Rule of Six
The Rule of Six and the distancing restrictions we are working to were explained last week (No 244). Following yesterday’s announcement by the Government we will need to adjust these again – the most obvious changes being table service, the requirement for bar staff to wear face-masks and the new closing time (10PM) which applies to routine opening and bookings,. We will keep you informed as things develop and we hope for your cooperation.

Upcoming events
The club will continue to open on Tuesday nights for training and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons for socialising, BBQ and Rugby on TV (from 2.00 onwards).

Age group training will continue on Sunday mornings but external games have been cancelled until 4 October. Track and Trace forms have been issued to coaches but these are not being completed or handing. This is an essential requirement on the club and I hope we can get it right this weekend

Saturday 3 October – club BBQ lunch has been postponed until 5 December, due to Codiv, but the club will be open that day

Regrettably, we have decided to cancel the annual firework and bonfire display planned to be held on 5 November, due to Codiv. The current guidelines prohibit mass gatherings without social distancing and whilst there is still some time to go, the direction is not positive and we would have to commit ourselves to the purchase of nearly £3,000 worth of fireworks and other costs which we might end up not being able to use. The major events at Kenilworth Castle and Warwick Racecourse have also been cancelled

Gym
The good news is that the Gym is now open and we have introduced a new access scheme via a computer linked fob system that will enable entry and monitor use. Paid up playing members and some others paying a membership supplement are entitled to use the gym and will be issued with a fob on request - contact Richard Watkins.

League Structure
Whilst the Titanic has been sinking for the last six months, the RFU Future Competitions Structure Group has been busy reorganising the deck chairs and has released recommendations on the future adult male competitions structure. This is for Level 3 clubs and below (we are at level 7) and is intended for implementation in 2021-22 (next season). It follows widespread consultation within the game and an earlier attempt to change the structure a few years ago which came to grief because of opposition by some clubs – mainly in the north

The RFU sees the adult community game as struggling (in contrast to the ladies and age-group games) with less teams and less players playing and therefore in need of a re-vamp. It sees its proposals as protecting the health of the game, meeting the needs of current and future players, striking a new balance within the competitive framework, reducing travel and protecting the sustainability of clubs

Recent analysis show that players are playing less. At first team level they play approximately 15 league games. Some leagues have up to 26 games and the average number of players needed to complete a league season is 43. As more players are needed to stock the first team, more pressure is placed on lower sides with increased cancellations. Players evidently want less games and more variety through cups. Non-players consulted tend to favour keeping the current number of games because of club viability. The proposals are -

• To reduce league sizes in some cases and flatten the structure by having more leagues at some levels
• To have designated league-break weekends
• To minimise travelling to away games
• To recognise the importance of knock-out rugby to add variety and excitement – cups will be re-vamped and held at the end of the season
• To reduce the numbers of promotions and relegations to provide more stability for clubs. Promotion will continue to be automatic for league winners
• To allow lower XVs (i.e. second and third teams) entry into the leagues up to Level 7

Details of the proposed structured season are shown in full on the RFU website, but the changes most likely to impact on us at Level 7 are -

• Level 6 – nationally the number of leagues will increase from 8 to 12 and the number of games will go down from 26 to 22. A new Cup will be introduced. It looks as though more teams will be promoted to this level

• Level 7 and below will have a minimum of 16 leagues playing either 22 or 18 games. Level 7 may well stay unchanged at 22. There will be revamped cup competitions. The leagues will need to include provision for “lower sides “

The most controversial change is lower XVs entering the leagues. The RFU claims that overall, the game supports the principle but that it is stronger among players than clubs and there are differences at the different levels. The rules of participation have not been clarified and there are all sorts of questions about which lower sides would be involved - would they include clubs in the national/regional leagues? would players be able to play in more than one league in the same season? how would the existing rules on paying players at different levels apply? and will community clubs be squeezed out and their best players leave to play for stronger, lower XVs from professional or semi-professional clubs?

Feedback is requested. Nothing much has been said about how this will run on from the current season, given Covid-19 and the potential abandonment or reduction of the current season. Let me know if you want to express your view

johnlizlyons@btopenworld.com