 Update on Community Game fixtures for this coming weekend and beyond Distribution list: Constituent Bodies Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers, Communications Liaison • Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Fixture Secretaries, Women & Girls Key Contact, Fixture Secretary – Adult Female, Fixture Secretary Assistant – Adult Female Conscious the Christmas period is traditionally one for family time, additional flexibility in regulations for the weekend of 17/18/19 December were proactively communicated as a one-off exception. From this weekend (7/8/9 January), the Covid protocols laid out through Regulation 22 below will be applicable. We are keen to encourage rugby to be played whilst ensuring provisions are in place for those clubs that have genuine and proven Covid-related reasons why they are unable to fulfil a fixture. Therefore, from this weekend, the below applies at level 3 and below in the men’s game and level 2 and below in the women’s game, and age grade rugby where a competition organiser deems appropriate. This will be kept under continual review for the remainder of the season. Fixtures scheduled from the weekend of 7/8/9 January onwards • Matches should go ahead as normal • For a club to postpone a fixture in the Men’s and Women’s English Club Championship (RFU Leagues) they must adhere to the following process: 1. Submit a Covid declaration form with all signatures, to your Divisional Organising Committee and not to your league secretary, National League Rugby, or womenscompetitions@rfu.com as appropriate. 2. Provide all supportive information for the Covid-19 Declaration Form (including an explanation as to why the match should be postponed, including if a team can’t be fielded and why, e.g. details of players testing positive/isolating, including how many players remain available). 3. The decision to accept or decline the postponement will rest with the relevant organising committee or in the case of the Women’s game, the RFU. Clubs should not assume a postponement until advised by the relevant organising committee. Clubs, schools, colleges and universities playing fixtures are advised to take sensible precautions to protect members and players. In line with public health advice, this includes: • Encouraging players, coaches, members, match officials, to undertake Lateral Flow Tests ahead of attending and to self-isolate and follow government guidance if the test is positive. • Minimising use of changing rooms – encourage players to arrive in kit. If changing rooms or treatment rooms are required, facemasks must be worn and rooms should be ventilated where possible. • Minimising use of social spaces, ventilating where possible and keep spacing within rooms. • Implementing regular cleaning protocols of communal areas and toilet facilities. • Ensuring hand sanitisers are readily available. • Reminding members to follow government and public health guidance on mask wearing. • Minimising travel with other people. Covid-19 Guidance We want to ensure easy access to guidance. Alongside government guidance, which can be found here, and Sport England guidance here, you can find information, resources and FAQs on our England Rugby Coronavirus Hub which will be updated if government advice changes. Please check back regularly. If you can’t find the information you are looking for please contact us at ClubSupport@RFU.com We will continue to monitor the situation and keep it under review, working closely with government and public health experts. |
Coaching & Referee Course needs for 2022
Dear Club Coaching / Referee Coordinator
In collaboration with CRFU I would like to invite a representative from your club to join an important
online meeting on January 25th at 7pm to discuss coaching and referee course wants and needs for
the upcoming year. This is your only opportunity to have an input into which courses are run in
Cornwall during 2022. As some of you will already be aware the way that course are planned and
delivered has changed recently. However I still want to make sure that every coach or referee in
Cornwall has the opportunity to attend courses locally to them so that they are able to develop, to
meet the needs of your players and clubs.
This meeting will be your chance to find out more information about the content of the courses
being offered, to express your interest in hosting courses or to suggest where courses might be
needed. I would also like to have the opportunity to make sure that every club in Cornwall is aware
how important it is to have an active coaching and/or refereeing coordinator in place so that
information is reaching all those that it is intended for.
If you follow the link below it will give you some information of what the RFU course offer looks like
at the moment, please take a few minutes to watch the video that it contains. It also has
information and links to some free courses that your volunteers can complete online:
https://www.englandrugby.com//dxdam/36/36efb351-2027-4974-ac3d-
e549b0a3cbbe/England%20Rugby%20Training%20Courses%202021-22.pdf
Can I please ask that you respond to this email and let us know if you can attend. Can I also stress
again that this will be the only opportunity to influence when and where courses are run in your
County this year so please ensure your club is represented.
To join the meeting please follow this link: Click here to join the meeting (on Teams)
Kind Regards
Wayne Reed (England Rugby Coach Developer)
Graham Pauncefort – RIP, Funeral Details
The CRFU are saddened to learn of the passing of Graham Pauncefort following a long illness.
Graham gave valuable service to the CRFU as Club Representative for Roseland RFC and as Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.
CRFU President, John Sumnall and the CRFU Management Board wish to express their sincerest condolences to Graham’s family and friends at this time.
Funeral arrangements courtesy of the family;
- Service. Dad’s funeral will be held at our local Church at St Just in Roseland, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5JD on Thursday 20th January at 1100. There will be a service in the church followed by a short burial in the churchyard to which everyone is invited.
- Wake. The wake will be held directly after the burial at the Rosevine Hotel, Near Portscatho, Truro, Cornwall. TR2 5EW. It is about a 5 min drive, and everyone is warmly invited. We very much hope to catch as many of you there as possible. There will be a buffet and drinks.
- Parking. The church has several car parks and there are also no restrictions on parking on the roads (making sure there is room for emergency vehicles to pass). The hotel has two car parks: one outside the main entrance and then another one about 50 yards further down the road. Again, there are no restrictions on the lane. However, you will have to park the car in close to the hedge.
- Covid. We are in strange times and, as with everything else, we are going to have to remain flexible. There are currently no restrictions on funerals or the number we can have at the wake. We are optimistically hoping – as Dad would be! – for the current wave to start falling over the next couple of weeks. We want people to be comfortable and feel safe. We would kindly ask if you could wear a mask in the church if you are able to. For the wake, we have sole use of the whole hotel as it will be the day before it reopens. We are hoping that should give plenty of space.
- Accommodation. For those travelling there are numerous options, all of which will unlikely to be in high demand in January. The Rosevine is a very comfortable hotel and convenient. Given one of Dad’s most widely used quotes was ‘leave the keys, we’ll lock up’, this could be a good option. The hotel is not re-opening until Friday 21st January so you may not be able to book online. Please phone or email them (contact details on link above). Please do get in touch if you would like other options and we can advise depending on what you would like to do.
- Flowers / donations. No flowers please. Instead, we will be asking for charitable donations. Details to follow.
- Contact. Any questions please do ring us on:
- Tom: 07976 768626
- Emma: 07843 598121
- Please send this to anyone we may have missed. Dad’s network of friends was vast, and we are worried that we still have not reached everyone. Really looking forward to seeing those who can make it. However, we totally understand that this will not be possible for others. We plan to hold a memorial service up near London in the Spring / early Summer (details tbc).
Nicky, Thomas, and Emma
Kernow Leagues Fixtures 2022
John Morgan – R.I.P.
Cornwall RFU were saddened to learn of the passing of former county player John Morgan, who played for the Falmouth club.
John was educated at Falmouth Grammar School going on to play for Falmouth on the wing. He played 21 times for Cornwall, including the 1958 County Final against Warwickshire at Coventry’s old Coundon Road ground, a game lost 16-8.
Having enjoyed a career in education John was living in retirement on the Isle of Mann.
The CRFU extend their sincerest condolences to John’s family and friends at this sad time.
CRFU President John Sumnall’s Christmas Message
Cornwall Rugby Football Union Limited
As we approach the halfway point in the season, I can advise that the Cornwall RFU is in good heart after the ravages of the pandemic and looking forward to the second half where hopes are realised but can also be dashed.
Probably, the most disappointing situation that was realised in the early season was that not all players were returning to rugby with some Clubs suffering more than others. It is sad to report that Stithians RFC, founded in 1890, withdrew from their league and we are not sure whether we will see their maroon shirts on the playing field again. One or two other Clubs have struggled to raise a side but have generally succeeded whereas some Clubs have increased their playing strength and are probably in a better position now than they were before the pandemic. The Cornwall Referees Society report that slowly their numbers are returning but have not been helped by abuse of some of their members and resultantly have lost two of their stalwarts. A very sad and worrying piece to report.
However, it is not all disappointing news as we had a visit from the RFU President Jeff Blackett as part of the 150th Anniversary of the RFU when he and his wife, Sally, undertook a 150 mile walk as part of the celebrations and began one of their days’ walk at Saltash RFC. Fund raising was undertaken for The Injured Players Foundation (IPF) and they were met by members of the CRFU, Saltash RFC and other rugby followers who then accompanied them across the Tamar Bridge to meet the Devon RFC. We, in Cornwall, are carrying out our own celebrations and fund raising for the IPF when our Chairman Dave Saunter (Saunts) also undertook a 150 mile walk. Also Clubs have been given a challenge by myself to carry out 150 laps of their pitch using as many players as they wish. Final fund raising will take place at the County Championship matches.
At long last the County Championship matches are being released and on Sunday 23 January the U20 team play Devon and on 06 February they travel to Dorset & Wilts. Cornwall Ladies are drawn in a pool of Middlesex, Dorset & Wilts and Somerset, dates to be advised. We still wait to hear when we can begin defending our title as holders of the Bill Beaumont Trophy as well as the opponents and structure. For updates on these three Trophies may I suggest you use our web (crfu.co.uk).
We were very honoured to be invited to help celebrate 100 years of Crawshays RFC and we will be hosting this invitational XV on Saturday 30 April at Camborne RFC. Cornwall RFU congratulate Penryn RFC on attaining 150 years and trust they have a successful season.
In the new year we understand that we may learn of our new Patron.
Finally, may I wish you all compliments of the season and hope to see some of you as when I visit a Cornwall Club each Saturday to spend the afternoon with them.
Yours,
John Sumnall
President CRFU
RugbySafe Lead Christmas Newsletter
Dear All
I hope this finds you well and dodging the Omicron!
Covid
Sadly it seems that no sooner than we were establishing a pattern and rhythm to our Rugby than another speed bump is put in our way. As you will have seen in the whatsapp that I sent out, the RFU have adjusted their advice and have also given some supplementary information on the Community Game. Unfortunately, there are no definitive rules on what we can and cannot do in the rugby club environment other than those applying to the hospitality industry, so its down to our common sense and personal appetite for risk. Certainly, some clubs are revising their plans for Mini Christmas ‘gatherings’ and also Rugby Camp providers are adapting their packages to reduce risk of transmission by removing contact and keeping events outdoors.
From a CRFU perspective we can only echo government and RFU advice and I am sure that those clubs with medical professionals among parents and players will seek their advice and opinion and formulate their response accordingly. I just wish we could be more proscriptive as that would reduce ambiguity. If anyone wishes to discuss their plans/ideas or concerns then please don’t hesitate to contact me. Often it is just the conversation that provides the elusive clarity of thought!
First Aid Courses
CRFU have approved the staging of four more courses in 2022 so that demand can be met. The dates as agreed with the provider are:
30 January
27 February
13 March
24 April
I have not nominated particular locations as yet as I wanted to gauge demand so that we can minimise travel, but ideally I would like to have a couple in the west and a couple in the East of the county. I appreciate that one club might not be able to fill all slots so will backfill any spare slots with applicants from adjacent clubs where possible. So, the Christmas challenge is to identify appropriate dates and get your bid in quick – certainly in good time for the 30 Jan!!
As you may be aware, RFU were seeking to mandate EFAs but there has been some pushback from other counties which is leading them to re-examine. From a CRFU perspective this is disappointing as both the CB and clubs have devoted a lot of time and energy to be ready for the rule change at beginning of 2022/23. There is continuing discussion and the RFU council will decide in the New Year. The CRFU stance is support the proposal to mandate it as then there is no ambiguity and everyone can be comfortable that appropriate provision is in place at all levels of the game. The RFU have issued a consultation at https://forms.office.com/r/zhg0zhUnsi Can you please complete this online questionnaire for RugbySafe leads by 7 Jan. Whatever happens, the guidelines will remain, so please take advantage of the First Aid courses which after CRFU rebate work out at £25 per successful attendee. Probably the best Christmas bargain ever!!!
GMS
In the link above it mentions GMS. I know this is a far from ideal administrative tool but it does enable RFU to analyse the functioning of the game. One of their pushes this season has been to ensure that the RugbySafe element of GMS is up to date and that the contents accurately reflect the activities of the club. Ideally, club RugbySafe leads should have the permissions to access this area and update as appropriate. A couple of audits show that as Cornish clubs we are not doing particularly well in this regard. I have not been too bothered for the first half of the season as just getting teams on the pitch has been of more importance. Nonetheless, in the New Year I will be auditing our records. It is not too much of a hardship to complete and certainly the First Aid Risk assessment and associated Medical Emergency Action Plans (MEAPs) are the most important as these are essential for clubs to complete. I am on hand to assist and answer questions but probably the first thing is to ensure you have the necessary permissions to access this part of GMS so please chase up whoever is your GMS guru to allow you to explore the system.
Uploading EFA Qualf and cert on GMS
HEADCASE
Just a reminder that I have some Headcase materials and have sent out a rejigged and more legible Graduated Return To Play (GRTP) table. For info, all CRFU First Aid bags have a laminated copy of this inside the bag along with the RugbySafe toolkit. I have attached both for interest/use. Please continue to educate players, coaches, committee members, supporters and parents (everyone!) on this increasingly significant aspect of the game. Despite a lot of effort, there is still a lot of ignorance based on old wives tales and historical practices which is being highlighted in reports back from matches. Please reinforce that if there is any doubt as a players fitness to play, there is no doubt and they should be removed from play and not allowed to return. Furthermore, supervision should be exercised and post-match beers should be discouraged as well as ensuring that driving after a blow to the head may be impaired.
Anyway, that is enough from me except to wish you all a great Christmas and that you get the gifts you want!!
Kindest regards and see you in the New Year
Bob
Bob Hubble | CRFU RugbySafe Lead
rugbysafe@crfu.co.uk | 07980 600565
Follow the RFU Guidance
Please follow this simple guidance from the RFU for games this weekend and any games being played on Boxing Day or Bank Holiday Monday. Do keep an eye on the RFU site as this is likely to be an ever-evolving situation over the coming days.
Update on Community Game fixtures scheduled for 17/18/19 December
| As Christmas approaches, and concerns continue to grow around the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the RFU has introduced flexibility around this weekend’s Community Game fixtures to give clubs and players options. The below applies to level 3 and below in the men’s game and level 2 and below in the women’s game, for the weekend of 17-19 December 2021. Fixtures scheduled for the weekend of 17/18/19 December • Matches can go ahead as normal this weekend if both teams are happy to play. • Should either club involved in a scheduled fixture this weekend wish to postpone, they can do so without sanction. Both clubs must contact their respective organising committee as soon as possible, and at the latest by 1200 on Friday 17th December. (Clubs must not postpone their fixture via Electronic Matchcard). The postponed fixture must be played on the next available weekend as determined by the Organising Committee. • To postpone a fixture for clubs in the Men’s and Women’s English Club Championship (RFU Leagues) they must adhere to the following process: 1. Submit a Covid declaration form 2. Include ‘concerns about Covid’ as the reason for the postponement 3. For this weekend – 17/18/19 December 2021 – there is no requirement to provide additional supportive information for the Covid declaration. If clubs do decide to play fixtures this weekend, we would advise sensible precautions should be taken to protect members and players. In line with public health advice, we would suggest: • Encouraging players, coaches, members, match officials, to undertake Lateral Flow Tests ahead of attending and to self-isolate if the test is positive, and take a PCR test to verify the result. • Minimising use of changing rooms – encourage players to arrive in kit. If changing rooms or treatment rooms are required, facemasks must be warn and rooms should be ventilated where possible. • Minimising use of social spaces, ventilating where possible and keep spacing within rooms. • Implementing regular cleaning protocols of communal areas and toilet facilities. • Ensuring hand sanitisers are readily available. • Reminding members to follow government and public health guidance on mask wearing. • Minimising travel with other people. Covid-19 Guidance We want to ensure rugby clubs have easy access to guidance over the Christmas period. Alongside government guidance, which can be found here, and Sport England guidance here, you can find information, resources and FAQs on our England Rugby Coronavirus Hub which will be updated if government advice changes. Please check back regularly. If you can’t find the information you are looking for please contact us ClubSupport@RFU.com We will continue to monitor the situation and to work closely with government and public health experts and further guidance will be issued post Christmas. The safety of all players, coaches, officials and volunteers remains the priority. |
Dave Martin’s Headland Centre Appeal
David Martin would like to thank all those who donated to Chloe’s fund for the Headland Cancer Centre at Treliske. It has now reached £575! David still has a number of ties remaining, so, if anyone would like one in return for a donation, they can send David (davecmartin@hotmail.com) their address and he will forward you a tie. The Cornish Rugby Family, far and wide, has “come up trumps” yet again!
Kind regards,
David Martin
