.RegisterWebinar On Demand: Good Club GovernanceOur Club Support legal series continued with Irwin Mitchell, covering good club governance. Discussing what good governance looks like and top tips for your club. Click below to watch the webinar.Governance Webinar

Rugby community doing great thingsToday we’ve highlighted the great efforts that are taking place at Lewes RFC to ensure their rugby club and activities are Covid- secure.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs.

Distribution list: Tuesday 6 October

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateWe have provided an update on the organisation structure of the Rugby

Development team and guidance in respect of running half term rugby activities during the pandemic.

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

Past editions of these weekly updates can be found on this part of the website. Click here to find a previous edition.RFU HeadlinesSupporting the rugby

communityWe are pleased to provide an update regarding the Rugby Development team. As a result of financial impact of Covid-19 we've had to reshape this team to ensure we use the resource we have available as effective and efficiently as possible. Click the link below view the team’s organisation chart. We will provide more detailed information on what this means for community rugby next week.Organisation ChartRunning half term rugby camps and activitiesClubs wishing to run half term camps (or similar events) may do so, providing all appropriate guidance, safegu

arding and approval requirements of Regulation 15 are followed. The Age Grade Codes of Practice (section 6) provides information on standard good practice for running camps. Due to Covid-19, additional social distancing and hygiene measures must be in place and all activities must remain within the Stage D guidelines of the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

Please note, the specific Stage D guidance overrides that of the ‘usual operating practice’ in the Codes of Practice & Regulation 15, e.g. maximum playing/training time is limited to 75 minutes, as per Stage D guidelines.

Organisers of half term camps (or similar events) should complete a specific risk assessment to consider any potential risk mitigations and additional requirements

for the event to run safely.

The following should be included in the event/camp planning:

• Permitted contact activity (as per Stage D guidelines) should be limited to a maximum of 15 minutes per day.

• All group* rugby activity (including 15 minutes permitted contact) should be lim

ited to a maximum of 75 minutes per day. *Group activity includes groups of two or more players.

• Individual skills and non-rugby/multi-sport activity is permitted (in addition to rugby activity) providing it meets with government/sport specific guidance and is risk assessed.

• Social distancing between sessions, measures should be taken to minimise players congregating/standing together.

• Regular equipment cleaning and personal hygiene breaks.

• Use of the facilities, changing rooms, food arrangements etc.

• Safe travel guidance (e.g. no car sharing).

• Approval from the relevant body as per Regulation 15.9.Codes Of Practice Regulation 15Other important updatesTest and trace and handling of Covid-19 positive testsClubs are reminded of the need to have a Test & Trace system in place. You can find out more about NHS Test & Trace below, or read about Howdens Test and Trace here.

In the event of positive tests occuring within a club, including retrospective cases, each case should be registered via the Positive Test Notification Form, which can be accesse

d on the link below. This information is requested to allow us to monitor the number of confirmed positive Covid-19 tests occurring in clubs and ensure clubs have the appropriate support.NHS Test & Trace Notification FormAll Schools UpdateLast year we hit our target of 750 All Schools, along with 300 linked clubs supporting them. We are delighted to be able to continue to provide support to these clubs and schools during the current challenging climate to enable them to develop the pipeline of players into clubs, as well as ensuring the sustainability of rugby within these All Schools. We have also delivered a number of webinars for clubs and schools to detail this support.

Should CBs require further information about which clubs are linked to the All Schools and/or update on their attendance, please contact schools@rfu.com.Local lockdown guidelinesClubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with th

eir local authorities.

We are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines. In all cases, clubs must conduct a risk assessment and ensure compliance with Covid-19 secure guidance.

This currently includes the following areas, however, clubs in each of the areas below need to be aware of the impact of any local restrictions applicable to their individual area. More information regarding the impact on each area is available in a detailed schedule via the link below.

Leicester

Greater Manchester

Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen

Merseyside, Halton and Warrington

North East of England

West Midlands

West Yorkshire

ll be posted on the government's website below.

We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information on the Government local lockdown updates.Rule of Six Local RestrictionsCommunity rugby - current statusWith the exception of clubs impacted by local lockdown restrictions, we continue at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, which you can see below. RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines must be followed.

We have today announced that the Allianz Premier 15s season is starting under the Government’s Elite Sport Return to Play Guidance. Law variations have been approved, however, it is important to note that these law adaptations are applicable to the

women’s elite game only.

We continue to work with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport regarding a return to full contact community rugby.Roadmap Allianz Premier 15sWebinars and podcastsUnderstanding Corporation Tax for Rugby ClubsThis

webinar, at 7pm on Thursday 15 October, will explore how corporation tax applies to rugby clubs. Including what income is taxable, what reliefs are available and how clubs can comply.RegisterOther newsWorld Mental Health Day – Saturday 10 OctoberThe World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October every year.

It is estimated that one in four people suffer from mental health issues each year. However, this year the numbers are believed to have increased substantially due to Covid-19.

The links between good physical health and mental health are well recognised. Physical activity such as playing rugby following Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap can be very beneficial for mental health and wellbeing, as well as brin

ging physical benefits.

When someone is experiencing a mental health problem, supportive and reliable information can change his or her life. Mind, one of the leading mental health charities in England and Wales, provides information and guidance for anyone involved in rugby who may be dealing with mental health problems and those supporting them.

Guidance for clubs and the rugby community on how they can support anyone suffering from mental health issues, and/or information for those who may be suffering themselves, is available on the Simplyhealth Rugby Safe webpages below or on the World Metal Health Day campaign page, which you can also find below.SimplyHealth Page World Mental Health DayRugby community doing great thingsToday we’ve

highlighted the fundraising efforts that are taking place at Chipping Sodbury RFC to support a former player who was injured in an accident, as well as the activities that took place last weekend to support the virtual London Marathon and the Injured Players Foundation.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diver

sity and inclusion at clubs.

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 veemontebello@rfu.com or patriciamowbray@rfu.com.

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

Distribution list: Thursday 24 September

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateThis week’s edition of the Covid-19 Community Game Update has been delayed from Tuesday to provide up to date information on the revised coronavirus guidelines announced by the Government this week.

Most importantly, we have provided an update on the decision made today to delay the return to competitive play for the 2020/21 season until January 2021 at the earliest.

You may also want to read RFU CEO Bill Sweeney’s statement, issued on Tuesday, regarding the financial impact on the RFU and the wider game if matches at Twickenham Stadium are played behind closed doors. Read Bill Sweeney's statement.

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 HeadlinesReturn to competitive play in 2020/21 season delayed to January 2021 earliestUnder powers delegated by Council, the RFU Governance Committee today made a difficult decision that, with the exception of Premiership, Championship and Premier 15s rugby, no organised* RFU or non-RFU Leagues including merit tables, adult or age grade competitions will be

played before January 2021 at the earliest.

With the increased uncertainly caused by Government’s additional restrictions to curb the increase in Covid-19 cases across the country, the decision has been made so that we can provide clubs with some certainty over the next few months.

The rugby community can continue to organise non-contact fixtures with other clubs using Ready4Rugby and other touch rugby activity. Limited and restricted contact rugby training can also be continued.

The RFU continues to be in active dialogue with government about moving to Stage E on the Roadmap should we reach this point at any time before Christmas, competitive friendly matches could commence.

The Adult and Age Grade Competitions Groups will be making recommendations to Governance on what they can do to ensure that any competitions from January

are meaningful, including whether to make changes to the structured season.

Governance also agreed that any decision to suspend promotion and relegation for the 2020/21 season would be referred to Council once the nature of the competitions is known.

Further guidance will be provided in due course to support clubs, schools, colleges and universities in playing to the relevant stage of the appropriate Roadmap stage.

Jeff Blackett, RFU President, comments: “We are very keen to see competitive rugby being played again. However, given the introduction of further restrictions to curb the increase in Covid-19 cases, we will not be able to move to Stage F on the Roadmap until a later date. This announcement gives clubs clarity over the immediate term to help them with their planning. We will continue to liaise with the Department for Digital,

Culture, Media and Sport and Public Health England to accelerate a return to competitive play as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Although social gatherings of more than six people were banned in England from Monday 14 September and a number of local lockdown restrictions put in place in some areas of the country, the Government has confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue. With the exception of clubs impacted by local lockdown restrictions, we continue at Stage D on the Roadmap.

Clubs in areas where additional local lockdown measures have been introduced m

ay need to limit their activities in line with any local restrictions. All are advised to consult with their local authority should they be in any doubt.

*Organised competition in this instance includes any competition organised by the RFU, its delegated competition organising committees, or any other league or cup organiser.Return To PlayOther important updatesUpdate regarding revised Covid-19 guidelinesIn addition to local lockdown measures already in place, the Government announce

d further restrictions this week aimed at curbing the rise in coronavirus cases in England. Once we have fully assessed their impact, we will provide more detailed guidance to support clubs.

In the meantime, we wanted to highlight the following important changes to these guidelines, which you can read via the link below:

From today, Thursday 24 September:

• With the exception of those clubs impacted by restrictions already in place in local lockdown areas, in licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.

• Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to

consume indoors, on site.

• The wearing of face masks is compulsory for bar staff and waiters. In addition, customers will need to wear a mask when inside a club, except when seated at a table to eat or drink.

• Clubs selling food or drink must be closed between 10pm and 5am each day until further notice. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm.

• Clubs will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using the app rolled out nationally as an alternative to providing their contact details.

From Monday 28 September:

Businesses and organisations will face stricter rules to make their premises Covid-19 Secure:

• Clubs must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required t

o self-isolate to come to work.

• Clubs must remind people to wear face coverings where mandated.

• A wider range of leisure and entertainment venues, services provided in community centres, and close contact services will be subject to the Covid-19 Secure requirements in law and fines of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.Updated Guidelines Local RestrictionsLocal lockdown guidelinesClubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with their local authorities.

Spectators, including parents, must abide by the Rule of Six, as defined by the Government’s current advice on staying safe and social distancing, which you ca

n read below.

Bolton

Leicester

Greater Manchester

Northampton

North East of England

North West of England

West Midlands

West Yorkshire

l be posted on the Government website below.

We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information on the Government local lockdown updates.Rule of Six Local RestrictionsHandling positive Covid-19 casesWe continue to liaise with Public Health England (PHE) to seek additional clarity on the process and requirements for a club to follow in the event of a positive Covid-19 case within their club.

Currently, in the case where a positive test is a player, providing all rugby activities that the player participated in were within RFU Return to Community Rugby and Stage D guidelines, then there is no requirement for other players to self-isolate.

For any non-playing positive cases, e.g. spectators, the general Government guidance must be followed – see link below.

Further information will be published in due course. In the meantime, following a

positive test, a representative from the club should contact the local PHE centre to inform them of the development and seek further advice. Clubs should also ensure that they have an appropriate risk assessment in place and are operating within Government and RFU guidelines for all facility usage and rugby activity.Test And Trace GuidanceCommunity rugby - current statusAlthough social gatherings of more than six people were banned in England from Monday 14 September and a number of local

lockdown restrictions have been put in place in some areas of the country, the Government has confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been t

hrough return to play protocols can continue. With the exception of clubs impacted by local lockdown restrictions, we continue at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. The rugby community can continue to organise non-contact fixtures with other clubs using Ready4Rugby, which you can read more about in the link below, and other touch rugby activity.

Limited and restricted contact rugby training can also be continued. Details of the permitted training activity are available in the return to contact training guidance link below.

Clubs should continue to follow current guidance of no more than 20 players per half pitch in training.

RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines must be followed.Contact Guidance Ready4RugbyWebinars and podcastsEddie Jones Co

aching PodcastThis week Joe Roff, Rugby World Cup winner and ex-Australia back, is featured on the Eddie Jones Coaching Podcast, and you can listen below.Listen NowGood Club Governance Webinar | Thursday 1 October at 7pmThe next webinar in the Club Support legal series with Irwin Mitchell will cover good club governance. During this event we will discuss what good governance looks like, as well as providing top tips for your club - you can register below.Governance WebinarCatch up on previous webinarsFor 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 WebinarsOther newsCovid-19 Business Interruption InsuranceA decis

ion was handed down by the High Court last week in favour of policyholders in the FCA business interruption test case. The FCA brought the case on behalf of policy holders against 8 insurers to try to resolve the lack of clarity in business interruption claims due to Covid-19. The decision considers 21 different policy wordings and could help clubs making claims under business interruption insurance.

Following the recent judgement, clubs that have/had business interruption insurance and affected claims should have been contacted by their Insurance Broker / Insurer as to how they intend to respond to the judgment. If clubs have not heard then it wo

uld be worthwhile making contact. Please note that the test case was not intended to encompass all possible disputes, but to resolve some of the key contractual uncertainties and causation issues to provide clarity for policy holders and insurers.

There is a chance that the judgement will be appealed but this does not stop policy holders seeking to settle their claims with the insurer before the outcome of any appeal is known.

Please find a link below to a document that has been provided by Howdens that g

ives further detail and information regarding this judgement – however please note th

at clubs should make contact with their own insurer or insurance broker direct if they don't use Howdens.Read DocumentRugby community doing great thingsToday we highlight some of the activities that took place over the Pitch Up for Rugby Weekend when rugby returned to more than 300 clubs across the country.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com: clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK are proud supporters of the rugby volunteers ac

ross 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 veemontebello@rfu.com or patriciamowbray@rfu.com.

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

Pitch Up WeekendRecognition Programme

Distribution list: Tuesday 15 September

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updateWe have provided an update on the handling of positive Covid-19 cases by clubs and of current local lockdown restrictions.

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 headlinesHandling pos

itive Covid-19 casesWe are currently liaising with Public Health England (PHE) to seek additional clarity on the process and requirements for a club to follow in the event of a positive Covid-19 case within their club.

In the case where a positive test is a player, providing all rugby activities that the player participated in were within RFU Return to Community Rugby and Stage D guidelines, then there is no requirement for other players to self-isolate.

For any non-playing positive cases, e.g. spectators, the general Government guidance must be followed – see link below.

Further information will be published in due course. In the meantime, following a positive test, a representative from the club should contact the local PHE centre to inform them of the development and seek further advice. Clubs should also ensu

re that they have an appropriate risk assessment in place and are operating within Government and RFU guidelines for all facility usage and rugby activity.Test And Trace GuidanceCommunity rugby - current statusAlthough social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from Monday 14 September, the Government has confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue. With the exception of clubs impacted by local lockdown restrictions, we continue at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. The rugby community can continue to organise non-contact fixtures with other cl

ubs using Ready4Rugby, which you can read more about in the link below, and other touch rugby activity.

Limited and restricted contact rugby training can also be continued. Details of the permitted training activity are available in the return to contact training guidance link below.

We are working to see whether guidance on numbers permitted on training ar

eas can be increased to reflect the age of participants. Until we have secured approval for this, clubs should follow current guidance of no more than 20 players per half pitch in training.

RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines must be followed.Contact Guidance Ready4RugbyLocal lockdown guidelinesClubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with their local authorities. We are a

dvised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines. This currently includes the following areas:

Government guidance - Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull

Government guidance - Blackburn with Darwen, Oldham and Pendle

Government guidance - Bolton

Government guidance - Leicester

Government guidance - North of England

will be posted on the Government website below. We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information on the Government local lockdown updates.

The following local restrictions may impact rugby clubs in Northampton:

As highlighted previously, an outbreak of Covid-19 has been identified at certain Greencore factories. Any club member who has undertaken work in affected areas listed in the guidance, and the people they live with (or have formed a support bubble

with), should self-isolate at home for the recommended periods specified and should not visit a rugby club. Read the detailed Northampton Guidance issued on Monday 31 August.Other important updatesPitch Up for Rugby WeekendThank you to all the clubs up and down the country that got involved in the Pitch Up for Rugby Weekend. You can find out more in the links below about North Dorset RFC’s and Barnes RFC’s Pitch

Up for Rugby weekends, as well as the fundraising activities that both clubs undertook during the lockdown.

There are also some great stories on our Twitter page. #PitchUpforRugbyBarnes RFCNorth Dorset RFCWebinars and podcastsEddie Jones Coaching PodcastsThere are two Eddie Jones Coaching Podcasts this week, which you can listen to below.

The first is with World Cup winners Michael Lynagh and John Gallagher who joined England head coach Eddie Jones and RFU director of performance Conor O’Shea to reminisce about their early rugby experiences.

The second is with the Australia men’s cricket head coach Justin Langer, who is also Australia’s all-time leading first class runs scorer.Early Experiences Langer podcastPreparing & planning your pitches for Spring 2021Usage, budgeting & sc

ope of works through Covid - 19

This webinar, from 7-8pm on Thursday 24 September, will talk through what the potential implications are for your pitch maintenance programme as we move through the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. It will look at how you manage your pitches, how to develop a pitch usage policy and share examples from an RFU Pitch Advisor and other club grounds teams - you can register below.Register TodayCatch up on previous webinarsFor 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 WebinarsOther newsCelebrating UK Coaching Week | 14–20 September 2020Eddie Jones thanks coaches for their contribution to rugby during UK Coaching Week, you can watch his message via the link below. Today we’ve highlighted the Head Coach of Witney Wolves, Kate Nicholls, who says the role is so rewarding that she can’t understand why more coaches don’t seek to run Special Educational Needs (SEN) teams. Read her story below.

Your coaching team may also be interested in registering for the UK Coaching Me

ntal Health Workshop, which is free until Wednesday 30 September 2020, they can register here.Eddie's Message Nicholls' StoryRugby community doing great thingsThis

week England legend and World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont commented on the importance of the community game and his involvement with Flyde RFC. You can read his story in the link below.

In addition to clubs helping their communities, we are now highlighting on englandrugby.com: Pitch Up for Rugby weekend activities, clubs’ self-help initiatives, as well as activities to improve diversity and inclusion at clubs.

Distribution list: Tuesday 01 September

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updatePlease find below the thirty-eighth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

We have provided an update on the move to Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap and, as promised, the latest update (Tuesday 1 September) on adult and age-grade 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 headlinesCommunity Rugby – moved to stage DWith the exception of clubs impacted by local lockdown restrictions, effective today, Tuesday 1 September, we have moved to Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. Clubs are now able to organise non-contact fixtures with other clubs using Ready4Rugby and other touch rugby activity.

Limited and restricted contact rugby training is also now allowed. Varied training conditions will allow the return of tackling, lineouts and rucks, ensuring that players are prepared to perform these skills safely and effectively with some restrictions. Mauls, scrums, opposed lineouts or upright tackles are still not permissible as the transmission exposure risk remains high. Contact training sessions have to be carried out in small groups of no more than six players. Detail of the permitted training activity is available in the return to contact training guidance.

Recently updated guidance on physical activity issued by the Department for Education (DfE) permits rugby union to be played in line with our government-approved action plan, and therefore means that schools and colleges can also move to limited contact training under Stage D of the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

We know there are multiple decisions required on student bubbles, extra-curricular trips/enrichment, transport and physical activity before committing to playing rugby, particularly with other schools and colleges. Whilst we encourage a return to rugby activity as soon as possible, the decision to do so will ultimately rest with each school or college.

RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines should be followed.

You can read more detailed information.

Competition Update - Adult and Age Grade Season

As previously communicated in the Community Game Update of Tuesday 4 August, we have to reach Stage F (which will not be reached until at least four weeks after Stage E) before full contact competitive rugby can commence. In line with the above announcement regarding move to Stage D, and with no set date on when we will reach Stage F, we can confirm that there will be no competitive rugby restart in October for adult or age grade rugby unless there is a dramatic improvement in the prevalence of the virus in the community. Specifically this means the following for the 2020-21 season:

Age Grade Rugby

The move to Stage D takes us into Playing Window three on the Age Grade competition model, and therefore:

1. All national RFU Age Grade Competitions for 2020-21 will be cancelled. This includes the National Schools Cup & Champions Trophy, Under 18 Clubs Cup (Boys), Under 15 and 18 Clubs Cups (Girls) and ACE League.

2. The Age Grade Season can be extended and will end on 31 May 2021 as a one off.

This early confirmation will help clubs, schools and colleges with their current planning and scheduling. There will be further information and guidance to support competitive playing opportunities and local fixtures for the Age Grade game shortly.

Adult Rugby

The adult league season (Level 3 & below for men, Level 2 & below for women) will not commence in October. The next announcement about when league rugby will commence for these levels will be on 2 October.Other Important UpdatesManaging visitors to your clubIt is important to recognise the different requirements of managing other attendees at your venue.

The below supplementary information regarding spectators and visitors has been made available by the Government. This aligns to the restarting of grassroots rugby guidance we issued on Saturday 8 August. Clubs must continue to work within these guidelines to ensure that all facility, pre-activity and other general operation practices are safe and appropriate.

Clubs should also ensure they are appropriately set up and prepared for safely welcoming other clubs, supporters, parents, and other spectators to their venues, following the Government’s social distancing guidelines, which you can read below. Outdoors you can meet in a group of up to six people from different households, or in larger groups if everyone is exclusively from one or two households – although social distancing must still be maintained with people who you do not live with unless they are in your support bubble.

Where it is anticipated that an activity will attract spectators, there should be a named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 Secure. The person(s) should carry out and publish a risk assessment for the activity which limits the number of spectators and focuses on the need to maintain social distancing on arrival, for the duration of the activity, and on departure.

Arrangements should also be put in place to support test and trace efforts by collecting information from spectators which is detailed enough to allow NHS Test and Trace to contact them if necessary. Read the maintaining records guidance section below for further information.Government Guidelines Records GuidanceHiring out your venueClubs are reminded that they are responsible for ensuring that anyone hiring their venue adheres to the Government’s coronavirus (Covid-19) and RFU guidelines. In addition, all rugby activities undertaken must be restricted to what is permitted at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. Clubs in enhanced lockdown areas must also comply with any additional local restrictions. Any breach of the guidelines may invalidate insurance and could be in breach of both RFU and government regulations.Join the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends in SeptemberThe countdown is on to prepare for the forthcoming NatWest Rugbyforce weekend, which takes place on 5/6 September. More than 800 clubs will use this activity to improve their facilities ready for the Pitch Up for Rugby weekend on 12/13 September, when club members and visitors can enjoy playing and/or watching touch and Ready4Rugby on the pitch. You can register for the weekend.

More information on the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends is also available below, along with a helpful guide. You can also view the on demand webinar which provides tips on how to successfully promote your event. Our top five tips include:

Tip 1 - Understand your audience

Your marketing plan should be understanding of your audience and how your product, service or in this case, event will appeal to them.

Tip 2 - Connect with your local community

An important audience is the wider local community and in particular local businesses.

Tip 3 - Start talking about the event

Once you know you're going to run an event then get the information out there as soon as you can.

Tip 4 - Be part of the big moments

Local media is a great way to promote your event and reach new people in your local community.

Tip 5 - What's next

There will be plenty of activity on all England Rugby channels from now until after the Pitch Up for Rugby weekend, so make sure you’re part of the conversation.Helpful Guide More InformationGet involved in the #PitchUpForRugby Photo ChallengeAs part of our #PitchUpForRugby celebration we’re asking the rugby community to celebrate the sport’s return by sharing their best grassroots photos. We’d like clubs, players and fans to get involved in our #PitchUpForRugby photo challenge. All you need to do is post your favourite grassroots rugby photo on Twitter or Instagram, tag a friend to do the same and use the hashtag #PitchUpForRugby between 8-13 September.

Please also ask your players to post their photos too as throughout that week we will be sharing lots of the photos that are posted on England Rugby’s social media channels.Local lockdown guidelinesClubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with their local authorities. We are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby, clubs should follow the NGB guidelines.

Clubs may need to limit their activities in line with any local restrictions and all are advised to consult with the local authority in which their facilities are located should they be in any doubt. Information regarding any new local lockdown restrictions will be posted on the Government website below. We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union. You can read more information on the Government local lockdown updates.

The following local restrictions are currently in place:

Clubs in Leicester City are currently restricted to groups of no more than six in socially distanced activity and hence must remain at Stage B on the Return to Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. Read the Leicester City detailed guidance.

In Northampton, an outbreak of Covid-19 has been identified at certain Greencore factories. Any club member who has undertaken work in affected areas listed in the guidance, and the people they live with (or have formed a support bubble with), should self-isolate at home for the recommended periods specified and should not visit a rugby club. Read the detailed Northampton Guidance issued on Monday 31 August.

Currently, all clubs in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire, Preston, and West Yorkshire can continue to operate at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap as the Government website makes it clear that sports that have action plans approved by Government may continue to operate as per NGB guidelines. Read the North of England guidance.

It is important that clubs in Blackburn with Darwen, Oldham and Pendle read local authority guidance as different restrictions may apply, depending on the location of a rugby club. Read the Government guidance.

In Oldham and the following parts of Blackburn with Darwen, clubs can operate at Stage D on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap: Blackburn South & Lower Darwen, Blackburn South East, Darwen East, Darwen South, Darwen West, Ewood, Livesey with Pleasington, Mill Hill & Moorgate, West Pennine.

There are wider restrictions in place in Pendle, but the Whitefield, Walverden, Southfield, Bradley, Clover Hill, Brierfield, Marsden areas in the wards of Nelson and Brierfield have additional restrictions and clubs are currently restricted to groups of no more than six in socially distanced activity and hence must remain at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

However, additional restrictions have been introduced in the following areas of Blackburn with Darwen which mean that residents should not socialise with people that they do not live with and, therefore, no rugby activity should take place outside your family bubble until local authority advice changes.

Blackburn with Darwen - (areas affected): Audley & Queen’s Park, Bastwell & Daisyfield, Billinge & Beardwood, Blackburn Central, Little Harwood & Whitebirk, Roe Lee, Shear Brow & Corporation Park, Wensley Fold.

Please see local authority guidance below:

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Oldham Council

Pendle Borough CouncilWebinar, workshops and podcastsRunning your Club – Virtual Workshops September to November 2020The first of the next round of Club Matters Workshops will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 2 September. This Volunteer Experience Workshop will provide top tips on recruiting, retaining and rewarding volunteer, and you can register below.

The second workshop, Planning for the Future, will take place on Wednesday 16 September. This workshop identifies how to effectively plan and develop specific objectives to enable your club to tackle key issues and become sustainable, register below to take part.

Each workshop will take place between 6.30pm to 8.30pm and places are limited to 18 attendees, allocated on a first come, first served basis. You can discover all the details of the workshops.Club Matters Planning WorkshopUsing GMS for Start of the Season Club Tasks - 3 September at 7pmThis webinar will build on last month’s introduction to Player Profile & Age Grade Registration. We will update progress since the July Webinar and also on further enhancements to the Help Portal. We will also discuss how clubs can utilise GMS effectively for online membership payments, club communications and team management tasks.

Register below both to join the event and to view on demand after the webinar has finished.RegisterCatch up on previous webinarsFor 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 WebinarsThe Eddie Jones Coaching PodcastIn this latest podcast, Joe Schmidt, former Ireland and Leinster head coach, speaks about his journey from being an English teacher who also coached some basketball to coaching at the highest level leading Ireland to three Six Nations titles.Listen Now

Rugby community doing great thingsIn 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.

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

Distribution list: Tuesday 18 August

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updatePlease find below the thirty-sixth edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

We have provided a reminder that we are at Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, of our advice to clubs in local lockdown areas and that in September the NatWest Rugby Force weekend will take place on the 5th/6th, followed by the Pitch Up for Rugby weekend on the 12th/13th.

There’s also a last 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 headlinesUpdate on the return to community rugbyWe remain at Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

If they wish to, the rugby community can now 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.

The return is initially through 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. Other touch rugby activity (including O2 Touch centres) will also be able to recommence.Join the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends in SeptemberHaving reached Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, let’s celebrate in September, with NatWest Rugbyforce on weekend of 5th and 6th, when more than 800 clubs will improve facilities ready for the following weekend’s Pitch Up for Rugby on 12th and 13th.

During the Pitch Up for Rugby weekend players will enjoy touch and Ready4Rugby on the pitch. Make sure you register here and read this helpful guide.

Clubs should only take part in these activities if they feel ready to do so.

Join our webinar at 7pm on Thursday 20 August to get advice and tips on making both of the September weekends a success. Click below to register.

More information on the NatWest Rugby Force and Pitch Up for Rugby weekends is also available below.Webinar More InformationLocal lockdown guidelinesClubs are reminded that the powers around local restrictions lie with local authorities. We are advised that unless local restrictions specifically mention restrictions on team sports and/or rugby clubs should follow the NGB guidelines.

Currently, all clubs in North lockdown areas can continue to operate at Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap as the government website makes it clear that those sports that have action plans approved by government may continue to operate as per NGB guidelines.

North of England local restrictions - read

However, clubs in Leicester are currently restricted to groups of no more than 6 in socially distanced activity and hence must remain at Stage B.

Leicester local restrictions - read

All 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. Information regarding any new local lockdown restrictions will be posted on the government website below. We will provide an update to the game if there is any change in guidance to playing rugby union.Lockdown NewsOther important updatesDiversity and InclusionTime is running out to complete the survey before the deadline of 11.59pm on Wednesday 19 August 2020. If you haven’t already done so, please give your feedback by clicking on the link below and also share it with other members of your club or constituency.

Findings from our survey will inform the development of a new Diversity and Inclusion Plan, which will be published in the autumn.Take SurveyAdult Male Future Competition StructureThe Future Competitions Structure Group (FCS) has released a Recommendation Paper regarding the adult male competitions structure (English Club Championship Level 3 and below), for implementation in the 2021/22 season. This follows frequent engagement with the game over the last nine months and the collection of extensive evidence, both providing critical insight into the challenges identified. Click below to read the plan.

Your feedback is welcomed ahead of any RFU Council decision on 2 October 2020. Please click below to give your views. Please also share with your members so that they can have their say too.

Please contact Competitions-Development@RFU.com if you have any questions.Read Plan Take SurveyOther important updatesTraining Course Updates - August 2020Face to face training courses will re-start when it is safe to do so, and when the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap has progressed sufficiently for us to carry out components of the training courses such as use of tag belts, simulated tackle and scrummaging.

As we have not yet progressed into any contact or tag rugby, the Kids First webinar courses planned for August have been pushed back.

TackleSafe and new Headcase eLearning courses are due to go live by the end of August.

As announced last week, the new Introduction to Safeguarding eLearning course is live. Please register below.RegisterEddie Jones’ webinar series - Leading High Performing and Effective Rugby Environments in the Adult GameJoin 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 – just click on the date to register:

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.

Given the level of interest in the webinar we ask that there are no more than five representatives from each club. Please share the invite with those who might be interested.

Once all the events have taken place, an on demand version will be made available on englandrugby.com.Running your Club – Virtual Workshops September to November 2020The first of the next round of Club Matters workshops will take place on 2 September between 6.30-8.30pm. Titled Volunteer Experience, this workshop will aim to provide top tips in recruiting, retaining and rewarding volunteers. Places are limited to 18 attendees, allocated on a first come, first served basis. Click below to discover details of all of the workshops and also to register for the 2 September event.Workshop Details RegisterCatch up on previous webinarsFor 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 WebinarsOther important newsRe-open right with BritvicBritvic, Official Soft Drink Supplier to England Rugby want to Pitch In and help rugby clubs across the country to re-start their businesses by ensuring they have all the support and information at hand, making the re-opening of on-trade and bar operations as smooth as possible. Just click on the Britvic Sensational Drinks portal below to access the latest trends, guides and advice to help your club recover from lockdown and move towards growing your business, making more money from your returning players and supporters.Britvic PortalRugby community doing great thingsToday we highlight the merger of East Dorset RFC and Dorset Dockers who have become East Dorset Dockers, a development which will help grow the player pool. Click here to read more.

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.

Distribution list: Tuesday 11 August

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updatePlease 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 headlinesUpdate on the return to community rugbyLast 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 jamesmaden@rfu.com, 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 guidelinesAs 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 opportunityThe 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 7pmRugby is back - we call on clubs across the country to join the celebrationsThe 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 InformationWe want to hear your views about Diversity and InclusionOur 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 SurveyOther important updatesWebinars: Volunteers and law & zero hour contracts - Thursday 13 August 7pm - 8pmThis 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.RegisterEddie Jones’ webinar series - Leading High Performing and Effective Rugby Environments in the Adult GameWe 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

Distribution list: Tuesday 28 July

Constituent Bodies Chairs, Constituent Bodies Honorary Secretaries, Constituent Bodies Treasurers,

Club Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, TreasurersCoronavirus (Covid-19) updatePlease find below the thirty-third edition of our coronavirus (Covid-19) update.

Having submitted our Return to Community Rugby Action Plan to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ('DCMS'), we hope to announce a move to Stage C on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap soon. We have also announced dates for the NatWest RugbyForce Weekend.

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 headlinesReturn to community rugby updateWe remain at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. However, we have submitted our Return to Community Rugby Action Plan to the DCMS so we hope to have some positive news soon about the potential move to the next stage.NatWest RugbyForce confirmed for 5 & 6 SeptemberWe are pleased to announce that NatWest RugbyForce Weekend is returning on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September to support clubs as they get ready for the return of rugby.

NatWest RugbyForce Weekend provides the perfect opportunity to call on your volunteers to help get your facilities in great shape, to welcome back the community as we work towards a return to play.

This year, NatWest is offering more help to support the rugby community. If you haven’t already registered, by pledging to get involved, your club could be eligible 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 your club is already registered, we’ll have been in contact with details of your grant. All that’s left to do is start planning.

Rest assured, we will continue to monitor government updates and all activities will fall within guidelines present at the time of the event and we will provide support and guidance in the coming weeks on how to run your event safely.RegisterOther important updatesWebinars and podcastsEmployment basics for rugby clubs - Thursday 6 August at 7pm-8pmThis webinar run by our legal partner, Irwin Mitchell, will answer your employment law questions on the basics of employing and engaging people at your club.

Please note, as the official legal partner to England Rugby, Irwin Mitchell will be taking over the Legal and Tax Helpline from Saturday 1 August. The new legal and tax helpline number is 0333 0100337.

Register for the webinar below and you will be automatically entered into a competition to win a signed England Rugby shirt.RegisterCatch up on previous webinarsFor 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 WebinarsUK Coaching launches its new coach learning Duty to Care ToolkitUK Coaching this week launched its new coach learning Duty to Care Toolkit package, designed to give coaches the confidence to embrace and adjust to the changed coaching landscape.

The toolkit will ensure the nation’s coaches are equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide great coaching experiences to others, and support them as coaches to better look after themselves as they return to coaching after Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Coaches will also be able earn a free nationally recognised ‘digital badge’ to demonstrate to the public they are committed to the principles of Duty to Care (Diversity, Inclusion, Mental Health, Safeguarding and Wellbeing), which underpin great coaching.

Click below to access through the learning and development platform.Duty to Care ToolkitRugby community doing great thingsRugby communities and their members continue to provide support to local their local communities. Today we highlight Wheatley Hills RUFC’s Fin Garner who cleared up the shattered glass from a local bus shelter.Fin Garner

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

RFU Community Game Updates

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