1. THE ONLY TRAINING ACTIVITY CURRENTLY PERMITTED IS IN A MAX GROUP SIZE OF 6. THE RFU WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANY CLUBS IN BREACH OF THIS – PLEASE DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO CIRCUMVENT THESE REGULATIONS AS THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CLUB MAY BE SERIOUS.

2. A MINIMUM OF 4 WEEKS NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN BETWEEN COMMENCEMENT OF FULL CONTACT TRAINING AND FULL CONTACT MATCH PLAY.

3. COMMENCEMENT OF MATCH PLAY REMAINS A DISTANT AMBITION. THERE WILL BE NO LEAGUE FIXTURES FOR ASPATRIA AT LEVEL 7 DURING SEPTEMBER. A FURTHER UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED ON 1ST SEPTEMBER.

FULL RFU STATEMENT

In line with many other NGBs of sport, we have submitted our action plan to government in an effort to accelerate the return of some rugby activity. We are awaiting approval of this and hence we currently remain at Stage B on our Return to Community Roadmap.

This means the only activity permitted is socially distanced non-contact activity in maximum group sizes of 6. For avoidance of doubt, this means no scrum training, tackle training or any other form of contact rugby and also means that touch and tag activity is not permitted.

Any breach of this may invalidate insurance and is in breach of both RFU and government regulation. Clubs in enhanced lockdown areas must also comply with any additional local restrictions.

Having undertaken the required exposure risk analysis of face to face contact within game and training situations, our action plan to government is focused on a staged return, commencing with non-contact rugby - initially restricted to activity within individual clubs and focused on Ready4Rugby, a 10-a-side variant of touch rugby.

We will monitor this over the first few weeks and, subject to satisfactory implementation, would then look to permit inter-club activity using approved non-contact formats. In parallel with this, we will be considering the potential for some adaptations to the high-risk elements of contact rugby to see whether appropriate mitigations can be introduced (a subsequent exposure risk analysis on this would have to be approved by government). If this proves possible we would again introduce this gradually, initially through training and subsequently in inter-club matches.

This would then continue until it is deemed safe, and appropriate government permissions are in place, to move back to full contact rugby – at least four weeks being in place between commencement of full contact training and match play for full contact rugby.

Update on adult league rugby

As stated above, we are at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. We have to reach Stage F (which will not be reached until at least four weeks after Stage E) before full contact competitive league rugby can commence.

As a result of the current position, the adult league season (Level 3 & below for men, Level 2 & below for women) will not commence in September. Unless there is a dramatic improvement in the prevalence of the virus in the community, the next announcement about when league rugby will commence for these levels will be on 1 September.

The fixtures previously published will be amended at the earliest opportunity and this will be communicated to clubs.

Update on age grade - national competitions

In line with the announcement about adult league rugby, there will be no age grade national competition matches in September. A further announcement will be made on 1 September.