Community Game Update – October 2020
Welcome to the October 2020 Community Game Update. We hope you find the update useful, and if you have any feedback, queries or content that you would like to feature, please email Chris Dodd, Communications Executive (chrisdodd@rfu.com).
Our communications to you are based on the data held in the Game Management System (GMS). To ensure you receive the communications that you want to from the RFU, please check the information held on this system is up to date and active. In addition, if you know of a colleague who should be receiving these updates, but isn’t, please help them to check their details on GMS.
Viewing the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup
The countdown is on for the start of the Quilter Internationals 2020, part of the Autumn Nations Cup. We are actively working with Amazon on a solution for as many clubs as possible to show the matches in their clubhouse. Further details will be announced shortly.
Please note that the Quilter International, England v Ireland on Saturday 21 November will be on Channel 4.
As a reminder, the Quilter Cup: England v Barbarians match on Sunday 25 October is on Sky Sports, the conclusion of the Guinness Six Nations 2020 is on BBC and ITV on the Saturday 31 October and Italy v England in the Women’s Six Nations 2020 on Sunday 1 November is on Sky Sports
Show your club shirt
You may not be able to take your seat at Twickenham this autumn but our clubs and CBs can. We want you to send us one of your shirts to fill a seat at Twickenham as England compete in the Quilter Internationals as part of the Autumn Nations Cup. We want to create a visual representation of all our member clubs and CBs standing together at this time. It’s quick, easy and free to send your team’s shirt in.
We are working with a delivery partner to provide you with free postage, so more details on this and guidelines will be sent out shortly.
By sending your shirt in, you will also be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 signed England shirts for your club or CB.
Join us and show your shirt this autumn at Twickenham
Changes to RFU Regulations
A summary is below highlighting the key changes to the Regulations for the 2020-21 season. As a reminder, the regulations in full can be accessed through RFU Regulations
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Response to World Rugby Transgender Guidance
The RFU along with other nations including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA has not chosen to adopt the World Rugby Transgender Guidelines at this time and will keep its current policy in place for now.
The current policy follows World Rugby’s former transgender guidelines where athletes must apply to the RFU for permission to play. For transgender females this includes providing evidence of testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to application and they must keep their serum testosterone concentration below that level for as long as they wish to play in the female category. All requests are reviewed by a panel including the RFU Head of Regulation & Integrity, RFU Player Welfare Manager and a medical representative appointed by the RFU. It is important to note that we have fewer than ten transgender women currently playing in England and there has been no associated increase in injury.
The ban proposed by World Rugby would mean excluding those people immediately without any ability for them to appeal or for their particular circumstances to be considered individually.
The RFU welcomes the work undertaken by World Rugby however it believes the evidence is not advanced enough for us to be content that a blanket ban could not be challenged.
The RFU wants to keep the welfare of all players at the heart of its decision making. At the same time, rugby has always been an inclusive sport and so when considering this complex subject, we believe we also need to make sure we are taking an approach which supports inclusivity while protecting fairness and safety for female players
The World Rugby Transgender Guidelines have created many sensational headlines and while this is a complex subject that invokes many strong views, it is important to highlight that the RFU response is carefully considered.
As a next step the RFU will work with other Unions to continue to develop scientific work, to answer outstanding questions so that we can develop guidelines that can be implemented globally. Our aim is to work with World Rugby to find a solution that is as inclusive as it can be, whilst achieving fairness and safety for women. The RFU will also undertake further consultation with players in the women’s game to understand their views
Players wearing gloves
Having had numerous queries on players wearing gloves, our previously communicated position was that gloves should not be worn. However, we understand that players may wish to wear them during the cold weather. Our advice is that they are changed for a different pair at least every 15 minutes. Players that wear gloves cannot effectively sanitise the surface of the gloves, increasing the risk of infection and transmission. The key way to reduce the risk of infection and transmission during rugby activity is through regular sanitising of hands
Allianz supporting the women’s game
Allianz Insurance is the new Insurance Partner of England Rugby and the title partner for the Premier 15s, with the official name of the competition being ‘Allianz Premier 15s’.
Allianz is committed to supporting the top-flight women’s domestic rugby competition in England, England Rugby teams and the community game, in line with its commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity and excellence. Allianz Insurance has a long history in rugby and is excited about turning its support and attention to the women and girls’ game which is a strategic priority for the RFU. The partnership with Allianz is expected to accelerate the growth and support the retention of female players over the next 12 months and beyond through increased awareness activities and programmes like Inner Warrior.
The rugby community can expect to hear more about this partnership in the coming months, as we all gear up to the next round of Warrior Camps scheduled to take place in January 2021
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Rugby Development team – New roles
With some significant change, we would like to place our thanks to staff who have left the RFU, we would like to thank each and every one of them for their service during their time here.
This change means we will work differently to still achieve great things in the game. The full structure is attached and in this edition we wanted to profile three roles that are field based that clubs and CB’s may come into contact with.
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England Schools membership 2020-21 season
England Rugby Football Schools Union has removed the need to pay for membership from the start of the 2020-21 season. Instead, schools can now register their membership below, where they need to complete their contact details, as well as pledging to follow RFU Regulations and guidance. If you have not done so, please register your school using this easy process now
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Nominate your club’s Unsung Hero
Nominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s 2020 Unsung Hero awards are now open until Sunday 25 October 2020.
If you know someone at your club who has gone to extraordinary lengths for their local community during an unprecedented year, make sure you put them forward.
Young people aged 15 and under will also be celebrated for the very first time this year thanks to the introduction of the Captain Tom: Young Unsung Hero award.
On the Friday 2 October, we showed our support for East Grinstead in nominating Matt Ratana.
To nominate your Unsung Hero and/or Young Unsung Hero visit the BBC website below
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