PLEASE TAKE PART IN THIS SURVEY County Championship survey We are contacting you to help us understand the views and opinions of all individuals in the community game on the County Championship competition. The results of this survey will feed into the independent review of the County Championship across the senior men’s, senior women’s and men’s U20 competitions, which has been commissioned by the Community Game Board (CGB) and aims to take all feedback into consideration before providing recommendations/options to the CGB on the future and format of the competition. This survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete, and will close at midnight on Sunday 25 April 2021. Take Survey P.S. Remember, as a supporter you are a valued member of the CRFU! |
CRFU suspend 2020/21 rugby season
The Cornwall Rugby Football Union has decided that the remainder of the 2020/21 season should be suspended. Clubs have been circulated and their wishes requested, but only eight clubs replied. Three of those decided they did not want any formal arrangement of fixtures, cup or league. The remaining five would have accepted some form of formal competition, but 2 of them would only play in a cup. There will, therefore, be no formally arranged rugby competitions during this time.
Clubs are reminded that, if they wish, they are free to arrange fixtures within the restrictions set down by RFU during what remains of the 2020/21 season. Any such fixtures must be arranged by participating clubs. Cornwall Rugby Referees Society is willing to provide referees for any games arranged by clubs and it will be for those clubs to contact the Society to arrange referees.
A full programme of league and cup rugby will resume for the 2021/22 season assuming that Government and RFU restrictions permit.
Regards,
Chris Jewels.
Chairman CRFU Competitions Committee
CRFU Postpone Competitions Until Further Notice
You will have seen the news that the county has moved into tier 3 with all that that entails. You may also have seen the RFU guidance to tier 3 and the implications of that.
The CRFU have taken a responsible view all through Covid and I hope you’ll agree we have not only kept clubs informed as to RFU developments but also offered assistance to any club who has either asked or needed it. For that reason we wanted to act quickly on the above.
As a constituent body we think it would be fool hardy to endorse any form of competition and to that aim have suspended the start of our clusters until end of January when we will update. I know this will be disappointing to some but please think of the big picture. The County has already had players tested positive, and I’m sure we all want to support our NHS, with cases on the increase.
To that aim the colts, U16s and the County DPP will also be suspended until 31st January when the position will be reviewed.The Govt are reassessing the situation in a fortnight and we of course will be guided by any changes.
The situation now is simple, as a CB we can not stop you playing friendlies but we would urge you to consider the possible consequences. The RFU allow this but with strict restrictions, please see their website
2020 has been an awful year for us all, let’s hope 2021 is better for all sport and especially Cornish rugby.
Saunts
Chairman CRFU
Tony
Chairman Youth & Education CRFU
Cornwall Cluster Leagues now finalised.
The CRFU Cluster matches have been postponed for the time being. The fixture matrix has been forwarded to all clubs so that they can publish on their club websites.
There are a number of blank dates in the list. These are reserved/break Saturdays which will allow us to fit in any matches affected by bad weather. They also avoid some of the 6 Nations dates and Easter.
Current RFU and Government guidelines must be complied with at all times.
Clusters are to be played according to current RFU laws, but with the following dispensations to regulations which will apply across all clusters.
1). Teams must be of at least 10 players before a game may start. In the event of a shortfall in one team, the loaning of players is encouraged.
2). Teams must have equal numbers at the start of the game.
3). To maximise the numbers of players able to participate, each team may have a maximum of 7 replacements with a maximum of 14 roll overs.
IMPORTANT.
Each team MUST report the result and the number of tries scored to TONY KNIGHTSBRIDGE within 24 hours of the match either via Whats App, or on 07944 731625. Tony would prefer Whats App.
Failure to do so will mean that the match will be recorded as a nil/nil draw, and the records on the website will be inaccurate and useless.
Chris Jewels
Chairman Competitions Committee
CRFU to canvass clubs re In-County rugby competition
After last night’s Management Board Meeting we are now in a position to send out draft In-County fixtures for all 28 Cornish clubs.
As you can imagine this was not an easy exercise with clubs ranging from National League 2 down to Duchy League 2nd teams.
We have tried to keep playing ability and geography a priority, especially at the highest level.
Thanks to Chris Jewels Chairman of the Competitions Committee for his hard work in compiling these fixtures.
The draft fixtures have been sent to club Chairmen, Hon.Secretaries and CB club reps. Please share these with your coaches and come back to CRFU Hon. Sec Terry Williams with your thoughts. This is a starting point not cast in stone, so your constructive feedback is encouraged.
We will then instruct the RFU of our plan for the eventual return to play when allowed.
Dave Saunter
Chairman Cornwall RFU
Recommendations for adult male competition structure published
The RFU Future Competitions Structure Group has released a recommendation paper on the adult male competitions structure (English Club Championship Level 3 and below) for implementation in the 2021/22 season.
This follows engagement with the game over the last nine months and evidence collection. The RFU acknowledges that players are playing less games each season due to lifestyle reasons and modern day demands on time.
The paper recognises the significant opportunity for rugby to develop an optimal playing offer and structure that protects the future health of the adult male game, meets the needs of current and future players, balances quality of experience and player welfare needs and limits travel, while protecting the sustainability of clubs.
The proposals include reducing league sizes, introducing league break weekends, and organising leagues that minimise travel, all essential to meet the game’s needs. Player feedback has also highlighted the importance of knockout rugby. Click here to read the plan.
Feedback is welcomed ahead of the RFU Council decision on Friday 2 October 2020. Please click here to share your views. You can also access FAQs here.
Additional documents
For any queries, contact Competitions-Development@RFU.com
Community league fixtures confirmed pending rugby season start date
The Rugby Football Union’s discussions with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Sport England to accelerate a return to community rugby continue.
We remain at Stage B on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap. Further updates will be provided when the government gives the green light that it is safe for community rugby to restart.
While there is no official date for when community competitions will restart, we can announce league conferences and fixtures for the Adult Male (English Club Championship Level 3 to 12) for the 2020-21 season.
Most leagues have been split in two based on geography, the others elected not to be split. The season has been divided into three windows. In the first window clubs will play each team in their group, home and away. Provisional dates have been allocated to these games. If rugby has not started by these dates, each week will be automatically moved to the end of the first window.
Example (14 team league)
- Two groups comprising seven teams.
- Group games will take 14 rounds.
- If rugby cannot return to play until Round 6, the first game will be the fixture listed for Round 6 NOT Round 1.
- After Round 14 the scheduled fixtures for Rounds 1-5 would then be played in order, completing Window 1.
Please note: It is not yet confirmed when the season will start – the dates shown may change as outlined above.
If the first window is successfully completed, teams will then move to the second, which will see clubs compete against clubs from the other group in their league, once – either home OR away.
If there is still time before the end of the scheduled league season, the third window will be played – where the reversed fixtures of window 2 will take place.
Considerations
- Dates for windows 2 & 3 will be allocated once competitions are able to start.
- No decision has yet been made about RFU Cup competitions.
- If only the first window is possible, a playoff between the leaders of the two groups will be staged to decide the league winner.
- The fixtures will not be placed on GMS, and thus filter through to club websites, until a start date is confirmed.
- No decision has been made on the effect of this season on promotion/relegation for the 2021-22 season
League Fixtures
Return to Competitive Playing for 2020/21 Season
There are a range of 2020/21 competition models that can be applied at different season start dates as and when it is deemed safe to return to play i.e. when we reach Phase F on the RFU Return to Rugby roadmap. The models allow for any potential interruption in the season as a result of Covid-19, while providing clubs, schools, colleges, universities and players with a framework for meaningful competitive rugby with greater flexibility to enable games to be played.
Model 1 if rugby resumes in September 2020
Model 2 if rugby resumes in November 2020
Model 3 if rugby resumes in January 2021
The models were developed by two working groups, one for the adult game and the other for age grade rugby, and the outcomes were approved by the RFU Governance Committee last week. Each group has considered player welfare, flexibility in response to Covid-19, adaptable models that prioritise local matches early in the season to reduce travel, support club revenue, and maintain player participation. Headlines for each area of the game are laid out below with links to further information and FAQs where required.
RFU end season
| Message from RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney |
| My
thoughts and those of all of us at the RFU are with everyone impacted
by COVID-19 as well as recent flooding events, both across the country
at large but also within our own rugby union community. In order to provide clarity and to assist with immediate and longer term planning, the RFU is today announcing the end of the 2019/20 rugby season for all league, cup and county rugby in England. The only exception to this is the Gallagher Premiership, who we are in active discussions with to review possible best next steps. When current government advice on social distancing measures changes, we will naturally encourage rugby training and friendlies to recommence. I would like to personally thank everyone for their swift actions in suspending rugby activity, this is not an easy time and I know many of you will have concerns that go beyond the game. We are working through the implications of ending the season early and have instigated a thorough process to ensure fair and balanced outcomes for the game. We will communicate these outcomes by the middle of April. While we would like to provide all the answers now, we need some time to get it right for the best interests of the game. Rest assured we are working on this as a priority and we will continue to send weekly updates to clubs. The three areas of focus for the RFU right now are Welfare, Implications and Reboot. Welfare We are ensuring colleagues and communities are given support to follow government advice and are providing recommendations on how to stay fit and healthy using individual training programmes. We are also talking to government about how we can deploy and mobilise our own resources across England to support the vulnerable. Implications Every union is different, with unique structures and challenges and the RFU needs to manage its own particular complexities. Our business model is similar to most rugby clubs – we earn revenue from events on and off the field and we invest that back into the game. We benefit from strong Twickenham Stadium revenues but we are also exposed if there is widespread cancellation of games and events. In this extraordinary situation we are working through a range of potential financial scenarios dependent mainly on the length of this crisis. This was already budgeted to be a loss making year within a 4 year cycle due to the costs of the 2019 RWC campaign and only hosting two home Six Nations games. The loss will now be considerably more as we face challenges similar to businesses across the entire country. There may well also be much longer term financial implications which we are assessing now. It is therefore taking us some time to develop a considered position on how we can support clubs and the rugby community, which we will do. We have already undertaken financial measures to safeguard the business enabling us to review all options and programmes to provide support for clubs in these difficult times. We welcome the measures announced by Government which could provide crucial support to professional and community clubs and the RFU. We are in regular contact with Sport England and The Sport and Recreation Alliance to understand how business rate relief and hardship funds can be accessed by clubs and will be providing assistance to make sure every club who is eligible will be supported. The implications for all areas of rugby will be thoroughly worked through and solutions discussed and developed with the clubs. Reboot Our welfare advice before the start of next season will switch to offering guidance on how players at all levels can reboot and get match ready. We will work closely with constituent bodies to support clubs, competition organisers and the wider rugby community in preparing to re-start rugby in what is likely to be a challenging environment. In recent days we have all been inspired by the many stories across the rugby family working together to support those who are the most vulnerable in their community – this encapsulates the unique spirit of rugby. I am confident that this spirit and resilience during these tough times will ensure we will come through this together and emerge stronger. Take care and stay safe, Bill Sweeney |
Adult Competitions Review Clubs Meeting
Alan Milliner, Cornwall Club Representative on the RFU Council, is to Chair a meeting, re the above, at Bodmin RFC on Monday 23rd March, commencing at 7 pm.
All club secretaries and club reps to the CRFU have been advised of this meeting by CRFU Secretary Terry Williams.
It is hoped to see someone representing each cornish club on the night.
Alan is keen to get a collective club view on the proposals so that he can best represent your views with the RFU.
