Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Dear Colleague

Covid, Rugby in Eastern Counties and the Eastern Counties Rugby Union
The last week has been a frustrating and difficult one for our sport. You will have read or seen the news of changes to the Covid regulations, the impact of those changes on the finances of the RFU and the further delay of the restart of league rugby and of youth competitions.
At Eastern Counties we are acutely aware of the difficulties these pieces of news bring to our clubs and of the anxiety and concern that many in the game will be feeling. But rugby must and will struggle on – the game is too important, and the benefits it brings to those involved too significant, to allow for any other future.

Rule of Six, Social Distancing, Bars and Clubhouses
You will have seen the guidance that has come out about the new laws regarding hospitality and the operation of bars and food outlets. If you want to see the details for yourself they can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-what-has-changed-22-september
Some key points:
• Bars and food outlets must be CLOSED by 2200 and cannot open before 0500. ‘Closed’ means ‘Closed’ not ‘Closing’, not ‘Drinking Up’, not ‘Just having a quick one before I go’. In practice that must mean ‘Last Orders’ by 2130 so that buildings can be empty and secure by 2200.
• The rule of six applies to all present – whether indoors or outdoors – and there should not be mingling between groups. There is an exception for the playing of team sports, but only for the playing itself – pre and post-match gatherings must respect the need to remain in no more that sixes. That is quite the opposite of most rugby supporters’ natural tendencies and needs to be managed. Social distancing and the rule of six also applies to spectators.
• Masks must be worn indoors unless people are seated at a table to eat or drink. This applies to staff as well.
• Food and drink must be ordered from and served at a table, not at the bar or counter.
• You need to ensure that the NHS QR code is displayed so that people can use the NHS app to ‘check in’ for track and trace purposes, Anyone not able to use the app must be recorded as having visited and their contact details taken and kept.

This probably seems quite draconian, but it is the law. We already know of police in other parts of the country being called to a rugby club who were running a perfectly legitimate Ready4Rugby event because neighbours had reported concern about a gathering.
If your club is surrounded by housing, we would recommend that you make special effort to make sure your neighbours know that you understand and are abiding by all the regulations that apply. And advance notice of any event you might be running is probably worth considering as well.

Playing Competitive Rugby
The latest RFU Coronavirus Update was issued on 24 September - http://links.emails.rfumail.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTA2MjU4ODES1&r=MjY5Mjk5NTMwNTEwS0&j=MTU5Mzk5MDc2NwS2&mt=1&rt=0 – this made clear that we remain at Stage D – some limited contact permitted – of the Return to Rugby Roadmap. It also made clear that there will no be no community competitive rugby – male, female, adult or youth – before January 2021 ‘at the earliest’, although there remains an outside chance of friendly games before then.
This is obviously a massive problem for the game. Early signs have been that there is enthusiasm among our players and coaches to return to the game as soon as possible, but there is obviously a concern that this enthusiasm might not be maintained through the winter months if there is no actual rugby to look forward to. Clubs are responding positively with ‘Ready4Rugby’ touch events – mostly so far within clubs but these can be organised between clubs as well (subject to all the arrangements for social distancing described above) and our referees societies are happy to be asked to support these events with some match officials (who are rugby fans like the rest of us and missing the game as much as the players are). As things stand, Eastern Counties don’t intend to try to organise any ‘Ready4Rugby’ or O2 Touch events – we think this is best handled by individual clubs. We will keep this position under review as the season goes on.
Finances

Many of you will have seen the statement made by Bill Sweeney, RFU Chief Executive (https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/a-statement-from-bill-sweeney-rfu-ceo), regarding the RFU’s finances and the impact that the lack of games will have on the finances of the game as a whole. Eastern Counties is already budgeting for very little if any financial support for our activities from the RFU next season, but we do retain a small fund to provide immediate support to clubs who are in difficulty. We are in regular contact with all our member clubs and will respond to any issues as they arise. There may be government support forthcoming, but with much national attention focussed on the professional game we think it would be foolish to count on significant funding reaching the grassroots from central sources. If you are in difficulty please get in touch and we will do what we can to help.

Farewells
There has been extensive coverage in both traditional and social media of the staffing changes within the RFU and the reduction in number of locally based RFU staff. Eastern Counties are sad that this has had a local impact on individuals based in our part of the world. Sam Carpenter, Rugby Development Officer for Norfolk, and Amanda Jones and Tim Reed, Community Rugby Coaches for Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, are leaving the RFU at the end of September. They have each made an impact on our game in this part of the country, we are sorry to see them go and we wish them well for the future in whatever challenge they take up next.
Details of the new structure are not yet published and there remain some posts still to be filled. We will do our best to ensure that clear information comes to clubs about how the new arrangements will operate when we have more information.
Nil Desperandum

We are facing difficult times. There is certainly going to be less money around in rugby in the coming years. But rugby is not about money. It is about the game, the fellowship that arises from playing, watching and coaching the game. About the joy of seeing the joy of others as they play the game – and the values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. As I travel from club to club – and I look forward to doing more of that in the next few months than I have achieved in the last few – I see many examples of great commitment, creativity and initiative that will stand our game in great stead. The game is the thing – and whatever else happens, we still have that.

Yours in rugby,
John Winders,
President, Eastern Counties Rugby Union
26th. September 2020