| Tuesday 6 December Stay up to date with news about the community game by following @RFU on Twitter here. Community Game Update Read Online 1. ACTION REQUIRED The deadline for your 2022 Club Safeguarding Audit is 31 December A reminder to all clubs who offer age grade activity, you must complete the Safeguarding Audit by 31 December 2022. You can find further information on how to conduct the audit in this section. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Programme – Facility fund Part of the Rugby World Cup 2025 impact programme is to help improve club facilities and the experience for female supporters and players. From today, 6 December 2022, clubs can apply for funds to support toilet upgrades and sanitary packages. More information is in this piece. Tackling energy use in rugby clubs and using Artificial Grass Pitch (AGPs) As energy prices rise and impact clubs across the country, we share some tips on reducing these costs. These include using AGPs, which could help save on the club’s electricity bills by reducing your floodlight usage and wear on pitches. Discover how you can book a local 365 AGP in this section. 3. FOR AWARENESS Age Grade affiliations reach over 150,000 players, incentives and GMS support trainers Age grade affiliation has reached over 150,000 players in the 2022/2023 season. In this article, Farnham RUFC and Hackney RFC share their experiences of how affiliation has worked for them. Also, a reminder of our incentives for age grade affiliation and GMS support trainers for clubs. Ways to support retention of players from age grade to adult rugby Hear from Surrey and Cheshire Constituent Bodies and clubs who have been running U21/U23 competitions to retain university players who might otherwise be lost from the game. Developing female match officials #Inspire 50 inspiring female referees lined up at England v Japan as part of the new Inspire campaign to attract more female match officials to the sport. This section discusses how you can get involved and more about the programme. Off-field support services for clubs A reminder of the off-field services for clubs, including guidance in legal and tax matters, licensing and VAT support. Many of these are free for clubs, so if you need help, read this article. Read Online |
Community Game Update 29 November
| Community Game Update Read Online |
| Headline News Adult Affiliation to begin in the 2023/2024 season After the implementation of age grade affiliation, which has already seen over 150,000 players affiliate in the 2022/2023 season, RFU Council members voted last week to introduce the same mandatory process in the adult game for the 2023/2024 season. There is no need to action anything at this stage, this article is for awareness only. 1. ACTION REQUIRED Deadline to enter the Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup is this week At midnight on 1 December, the entry period for the Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup will close. Some finals will be played at Twickenham, so don’t miss your chance to play at this iconic venue. Read this section to register your team and see what other benefits your club can receive by entering. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Game On Using Game On, you can ensure you still get your games played and recorded as a full 15-a-side match. Hear from players who took part in our recent Mike Tindall XV v James Haskell XV as to why Game On works for them. 3. FOR AWARENESS Enhancement to Electronic Match Card from today From today, 29 November, a change to Electronic Match Card for match days will be made. The enhancement means clubs can only select registered players, except in leagues where non-registered players are eligible to be selected. Read Online |
Remember to get your Game On
| Getting your Game On In the lead up to matchdays, in the adult game, you may be short of a full 15. With Game On, you only need a minimum of ten players per side to get the game played and treated as a full 15-a-side game*. David Flatman, explains more about Game On and how you can use it in the video below. Video Game On means you can still get your matches played with more flexible options, because every game matters. The 2022/2023 season has seen enhancements to Game On, including additional scrum options, which you can read more about below. |
| The scrum can be modified to allow for a contested 1.5m push. If you don’t have a front row or if you have players new to the front row, you still have the option to go uncontested. As long as the referee has been notified 30 minutes prior to kick off that Game On might be used, these changes can be made during the game if teams feel it appropriate. Game On is a great way to ensure players can play each week, even when short of a full 15.You can even choose to reduce the pitch size and duration of the match to suit the needs of the players. By enabling players to play each week, you will keep them engaged and coming back for more as you continue to build towards a full 15. 10 v 10 one week, 11 v 11 the next, hopefully you will soon be back to the full complement of players. So, before you think about cancelling or postponing a match, consider how you can Get your Game On using the flexible options available. *Check out our dedicated Game On page below which includes details about which leagues the options can be used in. Game On David Flatman Video |
CRFU Rugby Safe Lead Vacancy
CRFU Rugby Safe Lead Vacancy:
We have a vacancy within the CRFU for a Rugby Safe Lead.
This voluntary position is an important part of the Management Board structure, which administers rugby union within the county.
The remit for this role, is to make rugby as safe as possible, ensuring that good practice is implemented across the Constituent Body (County) and clubs within Cornwall, with the promotion of a proactive approach to player welfare and safety.
To register your interest or for more details please contact:
Jane Bell, Hon Secretary, Email: janebellcornishrugby@gmail.com
RugbySafe Enquries
Please note any enquires concerning RugbySafe should for the time being be directed to the CRFU Hon. Secretary Jane Bell.
Community Game Update 16 November
Welcoming more people to rugby union
During their record-breaking run to the Rugby World Cup Final, and their performance in it, the Red Roses have inspired more people to get involved in rugby in all kinds of ways from playing to volunteering.
Capitalising on RWC 2021 – new video available to share
The video outlines how we can capitalise on the excitement of the Rugby World Cup and the Red Roses’ inspiration as we continue to work together to grow the game and build towards RWC 2025 in England.
Practical guides and aims for growing the women’s and girls’ game
Guides, action plans and webinars are available for rugby communities to understand more about how they can increase playing numbers, coaches, referees and volunteers in their areas.
Attracting new players – Allianz Inner Warrior Camps and findrugby.com
More women and girls are interested in giving rugby a try. Have you held an Allianz Inner Warrior Camp at your club yet? If not, find out how you can in this article. We are also promoting findrugby.com to help direct new players towards clubs in their area.
What’s next – where to watch more rugby
We have welcomed many new viewers and players to the game through TV coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2021. Help to keep them engaged by letting them know what comes next.
Inspired by Red Rose
Activity supporting participation in the men’s game
Enter your club in the Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup before 1 December
All Clubs at Regional 1 and below can enter the Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup. In this article, you can discover more about the Cup and fixture dates, with Twickenham Stadium set to host many of the men’s and women’s finals.
Content to encourage more social players back to the men’s game
A vast selection of Play Together, Stay Together content is available to engage players via your social media channels. From match action with Mike Tindall and James Haskell to inspiring videos to remind players what they’ve been missing. Read online for examples
President’s XV picked to face Cornwall Fire & Rescue
CRFU Representative Rugby Chairman Kevin Thomas is delighted to be able to put this fixture on to help celebrate Cornwall Fire & Rescue’s landmark. He said.” Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service celebrate their 65th Anniversary this season. To help celebrate this anniversary CRFU President John Summall has selected a President’s XV to play against the Fire Service. The President’s XV contains players from a total of 12 clubs. The match will take place at Hayle RFC on 16th November 2022 with a kick off time of 7.15 pm. The Fire Service has a rich history on the rugby field stretching back many years and has won the National Rugby Cup on many occasions. We very much look forward to an exciting and open game of rugby.”
Please note there is an error in the team listed below. 14 should read K Ewudzi (St. Austell). Also please note availability of some players may change at short notice.
Papa Johns Community Cup
| Entries are now open for the Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup Enter Now |
| The Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup competitions will take place after the completion of the regular league season. This was the most favoured model during the Future Competition Structure consultation, intended to decongest the season and avoid league fixture clashes. This has allowed the mid-season entry process to give clubs a better understanding of their squad for the season as well as the ability to compete in the Cup competitions with teams of comparable ability in other leagues. It will also enable clubs who enter to switch their focus to the Cup competition once their league season has finished. Incentives for clubs to enter the Papa Johns Community Cup Opportunity for all finalists to play at Twickenham Stadium or other prestigious venues, with travel and accommodation provided. Travel bursaries available for competing clubs (men’s and women’s competitions). Further details to be published in due course. Exclusive benefits offered by Papa Johns to clubs competing in their Cup competitions (men’s and women’s), including a unique 50% discount for pizza specific to your community club for members, friends and family to use; On each redemption of this unique code, Papa Johns will make a donation back to the community club. The entry period is now open and will close on Thursday 1 December. You are encouraged to complete the entry form below. Enter Now |
| Clubs’ final league positions, alongside entry numbers, will determine which competition they will compete in within their respective league level, helping to ensure clubs play in competitive fixtures through their Cup Competitions. You can see a draft of what this will look like here. Fixtures will be held across the following dates: 25/03/2023 01/04/2023 08/04/2023 (not all competitions – Easter weekend) 15/04/2023 22/04/2023 Finals weekend – 29/04/2023 – 1/5/2023 Championship Finals at each level (Regional 1, Regional 2, Counties 1, Counties 2 and Counties 3 & below) will be held at Twickenham Stadium across Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May. In addition, finals for other competitions will be held at other prestigious venues across the weekend of Saturday 29 April and Sunday 30 April. For more information, including the Cup regulations, please click here. You can also watch a section on the Papa Johns Community Cup on England Rugby’s new The Clubhouse magazine programme. Enter Now |
Community Game Update 1 November
| Community Game Update Read Online |
| 1. ACTION REQUIRED Enter the Papa Johns Community Cup from 3 November On 3 November, all clubs at Regional 1 and below will receive an email containing a registration link to enter the Papa Johns Community Cup. In this article, you can discover more about the Cup and fixture dates , with Twickenham Stadium set to host many of the Finals. WATCH The Clubhouse – Community Game Magazine Programme Episode 1 A new TV magazine programme celebrating the community game is available to watch in this section. This pilot episode lets rugby communities know what’s happening behind the scenes to support the grassroots game and where to find information that may help them. Age Grade Affiliation 2022-23 More than 140,000 age grade players have affiliated, compared to 150,000 throughout the entire 2021-22 season. All age grade players need to be affiliated as part of Regulation 15, which allows for a 45-day window after they start playing. Therefore players who started in September need to be affiliated by now or clubs risk operating outside of Regulation. 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Win an England Rugby matchday makeover as part of #PlayTogetherStayTogether Win the chance to have an England Rugby matchday makeover for your club which will include a live stream and commentary, team announcements and post-match interviews. Enter the competition using the link in this section. RFU Community Game Strategy Development Survey We are currently in the process of putting together the strategy for the next 10 years of the community game. As part of this, we would love to have your input to create a shared vision for the future. Tackling Energy Use in Rugby Clubs Webinar If you missed the webinar on Tackling Energy Use in Rugby Clubs, you can watch it on-demand. You can also find other videos on how to support your club on the RFU Club Support YouTube channel. Join the RFU IPF 2023 #RugbyRunners Team! You can sign up to run the TCS London Marathon or London Landmarks Half Marathon on behalf of the RFU Injured Players’ Foundation (IPF). We will support you in every step, including a welcome pack, free sports massage and much more. 3. FOR AWARENESS RFU teams up with The Good, The Bad & The Rugby for #PlayTogetherStayTogether Two invitational sides led by Mike Tindall and James Haskell took to the pitch at Aylesbury RFC on Thursday 20 October. A mix of ex-internationals and community players combined to celebrate rugby and how it creates lifelong friendships. Watch the video and read more about the game in this section. Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards Congratulations to all the nominated volunteers and finalists across the three categories: Unsung Hero, Beyond Rugby and Game for All. This year’s winners were Jodie Hill, Lincoln RFC; Will Gilgrass, Old Streetonians RFC and Arthur Crabtree, Didsbury Toc H RFC. You can read about the night and their achievements using the link in this story. New Premier 15s CEO and Chair Belinda Moore and Genevieve Shore have been named as the Chief Executive and Chair of Women’s Premier 15 Limited (WP15Ltd), respectively. They will head up a new company to oversee the Allianz Premier 15s competition from 2023/ 2024. You can discover more in this article. Read Online |
President’s Update
The season is well underway with Clubs having varied success mainly, I am afraid, relating to players being available or not making themselves available. On the one hand we have St Austell RFC who are now fielding three teams most Saturdays and Stithians RFC who have reformed and played a match, to a Club that has had to withdraw from the League, Camelford RFC but very sensibly joined the Duchy Leagues to play whenever they can. Some Clubs have had a temporary problem and have not been able to play the odd League match. All in all we can say that the League amendments appear to have been well received, with a reduction in mileage for some and most importantly a regular and agreed fixture list for those teams that now play in the Cornwall Counties League 3 (formally Clubs from the old Cornwall 1 & 2). What is certainly remarkable is that the fear of second teams entering the Leagues which was entertained by some Clubs has generally fallen away and that they can be beaten in the league in which they play.
Earlier, I mentioned player’s availability but perhaps it is willingness to play as there are far too many distractions. At a visit to a Club that shall remain nameless I learnt that when a player was asked why he did not turn up to play the previous Saturday his answer was that he had decided to have a new tattoo, and some of us were not allowed to be married during the season. Seriously, there has been a drop off and has been seen throughout the Country but should not make the CRFU complacent. I am well aware of those volunteers that turn out every Sunday morning to help the various age groups to enjoy the game of rugby but we need to keep these players when they reach 15 and 16 years as that is when the choice of distractions increase. Good coaching, comradeship and being involved in local community activities is a suggested way forward.
At long last we now have the fixtures for the three County Championships that we are so anxious to defend. These are:
- Bill Beaumont Cup Division 1 (Open to players from National 1 and below.)
- 06 May Somerset RFU (H) (As this is also The Coronation we may play later in the day or the following day.
- 13 May Hampshire RFU (A)
- 20 May Kent RFU (H)
- Gill Burns Cup Division 2
- 07 May Oxfordshire Women (H)
- 21 May Somerset Women (A)
- Jason Leonard Cup U.20 (Open to players from Regional 1 and below.)
- 19 March Devon RFU (A)
- 09 April Gloucestershire (H)
- 23 April Somerset (H)
- 07 May Quarter-Finals (A)
- 21 May Semi-Finals (Neutral Venue)
- 03 June Final
There may well be amendments and these will be posted on our Web.
Enjoy your season and if I can help any time please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours,
John.
