"Following Government’s announcement last week that outdoor team sport can resume from Wednesday 2 December, we are delighted to confirm that Government has today approved our submission to return to 15-a-side contact rugby, with some adaptations.

Further detail on these adaptations and associated laws will follow tomorrow (Tuesday 1st December). However, they are briefly summarised below:

• There will be no scrums or mauls in the game

• 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

What does this mean clubs can now do?

• Clubs can resume adapted training for 15-a-side contact rugby again from this Wednesday. Further detail to follow tomorrow.

• Clubs can resume friendly fixtures from Friday 18 December - this is to allow players to prepare properly and safely, having not been training over the past month.

• Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby if they have matches coming up from 2 December to 18 December and beyond. There is no obligation to play adapted 15-a-side contact fixtures.

Further detail to follow

Further Government guidance is expected today on travel, changing, spectators and clubhouses.

We will be working overnight to interpret this information and will provide a detailed briefing in tomorrow’s CGU, on the Coronavirus Hub and Club Support Centre, together with more information about adaptations to the game."

This appears to be a significant and positive step forward for the game.

As a club we will review all the information when we receive it tomorrow and communicate our plans or any arrangements moving forward.