The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has confirmed that the Government has approved the governing body’s return to 15-a-side contact rugby. Inevitably, some adaptations are part of the process and these are highlighted below.

This follows the Government’s announcement last week that outdoor team sport can resume as of Wednesday, December 2.

Further detail on the adaptations to the 15-a-side game and associated laws will follow.
However, they are briefly summarised as follows:

• No scrums or mauls
• Where the game would restart with a scrum, this will be replaced with a free kick
• A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout
• Clubs can resume adapted training for 15-a-side contact rugby again as of Wednesday, December 2.
• Clubs can resume friendly fixtures as of Friday, December 18 –which will allow players to prepare properly and safely, and bearing in mind that they haven’t been training over the past month.
• Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby if they have matches coming up from December 2 to 18 and beyond. There is no obligation to play adapted 15-a-side contact fixtures.

Further Government guidance is expected on travel, changing, spectators and clubhouses. The RFU will work to interpret Government information and will provide a detailed briefing.