RFU Council is now receiving fortnightly updates from the Chief Executive and Development Director. RFU Council met virtually on 27th November with CGB having met on 13th November. Further meetings are planned for 2021 with CGB due to meet on January 27th and Council on February 5th.
Once again, both Jim and Ted hope that you are Staying Safe and Staying Healthy. We are, currently, trying to assess what Rugby will look like following the period of National Lockdown and a return to the Tier System.
Return to Rugby – An enormous amount of work has been undertaken by central RFU Staff on getting rugby back on to the pitch. Staff have been in almost daily (and sometimes more) contact with Government and as we emerge from the latest lockdown things (at last) look promising. From Weds December 2nd we will return to Stage D on the Return to Rugby Roadmap. This is regardless of which tier you find yourself placed in. The RFU is currently asking Government for further clarification regarding travel restrictions between tiers, use of changing rooms etc. These will be clearly communicated to clubs once known.
It is then hoped that a set of adaptive laws will be approved by Government. In the New Year we should be able to operate the cluster system that all clubs received earlier this month and return to full contact rugby.. Obviously, the roadmap will be determined by the reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases and the further developments of vaccines.
PLEASE NOTE : the adaped laws are NOT those currently employed by the Allianz 15s (Women’s Premiership) – see below.
It is hoped that the Championship (Doncaster Knights) will resume on 16/01/2021.
Adapted Laws - In discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) who also consulted with Public Health England (PHE) it is, not unsurprisingly, areas where people come it to close contact that concerned them the most about Rugby Union. The RFU Laws Sub-Committee therefore put a proposal to World Rugby for adapted laws surrounding the scrum and the maul. After approval these were submitted to DCMS and we are hopeful that they will be accepted allowing us to return to contact rugby.
Basically (and obviously much more detail will be supplied by the RFU) the adapted laws replace all instances of the scrum (e.g. following a knock on, or forward pass etc. ) with a free kick. Secondly, if the ball is taken into contact then the attacking side will be required to make the ball available immediately (rather than allowing a maul to develop).
Future Competitions Structures – since the last Council Meeting the decision was made to cancel the 20/21 league season when it became obvious that we would not have the opportunity to complete a number of games which would constitute a meaningful season, The future Competitions Structures Group met and recommended the four principles below which were placed before Council and passed by a large majority in each case.
1. A target date for FCS implementation of season 2022/23.
2. From implementation of the FCS: the size of leagues at Levels 5 and below be
capped at 12, the size of Leagues at Levels 3 & 4 be capped at 14, and the structured
season will contain a protected two-week break over the Christmas period and
protected weekend breaks (at points to be determined through the season).
3. That, subject to agreement on Resolution 2, optional National Knockout Cup(s) be
introduced.
4. That a rapid review of competition structures will take place every 3 years
The Group continues to meet and will place further resolutions before Council at the February Meeting.
Autumn Nations Cup – Final, Sunday 6th December. 2:00 p.m. Kick Off – England v France – as you will no doubt have read in the Press 2,000 seats are being made available at Twickenham for this match which will include 400 seats provided free of charge to NHS Staff. Sadly, if you are in Tier 3 following the lifting of National Lockdown you are not allowed to attend the match. Even though you may not be able to attend the match will be broadcast on Amazon Prime. We hope that by the time the 6 Nations comes around restrictions will be further lifted and more people will be able to attend.
Activities in November (Jim Chapman)
|
Date |
|
|
02 |
Meeting with Andrew Soutar (Area D CB Relationship Manager) |
|
07 |
North Yorkshire District Meeting |
|
11 |
RFU Council Update Future Competitions Structure Webinar (RFU Council) |
|
13 |
Community Game Board |
|
17 |
England Colleges RFU – Board Meeting |
|
18 |
RFU Elected Board Members – Update Meeting |
|
23 |
Payment of Players Review Group |
|
25 |
Area D (Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham, Cheshire, Lancashire & Yorkshire) Meeting |
|
26 |
RFU Council pre-Meeting |
|
27 |
RFU Council Meeting |
Activities in November (Ted Atkinson)
|
Date |
|
|
02 |
Meeting with Andrew Soutar (Area D CB Relationship Manager) |
|
03 |
RFU Nominations Committee |
|
04 |
RFU Nominations Committee Player Development Sub-Committee |
|
10 |
North Yorkshire district Sub-Committee |
|
11 |
RFU Council – Update Future Competitions Structure – Webinar (RFU Council) |
|
18 |
RFU Elected Board Members – Update Meeting |
|
25 |
Area D (Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham, Cheshire, Lancashire & Yorkshire) Meeting |
|
26 |
Education & Age Grade Sub-Committee RFU Council pre-Meeting |
|
27 |
RFU Council Meeting |
|
30 |
New England Rose for 150 years - Meeting |
Ted Atkinson & Jim Chapman
November 2020
