Roadmap released for return
The RFU has released its 2021 Return to Community Rugby Roadmap in line with the government’s plans to get out of lockdown.
The roadmap consists of six steps to guide coaches and players through the return process from the current Stage A to Ready4rugby, O2 Touch and limited contact training sessions at the end of March, to full contact matches anticipated in June.
As clubs gear up for the 2021/22 season, clubs will be able to host adult-team friendlies during the summer before beginning the campaign in September - should the COVID-19 infection rate remain under control.
From March 29, community rugby clubs may hold contact sessions - excluding scrums and mauls - and host Ready4rugby, O2 Touch and tag rugby matches between clubs.
Contact should be built incrementally and RFU guidance states that training sessions should not exceed 20 minutes of contact at this stage.
After four weeks of contact training to allow players to build fitness, matches with adapted laws - no scrums or mauls - will be permitted against other clubs from April 26 (Stage D2). It will be the clubs’ and players’ individual choice as to whether they play adapted contact or continue with Ready4rugby, O2 Touch or tag rugby.
Once Step 3 on the government roadmap is reached, it is planned that community rugby will move to full contact training - including scrums and mauls (Stage E1). Two weeks after Stage E1, full contact matches can begin (Stage E2).
Community rugby will then move into he final Stage F when the government roadmap reaches Step 4, provisionally in June, when all remaining restrictions are set to be lifted.
The current age grade match season will end on May 31 but age grade out of season regulations will be suspended for 2021 and replaced with a range of permitted non-contact and contact training and playing. That is to support player safety, contact preparation and player retention. The process for 17-year-olds playing adult rugby is suspended until January 1, 2022.
The 2021/22 season will also see the shift to the next set og age group rules delayed until January 1 as well. For example, under-10s in the 2021/22 season will play under-9 rules before Christmas and under10 rules after Christmas.
RFU rugby development director Steve Grainger said: “This is fantastic news for the community game and we are pleased to be able to publish our plan for a phased return to full contact rugby.
“It’s wonderful to see light at the end of the tunnel and we are as delighted as clubs and players across the country that they will soon be able to resume training and, subject to each step on government’s roadmap being achieved, progress towards an exciting season of rugby for 2021/22 from September.
“Over the next couple of weeks, we will share detailed stage-bystage guidance to make the return to rugby as simple and as safe as possible as we progress through the stages.
“As during lockdown, we will continue to run webinars for coaches, players, match officials and volunteers to prepare for the return. Guidance will include advice for coaches on how to gradually and safely reintroduce contact, as well as ways to re-engage players and develop their skills over the coming months.
“As more guidance is published by government, we will provide facilities guidance to ensure clubs are in the best possible position when they’re able to re-open their clubhouses.”