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Honda Volunteer of the Year 2022

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Honda is now sponsor of the RFU Volunteer awards and it is important that all clubs recognise those who make our rugby possible and I would therefore urge all club management committees to make this an agenda item and forward names of those volunteers who consider the merit of an award for this rugby year.

Those forwarded should not have been nominated in the past two (2) years.

The Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards 2022 will recognise and celebrate volunteers across Rugby for their achievements and efforts over the past 12 months, both on and off the field.

To reflect the challenges that clubs have faced and recognise the outstanding contribution that volunteers have made to both their rugby clubs and the wider community, this year’s national awards programme will focus on three specific categories:

  • Unsung Hero
  • Beyond Rugby: Connecting the Community 
  • Game for All 

Nominations can be made for an individual, or a team of volunteers within a club, who have gone above and beyond over the course of the past 12 months. 

Please read the description of each award in full before submitting your nomination. 

Nominations will open from Monday 10th January and will close at 9am on Monday 28 February.  

Those who have been shortlisted to attend the national final will be notified by the end of June and will be invited to an awards ceremony at Twickenham in September where the winners of each category will be announced

Unsung Hero

Aim of Award

This award will recognise an individual, or group of rugby volunteers, who have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months to provide positive experiences & ensure their club/referee society is fit for the future. 

Award Summary

This award is looking to recognise those who have gone above and beyond and have shown a willingness to try their hand at whatever was needed to support the club over the past 12 months, demonstrating a positive, can-do attitude to overcoming challenges and developing innovative ways to sustain their club.  This could be through helping to recruit and retain players, volunteers and officials or someone who is often found working ‘behind the scenes’ to support the future sustainability of the club.

 

Beyond Rugby: Connecting the Community

Aim of Award

This award will recognise an individual, or group of rugby volunteers, who have made an outstanding contribution and had significant impact within their local community during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Award Summary

This award is open to those who have gone above and beyond to engage and support their local community, while also providing a platform for the development and growth of the club/referee society. This could be through raising money, providing use of the club facilities, working in partnership with other community organisations or supporting local charities. Ultimately using the power of rugby to bring their community together. 

 

Game for All

Aim of Award

This award will recognise volunteers either individually, or as part of a team, who have provided an inspiring and diverse offer, to open the game up to new audiences and make the game more accessible for all. 

Award Summary

This award will recognise those who have shown outstanding commitment in developing and delivering an inspiring offer to open the game up to new audiences and make the game more accessible for all. This could be through improving accessibility for participants from ethnically diverse communities, delivering initiatives to overcome barriers for those from lower socio-economic groups, driving work forwards to support increased LGBT+ participation in rugby or delivering mixed ability rugby

If you want to recognise a volunteer, or a group of volunteers, who have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months you can nominate by using the form below.

Nomination Form

Nominations close at 9am Monday 28 February 2022

If you have any queries regarding the completion of this form please contact volunteerrecognition@rfu.com

We’ve put together some top tips to consider when writing the application:

  1. Check the summary for each of the awards to ensure you’re nominating for the right one 
  2. Be sure to answer all the questions, as this will provide guidance to the awards panel, and make sure you consider and respond to all the criteria for that award category
  3. Nominations should include evidence to support and illustrate the impact and achievements of the volunteer or team of volunteers in the award category, and where possible be supported by facts and figures 
  4. Keep to the word limit and ensure the information provided is concise and relevant. With a word limit of 250, this could mean that some answers are provided in bullet point format 
  5. The awards are focussed on activity which has taken place over the past 12 months  
  6. Once you have drafted an application, it may be worth asking someone else within the club to have a look over the application.

Terms and conditions

Award categories

Six Cornwall Under 18’s picked for South West

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Following Cornwall Under 18’s second and final game in this season’s County Games, six of the squad have been picked for the South West.

CRFU congratulate the six, who are named in the graphic.

We also congratulate all players in the squad, along with coaches and admin, for their hard work.

Focus will now turn towards the Under 17 squad for this part of the season.

Community Game Update 11th January

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Distribution list: Tuesday 11 January
Constituent Bodies Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Treasurers, Communications Liaison, Data Officers
Club Presidents, Chairs, Honorary Secretaries, Data Officers

This week we have launched an official, overarching @RFU Twitter account about the community game, for the community game. You can follow here.  
  Back In The Game Update Read Online  
  1. ACTION REQUIRED
Payment of Players declaration
From 1 March – 30 June 2022, clubs will be able to complete The Payment of Players declaration form under Regulation 7. The form is mandatory for men’s level 3 and below who provide material benefits to players.

2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST
@RFU twitter channel now live
Follow @RFU to stay up to date with the latest news from the grassroots game. The @RFU feed will act as a hub for information on everything from playing to volunteering, as well as celebrating the very best of the rugby community.
Honda volunteer hospitality registrations for Guinness Six Nations Details on how club volunteers who already have match tickets for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations matches at Twickenham can register for pre-match hospitality in the West Car Park, as part of the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme.
Honda Volunteer of the Year Nominations are now open
The categories for this year’s awards to recognise the efforts and achievements of rugby volunteers across the country are live. You can nominate now.
17 Jan – Lower XV expression of interest deadline
 There’s less than a week to go for clubs to let us know if they are interested in entering a Lower XV team in RFU men’s leagues at Level 7 and below. Read the eligibility criteria and how to express an interest here.
Back in the Game social media assets/posters for the New Year available to download.

3. FOR AWARENESS
National Rugby Survey – Live on 19 Jan
 This year’s survey will go live on 19 January across RFU channels and is an opportunity for everyone to provide their views and feedback to help us try to meet the needs of the game.
 January 2022 guidance for clubs wishing to organise a First Aid or Play it Safe course
Before requesting a course, we ask clubs to complete a risk assessment to help with the management of Covid-19
Allianz Premier 15s League Entry Mechanism 2023/2024
The third cycle for the Allianz Premier 15s will remain as a tender process. In June, clubs will be sent an expression of interest form for the 23/24 season.
 News Round-Up including New Year Honours & Touchline
 Congratulations to all rugby union representatives included in the New Year’s Honours list. Read on for more information and for how to subscribe to our Touchline digital newsletter for more stories from around the game.  

Cornwall Under 18’s Match Report vs. Dorset & Wilts

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Dorset & Wilts U18s, 50 – 10 Cornwall U18’s

Report and Photos by James Mills, Team Manager

Our 18’s went into this match off the back of a victory pre Christmas and were keen to build upon that momentum but Dorset & Wilts had other ideas and took the victory in a dominant display built upon both their strength in the scrum, fast hands, their off loading game in the wide channels and having the edge on us in terms of fitness. Our lads gave it their all but the opposition were too strong on the day and we were certainly not helped by 5 injuries during the game that deprived us of both of our fly-halves Dean Wills and Captain Harry Walsh-Newton, our full back Harvey Penhallurick who was a stand out player in our first match, our centre Jack Commons and our openside flanker Ben Jones. Additionally we were on the wrong side of the penalty count which further starved us of territory and control.

That said our line out functioned well with lock Magnus Bushby securing good ball. Our Launceston boys winger Archie Dinnis and blindside flanker Harry Tomlin also had strong performances and both were rewarded with a score a-piece. Their mums Mel and Jackie assured me their rugby talents originated from them! We hope that a number of our players have done well enough for further SW divisional consideration.

Despite the disappointing result from our perspective, credit has to go to the opposition Dorset & Wilts who took a deserved victory and we wish their players well with the SW selection.

First Half

Dorset & Wilts kicked off and opened the scoring after a good 50:22 kick from their own half to secure a line out in the Cornish 22. The line out was well executed from D&W and good running lines dissected the black and gold defence to score under the posts. 5-0 It only took another minute straight from the restart for the D&W backs to run it back going through the hands with good offloads within their midfield to create an overlap down their left to score in the corner. 10-0.

Archie Dinnis showing strong early form secured our first points 10-5. Cornwall took energy from this and spent a good period in the opposition 22 when we looked certain to score only to be thwarted by the match officials whistle who gave D&W a penalty and from 5m off their own line they ran it back down their left wing to score a fine try on 20mins. 5-15.

Our boys held their own right up until just before half time when we slipped off some tackles for D&W to break our lines to register a further 2 scores to close the half 5-25.

Second Half

Dorset & Wilts started the half as they finished the first half scoring 2 near identical scores down their right wing before Harry Tomlin scored from short range 10-35. Much of the second half was controlled by Dorset & Wilts who always appeared to have more players on the pitch possibly because they did at the start as we had only 14 on the pitch! Cornwall suffered a series of injuries which enabled to D&W to take the game away from us with a further 3 scores down their right wing creating overlaps and through an excellent off loading game for a deserved victory. 10-50

Over the course of the 2 matches our players gave it everything they had and I look forward to seeing how they all progress over the coming seasons and wish them all the very best. I look forward to seeing our 10 U.17 players back in the black and gold at the end of the season.

Team vs Dorset & Wilts

  1. Blain Mock                         Falmouth RFC
  2. Jared Hambly                     Redruth RFC
  3. Beau Danks                        Redruth RFC
  4. Magnus Bushby                Truro School
  5. Dom Stanislavacius          Redruth RFC
  6. Harry Tomlin                      Launceston RFC (Pack Leader)
  7. Ben Jones                           Perranporth RFC
  8. Tyler Gunn                         Redruth RFC
  9. Ben Bebb                            Truro School
  10. Dean Wills                           Redruth RFC
  11. Archie Dinnis                      Launceston RFC
  12. Harry Walsh-Newton     Helston RFC (Captain)
  13. Jack Commons                  Redruth RFC
  14. Harvey Orchard                Wadebridge Camels RFC
  15. Harvey Penhallurick        Truro School
  16. Jared Williams                   Newquay RFC
  17. Finley Holt                           Redruth RFC
  18. Angus Williams                  Helston RFC
  19. Ollie Newman                   Truro RFC
  20. Luca Roberts                      Redruth RFC
  21. Matt Pollard                       Perranporth RFC
  22. Tom Hollyman                   Saltash RFC
  23. Oliver Crawford                Saltash RFC

RFU Update on this weekend’s fixtures

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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

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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

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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;

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Flowers / donations. No flowers please. Instead, we will be asking for charitable donations. Details to follow.
  7. Contact. Any questions please do ring us on:
    1. Tom: 07976 768626
    2. Emma: 07843 598121
  8. 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

CRFU President John Sumnall’s Christmas Message

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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

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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

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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.

RFU Guidance

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