Age grade out of season and holiday activities

The Department of Education (DfE) has recently updated information on out-of-school hours and holiday activity. We confirm this enables clubs and other providers who wish to do so, to proceed with holiday activities from the end of the school term for children in the age grade game (under 18 years old).

As with every off-season, the focus should be on broad multi-skill/sport activity and keeping people connected. A ratio of up to 15 players per 1 adult/coach is allowed by DfE. However, it is essential, to maintain social distancing and player welfare and safeguarding requirements, as well as to ensure club insurance remains valid, that:

• Any rugby-specific elements fully align with the guidance (including players per coach) for our current position at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

• All activity is in line with the requirements of RFU Regulation 15 including 15.8 Out of Season requirements, 15.9 Approvals and the Age Grade Playing Calendar and the recommendations of the RFU Safeguarding Policy

• Facilities and activities are risk assessed and planned in detail using the latest Return to Play tools/templates and checklists in the Age Grade Rugby Code of Practice 6 as a guide

Clubs need to ensure these points are also applied to any third party providers being hosted at their facilities and that they have their own insurance in place. We will continue to update this guidance alongside our work to confirm our NGB Action Plan with the UK Government shortly