Yorkshire RFU has two Representatives who are elected by the Clubs in the County to sit on the RFU Council. They also participate in Sub-Committees of the RFU which report to the Community Game Board. Keep checking back on a monthly basis as your Reps keep you up to date with relevant matters from the RFU.

March 2021

 

RFU Council is due to meet on Friday, 16th April. CGB is scheduled to meet again on 8th April to receive the Community Rugby Injury Surveillance & Prevention Project (CRISP) results prior to Council. The next formal meeting of CGB is not until 23rd June, although it will undoubtably have some interim meetings.

 

RFU Council Representative Election – as many will be aware congratulations go to Ted Atkinson and Joe Bedford who were elected as RFU Council Representatives for the next 3 years. 

 

RFU Chairman/Independent Non-Executive Director – sadly, Andy Cosslett’s term of office as RFU Chairman finishes at the end of this season, as does Helen Weir who is an Independent Director.  The Board Nominations Committee advertised for and interviewed a number of candidates before recommending Tom Ilobe as the new chairman and Polly Williams as an Independent Non-Executive Director.  Both came with impressive CVs and records of involvement with a number of organisations and the appointments were ratified unanimously be RFU Council.  Both will begin their posts on 01 August and currently and induction schedule is being designed.

 

Return to Rugby – finally, we can see some light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.  It was excellent to see plenty of pictures of clubs returning to training and we can see that clubs and players were thankful to be back on the pitch. Hopefully, the good progress will continue and April will see the return of competitive games.

The RFU is currently in negotiation with the Department for Media, Culture and Sport regarding the next stage of exit from lockdown with use of changing rooms and opening of clubhouse facilities top of the list for discussion.  As ever, details will be announced through the Community Rugby Update so please keep up to date.

 

Women’s 6 Nations – Once again it is wonderful to welcome the Red Roses back to Yorkshire, although unfortunately we will be unable to watch them in person. However, the game versus Scotland will be available on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, 3rd April live from Castle Park, Doncaster. Kick off is 3:00 p.m.

The following week (10/04), England travel to Italy with the game in Padova kicking off at 2:00 p.m. It will also be shown on BBC iPlayer.  The Finals weekend will be a first for Women’s Rugby with the match (opponents to be determined) scheduled on BBC 2. Kick off is at 2:00 p.m.

Finally, England travel to France on 30/04 for an exhibition game. This kicks off at the later time of 8:00 p.m. and will, once again, be live on BBC iPlayer.

Good Luck in all the Games.

 

Winter Support Fund Grants – congratulations to those clubs in Yorkshire who applied for and were awarded these Grants.  Note, that this was Government  Funding administered by the RFU and that a separate facility (to be announced) for loans will be available shortly.  In total 329 clubs throughout the RFU were awarded a grant with a further group of clubs still to be considered. The RFU estimates that Rugby Union will receive between £17 & 18 million pounds of grant funding.

 

 

Activities in March (Jim Chapman)

 

Date

01

RFU Council – ratification of RFU Chairman/ Independent Non-Executive Director

Future Competitions Structures Group

Adult Competitions Advisory Grouo

02

England Colleges RFU Board Meeting

Community Game Board

03

RFU Council Board Members – update to Council

04

Competitions Development Sub-Committee

RFU Council – update on Women & Girls Strategy

08

Community Game Board

10

RFU Council – Community Update

11

County Championship Review Groups

12

CGB – Future Competitions Review Update

15

Future Competitions Structures Group

17

Future Competitions Structures – presentation to RFU Council

18

Future Competitions Structures Group

22

Future Competitions Structures Group

Adult Competitions Advisory Group

24

Community Game Board

County Championship Review Group

30

RFU Nominations Committee – Interview

YRFU Competitions Sub-Committee

RFU Council – debate on Player Tracking

31

RFU Council – Community Rugby Update

Area D/North Forum

 

Activities in March (Ted Atkinson)

 

Date

02

Community Game Board – Nominations observation

03

RFU Council Board Members – update to Council

04

RFU  Council – update on Women & Girls Strategy

08

Awards Meeting

10

RFU Nominations Committee

East District Meeting

15

RFU Council– presentation on Future Competitions Structures`

17

Player Development Sub-Committee

18

Central district Meeting

23

RFU Nominations Committee

31

RFU Council – Community Rugby Update

Area D/North Forum

 

Ted Atkinson & Jim Chapman

March 2021

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February 2021

 

RFU Council is due to meet on Friday, 16th April. CGBis scheduled to meet again on 2nd March where it will continue to look at the vexed issue of budgets for season 21/22.

 

 

Once again, both Jim and Ted hope that you are Staying Safe and Staying Healthy.
Thankfully the Prime Minister’s announcement on February 22nd could see the Return to Rugby begin on 29th March meaning that some form of competitive rugby will be available during April.

 

Return to Rugby – as mentioned above we are hopeful that we can return to some form of rugby from the beginning of April.  At the time of writing it is unclear what this means and the RFU is currently in conversation with Government (in particular the Department for Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS]) as to what form of rugby this will include and what the ramifications for player behaviour and clubhouse management this will take.  However, a year has gone by since society entered some form of lockdown and we hope that all clubs will embrace the opportunity to indulge in some form of rugby before the summer months. 

It is also worth mentioning that the RFU is also in consultation with other sports – football, cricket, hockey etc., to try and organise an orderly return to community sport that benefits all national governing bodies, players and administrators alike.

Lookout for further announcements in the coming days and, remember, the RFU is here to support your club as it returns to some form of normality. The Community Game Update will be the main form of communication between the RFU and Clubs and clubsupport@rfu.com should be your first port of call if you require specific help on any matters.

 

Professional Sport and Re-Opening of Grounds – again, we are hopeful that the Championship will return to play on 6th March. The Championship has been divided into two conferences and (with the exception of London Scottish who have withdrawn) will play within these conferences. At the end of that phase of the competition there will be a playoff to determine who (could) be promoted to the Premiership.  There will be no relegation from the Championship  this season and no promotion from National League One (whose league competition has been suspended for this season).

The decision of RFU Council to suspend relegation from the Premiership was taken due to the current pandemic.  It was considered to be inequitable that a club could be relegated because of the pandemic and the requirement to cancel matches because of infections.  The RFU are now in consultation with both the Premiership and Championship regarding future promotion/relegation but it is important to note that any proposals in this area would be subject to approval by RFU Council and will be subject to close scrutiny.

As you will have read there is a likelihood that professional sports grounds will be able to re-admit spectators. Again, at the time of writing the actual details are still to be confirmed but it is hoped that Twickenham will, once again, be able to welcome supporters at the end of this season.

 

Community Rugby Budgets – it will come as no surprise to report that monies will be tight in the coming financial year. As yet NO BUDGET has been set by the Community Game Board/RFU Board and it is likely to another month at least before any announcement is made.  We will attempt to keep you up to date with any announcements that are forthcoming.

 

RFU Council Representatives Election – As many of you will be aware RFU Council Reps now serve for a 3 year term and it is 3 years since the last election.  This means that an election will be held this year with the successful candidates being able to stand until 2024. Yorkshire RFU elects TWO representatives to the RFU Council.  The deadline for nominations (proposed and seconded by two clubs) is the end of February with the process carrying on throughout March and the outcome being communicated to both clubs and the RFU on 1st April.  Firstly, we hope that all clubs will become involved in the process – remember, it is the clubs and not the Constituent Body that elect the Council Representatives. The CB (in this case Yorkshire) has two votes as does every club within Yorkshire who are members of the RFU.  We hope that you will take time to read the candidate manifestos and that you will take part in the Hustings Meeting on 17th March before casting your votes prior to 28th March. 

Secondly, Jim Chapman writes : “When the ballot paper for RFU Council Representatives comes out my name will not be on it. As you will know Council Members now have a three year term and are allowed to be elected three times, giving them a possible full term of 9 years.  I was first elected to the RFU Council in 2011 and have, therefore served for 10 years !!  Under transitional arrangements I could have stood for election but only for one year before being forced to stand down.  I have, therefore, taken the decision not to stand at this election but to make way for another person to serve for the next three seasons (and possibly longer).

The past 10 years have been an incredible experience for me.  Not least has been the honour of being allowed to represent the views of Yorkshire clubs at the “top table”. That has been an absolute privilege and, whilst I do not fool myself that everyone within the CB will applaud the decisions of the RFU during that period, I always tried to reflect the views of clubs in coming to a decision. I hope I leave the Game in Yorkshire in a better place than it was ten years ago.

The last twelve months have, obviously, been unprecedented and it is with some sadness that I will not be able to participate in the recovery of the Game throughout the County. I am sure the Game will recover, hopefully stronger than it was twelve months ago.  I wish you all well and Thank You for the work you do.   I have made some wonderful aquaintances over the past 10 years and hope that we will meet each other again.”

 

Activities in February (Jim Chapman)

 

Date

01

YRFU – Committee Meeting

03

Future Competitions Structure – Group Meeting

04

RFU Council - Pre-Council Debate

05

RFU Council

08

Adult Competitions Advisory Group

09

Community Game Board

10

Future Competitions Structure – Group Meeting

County Championship Review Group

11

RFU Council – Community Rugby Update

12

RFU Council – Additional Meeting

16

Payment of Players Working Group

17

YRFU – Strategy Development Meeting

18

RFU Council – Community Rugby update

24

County Championship Review Group

 

Activities in January (Ted Atkinson)

 

Date

01

YRFU – Committee Meeting

04

RFU Council Pre-meeting Debate

05

RFU Council

08

Awards Meeting

11

Age-Grade and Education Sub-Committee

17

YRFU – Strategy Development Meeting

18

RFU Council – Community Rugby Update

 

Ted Atkinson & Jim Chapman

February 2021

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