Rugby Football Union
Many congratulations to our hard-working Tony Knightsbridge who has received the England Rugby President’s volunteer award when he was a guest at Sunday’s England v Australia game at Twickenham.
Pictured above with CRFU President Terry Carter and CRFU council member David Saunter.
I am sure you will agree there is nobody more deserving than Tony and we thank him for all he has done, and continues to do for Cornish rugby.
More than 80 volunteers from across Cornwall attended the 3rd Annual Cornwall RFU Development Day at St Austell RFC on Sunday 11 October 2026.
The event brought together coaches, match officials, first aiders and club volunteers for a day of learning, development and sharing best practice. Attendees took part in a wide range of sessions designed to support the continued growth of the community game across the county.
Highlights of the day included well-attended non-contact and contact coaching clinics, expertly delivered by Wayne Reed and Neil Smith, providing coaches with practical ideas and the latest insights to take back to their clubs. A dedicated First Aid course also attracted strong participation, helping clubs strengthen their player welfare provision.
Alongside the coaching and medical education opportunities, delegates completed the Play It Safe safeguarding programme and benefited from a GMS Masterclass led by Lee Maher, offering valuable support and guidance on the Rugby Football Union’s Game Management System.
The day once again demonstrated the commitment of Cornwall’s rugby volunteers to developing their knowledge and skills, ensuring players across the county continue to benefit from safe, enjoyable and high-quality rugby experiences.
Cornwall RFU would like to thank all presenters, volunteers and participants for making the event another successful and worthwhile development opportunity.
We are pleased to let you know that the Exeter Chiefs Academy Coach Development Officer
will be delivering a practical training session at Truro College on Monday 19th October 18.00-
20.00. This workshop will focus on effective coaching methods and enjoyable, player centred
training techniques designed to help young athletes grow in a positive, supportive
environment. It’s a great opportunity to pick up fresh ideas and strengthen the way we
develop our players across the county.
Please copy and paste link bellow to register your interest.
| SEASON DELAY GUIDANCE Following the announcement last week that the start of the competitive community rugby season has been delayed by two weeks, please find further guidance below to help guide CBs, referee societies, clubs, schools, colleges, universities, coaches, referees and volunteers through the upcoming weeks. As you know, RFU community rugby competitions below the men’s national league and the women’s PWR have been delayed until the week commencing 21 Sep. CBs, schools, colleges and universities are responsible for when non-RFU league and cup competitions will start. The additional RFU guidance includes information on evaluating the safety of pitches, returning players to game fitness in the build-up to the start of the competitive season, guidance on age grade rugby and more. Please share this information widely within your organisations. |
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| STATEMENT ON START OF THE COMPETITIVE COMMUNITY RUGBY SEASON After careful consideration and extensive consultation with clubs across England, we have decided to delay the start of the competitive community game season until the week commencing Monday 21 September. We appreciate this will be disappointing news to clubs, players and volunteers who have been getting ready for and looking forward to the new season but there are a range of factors we’ve considered carefully before making this decision. Executive summary – what this means for rugby • National League Rugby (NLR) can make a decision subject to RFU oversight on RFU Men’s League matches at National League 1 & 2 to take place before 21 September. • No competitive matches in RFU Men’s leagues at Regional 1 and below or RFU Women’s Leagues below PWR level will take place before 21 September. • Merit leagues are governed by Constituent Bodies (CB). Fixtures due to take place before 21 September are subject to any CB decision, considering any RFU guidance at the time. • Age grade matches in RFU competitions due to take place before 21 September have been postponed with details below of alternative dates. • Friendly matches, where possible due to local conditions, player readiness and safety, may go ahead in order to help prepare players for the competitive season. • Training can continue but it is important pitch safety is assessed before every session and RFU guidance is followed on modifying contact activity on hard grounds. • All rugby activity, including that taking place outside of RFU league matches is subject to continual review and the RFU expects to issue further guidance to clubs, CBs, schools, colleges and universities in the coming weeks or when new information is available. Why we’re making this call now As outlined in our recent guidance on managing pitches and training in drought conditions, prolonged dry weather has left many grounds across the country hard and unsuitable for safe full-contact activity. With no meaningful or lengthy spells of rain currently forecast, these ground conditions are not expected to improve significantly in the short term. With this in mind, we have taken the decision to delay and to give everyone certainty now. We understand a delayed start has real practical implications – travel bookings, catering and food orders, volunteer planning and more – and we know volunteers always value as much time as possible to plan around a confirmed date rather than a moving target. This decision has been made on three grounds: • Player welfare – hard, dry pitches increase the risk of injury, particularly in the opening weeks of the season when players are returning to full contact. We recognise that many clubs have had to limit contact training in pre-season training due to the pitch conditions. We want players to return to competition safely and adequately prepared. • Competition integrity – starting the season on pitches that aren’t fit for purpose risks uneven conditions and disruption across fixtures as well as offering advantages for those clubs able to prepare players during pre-season using Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP) – undermining fair competition from the outset. • Planning – a clear, decisive two-week delay gives clubs, schools, colleges and universities the certainty needed to plan training, fixtures, travel and logistics with confidence. What this means for adult competitions • All fixtures in men’s leagues at Regional 1 level and below due to take place before 21 September should not go ahead as planned; these matches will instead be rearranged by Regional Organising Committees (ROC). It is expected that the November break remains in place. • All fixtures in women’s leagues below PWR currently scheduled to take place before 21 September should not go ahead as planned; these matches will instead be rearranged by RFU Competitions. • Local merit leagues and merit tables are governed and administered by Constituent Bodies under the overarching authority and general regulations of the RFU. CBs, competition organisers and clubs playing in these leagues will be provided with the suggested guidance from the RFU in regard to the start to the season. • Training can continue in the meantime, but it is important pitch safety is assessed before every session and continue to follow our guidance on modifying contact activity on hard grounds – including greater use of ACTIVATE, avoiding repeated practices that take players to ground, and considering Rugby 365 AGP hire where available. What this means for age grade competitions • RFU Continental Tyres Schools Cups – U18s will now start from the round two date of 28 September, and U15s from 5 October, with an additional round added in January/February. Schools and Academies will work together to address player load. • AoC Sport College Leagues – will start from 28 September, with extra rounds added in spare weeks or January. • RFU ACE Boys League – will start from the week commencing 21 September, using reserve dates and working with teams to reschedule. • RFU ACE Girls League – will start from its round two date of the week commencing 21 September, with an additional round to be identified in January. • Local leagues, cups and competitions are governed and administered by Constituent Bodies under the overarching authority and general regulations of the RFU. CBs, competition organisers and teams playing in these leagues will be provided with this suggested guidance from the RFU in regard to the start to the season. • Training can continue in the meantime, but it is important pitch safety is assessed before every session and continue to follow our guidance on modifying contact activity on hard grounds – including greater use of ACTIVATE, avoiding repeated practices that take players to ground, and considering Rugby 365 AGP hire where available. The following competitions are unaffected due to planned start dates/availability of AGPs and will maintain their existing calendar positions: • RFU Clubs U18 Boys & Girls Cups and U16 Girls Cup • RFU/PREM Academy League • BUCS Super Rugby Men’s League • BUCS Super Rugby Women’s League • BUCS Leagues This doesn’t mean staying away from rugby clubs A delayed start to contact fixtures doesn’t mean a delayed start for your club as a whole. We’d encourage adult and age grade players, coaches and volunteers alike to keep getting down to the club over the coming weeks. T1 Rugby and non-contact formats remain a great way to get members to your clubhouse and keep them active – subject to the usual pitch risk assessment – while also giving squads valuable time to properly prepare for the return to contact when the season begins. Looking ahead: the Rugby Competition Landscape Review This decision also feeds into a wider conversation the game needs to have. The RFU’s ongoing review of the Rugby Competition Landscape is examining, among other things, how a changing climate may affect the structure and length of the domestic season going forward. As dry spells and unpredictable weather become more frequent, we recognise the traditional season shape may need to evolve to protect player welfare, pitch quality and competition integrity in future years. We’ll share more on the findings and recommendations of this review in due course, with opportunities for clubs to feed in as it progresses. We understand the decision to delay the start of the season will be disappointing but hope it helps minimise disruption and impact on volunteers. We haven’t taken the decision lightly. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for continuing to prioritise player safety and pitch care during this period. |
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| 1. IMPORTANT UPDATES We want to hear from you! We’re introducing a new way for our clubs and members to share their views with us on anything from how we regulate the game, to how we communicate, how things feel on the ground, to what could make a real difference to the administration of the game. Whatever matters most to you. Player registration for the 26/27 season is now open! To make sure your club is ready to hit the ground running at the start of the season, now is a great time to encourage age grade and adult players at your club to renew their registrations. Check out our helpful video guides in this section. England Rugby Learning England Rugby is introducing a major upgrade to how we support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. These changes will go live at the end of July and are designed to make learning simpler, more personalised, and easier to complete- especially on mobile devices. Competition Updates – travel funding and men’s Community Cup Check out the latest competition updates, including information on travel funding for next season and the future of the Men’s Community Cup following a review and community feedback. Changes to Regulation 15 for 2026/27 After consultation across the last 10 months, the new-look regulation 15 will be published shortly, alongside additional helpful guidance and resources. Remind yourself of the key changes in this section. Age grade updates – playing calendar and playing out of age grade process Alongside confirmation of the England U18 playing programme for Easter and the Schools Sevens plan for 2027, the updated Playing Calendar is now available as well as updates to the Playing Adult Rugby Application process for 17 year olds. Age Grade Summer Activity Plan – August Age Grade activity in the off season needs to be in line with the Summer Activity Plan, shared last month. Check out the plan for August in this section. READ ONLINE > |
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| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Could you reduce the energy costs at your club? If your club is looking at ways to reduce costs, strengthen sustainability and protect future investment in rugby, this is a conversation worth starting now. Take a look at these two examples from the community game at Burton RFC and St Mary’s Old Boys RFC. Cut costs. Strengthen operations. Keep more money in your club. With nearly £2m in purchasing spend reviewed and over £68,000 in confirmed annual savings already delivered, participating clubs are achieving significant savings across key purchasing categories. Find out how you can get involved with One Club in this piece. Upcoming webinars and support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and wider support your club can access and benefit from here. |
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| 3. FOR AWARENESS T1 Rugby at the Festival of Sport England Rugby is working with Festival of Sport to hold a T1 Rugby showcase match at this year’s event. The match will take place at the festival (Packington Estate) at 6.30pm on Saturday 25 July. Community News – monthly round-up Read this month’s roundup of the best community rugby stories – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
We’ve got a big summer of coach development ahead, with several opportunities designed to support the continuous growth of your coaches — because when we invest in coaches, we invest in players.
These sessions are real opportunities to strengthen your club’s future, so please make the most of them.
XV Aside Coaching Performance Day – Saturday 11 July Featuring guest coaches Ricky Pellow & Joe Walsh. A high‑quality practical day for coaches at all levels. 
Book here: https://www.coachcentered.com/shop/p/saturday-11th-july-cornwall-xv-aside-coaching-performance-day
Recruiting, Deploying & Developing Coaches Workshop – Monday 3 August, 7pm (St Austell) Our first workshop in Cornwall focused on building and sustaining a strong coaching workforce.
England Rugby Learning – RFU Transition Briefings The RFU are transitioning to the new England Rugby Learning platform this summer. This will change how coaches, referees and volunteers access learning.
Please share these briefing sessions with your teams:
• 06 July – 7pm
• 07 July – 6pm
• 08 July – 7pm
• 13 July – 7pm
• 14 July – 12:30pm
• 15 July – 12:30pm
• 15 July – 6:30pm
All session links are available via the RFU Teams events pages.
Let’s continue building strong, confident and well supported coaches across Cornwall. Please share with your club coaching teams.
Daubroy Delahunty
CRFU Game Development
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| THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS – A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO As another busy and exciting community rugby season comes to a close, Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO, wanted to take a moment to say thank you for everything you have done to deliver the game. 1. IMPORTANT UPDATES Player registration season switchover information Ahead of the season switchover for 26/27, scheduled for 1 July, check out all the key information you need to know, including when and how you’ll receive registration information, as well as key technology changes that are streamlining the process. England Rugby Learning – Upcoming technology changes We’re introducing a major upgrade to how we support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. Learn about it in this section. Age Grade Regulation 15 – What’s changing With over 600 survey responses and many conversations with clubs, schools, colleges and partner organisations, the community game has been integral to upcoming Regulation 15 changes. Find out more about the changes and the planned implementation of them in this piece. National Schools Finals, ACE Girls play-offs & Rosslyn Park dates 2027 We want to make you aware of some changes to the age grade calendar pre-Easter in 2027 that rebalances the Age Grade Playing Calendar for the benefit of the whole game at that time. Age Grade Summer Activity Plan – July Age Grade activity in the off season needs to be in line with the Summer Activity Plan, shared last month. Check out the plan for July in this section. READ ONLINE > |
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| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Share your views on the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship The County Championship Management Committee is inviting players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters to share their views on the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship. Help shape the future of the competition in this section. Cut costs. Strengthen operations. Keep more money in your club. With nearly £2m in purchasing spend reviewed and over £68,000 in confirmed annual savings already delivered, participating clubs are achieving significant savings across key purchasing categories. Find out how you can get involved with One Club in this piece. Upcoming webinars and support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and wider support your club can access and benefit from here. |
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| 3. FOR AWARENESS County Championship Finals The 2026 England County Championships came to an end last weekend with seven fantastic finals played at the Allianz Stadium. Huge congratulations to all the teams that made it to the finals and for showcasing the very best of county representative rugby. Rugby family breaks IPF fundraising record for injured players 12 community rugby teams came together at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to raise a record-breaking £153,000 for players supported by the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF), England Rugby’s official charity. Community News – monthly round-up Read this month’s round-up of the best community rugby stories – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
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| 1. IMPORTANT UPDATES A clearer, fairer pathway for girls in rugby We’ve launched a new national framework for the RFU Girls’ Player Pathway, giving talented girls a clear, consistent route to develop – wherever they play. Information on Martyn’s Law You may have seen some recent coverage about Martyn’s Law, also known as the Terrorism ( Protection of Premises) Act. We’ll continue to work through what this means specifically for rugby, and the RFU will share clear, sector-specific guidance for each tier in due course. FREE STIGA mowers – Make sure your club doesn’t miss out STIGA, the RFU’s Official Grounds Care Partner, is offering free robotic mowers to community clubs, helping them save time, reduce costs, and improve turf quality. Register your interest in receiving one today! Age Grade Summer Activity Plan – June Age Grade activity in the off season needs to be in line with the Summer Activity Plan, shared last month. Check out the plan for June in this section. READ ONLINE > |
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| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST National Volunteers’ Week: 1 – 7 June Volunteers’ Week is being celebrated between Monday 1 and Sunday 7 June. If you want to use this national celebration to say thank you to your volunteers, the RFU have developed some templates to help. Reduce your running costs with One Club Through the One Club alliance, rugby clubs can gain a uniquely valuable combination of cost savings and practical, operational insight that makes a meaningful difference where it matters most — your club’s bottom line. Find out how you can access the support in this section. Local Engagement Sessions – May 2026 Following the success of our January Club Engagement events, we are pleased to announce the next series of sessions, designed to provide targeted, practical support for rugby clubs. RFU Injured Players Foundation Awareness Survey 2026 What do you know about the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF)? Please complete and share this short survey with your clubs/teams to help the IPF understand levels of awareness of the charity amongst our community. Upcoming webinars and support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and wider support your club can access and benefit from here. |
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| 3. FOR AWARENESS County Championship Feedback Opportunity We will in the next few weeks be reaching out for thoughts and feedback on the Gill Burns County Championships via a survey and some online focus groups so please keep an eye out and we look forward to hearing your feedback. Community News – monthly round-up Read this month’s roundup of the best community rugby stories – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
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| 1. IMPORTANT UPDATES Special General Meeting this week (Friday 24 April) – please read and vote An RFU Special General Meeting (SGM) relating to governance reform takes place this Friday, April 24. Ahead of the meeting, we strongly encourage all members and clubs to take the time to read the supporting documents in full and ensure you have a clear understanding of what is being proposed and why. Summer Activity Plan 2026 The Summer Activity Plan for this summer is now available to view. This provides the maximum activity permitted in the off-season months from May to August within the regulations of the age grade game. Girls Registrations – 26,000 and counting! The RFU has an ambitious target of hitting 27.5k girls player registrations target in 2026. The number of girls registrations has been and is continuing to climb steadily and has now topped the 26k mark. England Rugby Learning – Upcoming Technology Improvements England Rugby is introducing a major upgrade to how we support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. 2026/27 RFU Women’s League and Inner Warrior Series Entry Information Applications are now open for entries into the 2026/27 RFU Women’s League structure and the Inner Warrior Series. Only new, withdrawn, or expunged teams are invited to complete the online entry form to confirm participation in the 2026/27 season. READ ONLINE > |
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| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Local Engagement Sessions – May 2026 Following the success of our January Club Engagement events, we are pleased to announce the next series of sessions, designed to provide targeted, practical support for rugby clubs. RFU Injured Players Foundation Awareness Survey 2026 What do you know about the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF)? Please complete and share this short survey with your clubs/teams to help the IPF understand levels of awareness of the charity amongst our community. Reduce your running costs with One Club Through the One Club alliance, rugby clubs can gain a uniquely valuable combination of cost savings and practical, operational insight that makes a meaningful difference where it matters most – your club’s bottom line. Find out how you can access the support in this section. Upcoming webinars and support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and wider support your club can access and benefit from here. |
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| 3. FOR AWARENESS New SEND resources for T1 rugby Our schools’ team have worked with the Youth Sports Trust to develop a suite of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resources, designed to support schools, teachers and other partners to deliver inclusive, enjoyable and meaningful rugby‑inspired activity for all young people. Business Rates Support and Helpline Business rates are a property tax charged by the local council on the property you occupy. The government have confirmed the outcome of the latest revaluation of premises which establishes a new set of Rateable Values for all properties. Find out what this means for your club in this section. The new GMS Competitions module has launched Please note, until the season switchover on 1 July, both the new Competitions Management module and the existing V12 module will run alongside each other. Community News – monthly round-up Read this month’s roundup of the best community rugby stories – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
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