Hello everyone, as I am sure most of you will be aware community rugby has now received the okay from the RFU to move to point C on the 'Return to Rugby' pathway.
This will enable intra-club touch rugby matches to start for teams of 10 players. Last week Alan Low held a conference call, to which all Team Managers and Coaches were invited, to explain how we proposed to follow this pathway. A Coaches’ Safeguarding Guide and a Safeguarding Advice for Parents Guide have been produced and these are currently being shared so everyone will have a step-by-step guide of do's and dont's, ensuring everyone stays alert and abides by Government guidance. Big thanks to Sam Allen for producing these!
I am sure it will take some time for everyone to familiarize themselves with these processes and all we would ask is that people bear with the coaching teams as they try to establish the new norm. The Senior squads will be leading the way this week and if anyone would like to visit on a Tuesday or Thursday evening to see how the process operates, they will be welcome – subject to social distancing rules!
Looking at the Junior age groups, again there will need for some flexibility re. training days and times to ensure we can accommodate all age groups safely. Alan and his team will be working out a timetable to satisfy all teams' needs as best as possible.
In terms of the clubhouse, we are planning to have a phased opening with effect from the August Bank Holiday weekend. It is proposed that the club will be open on the following dates and times to coincide with the Gallagher Premiership matches which are being shown on BT Sport:
- Saturday 29 August 2pm-6pm
- Sunday 30 August 1pm-6.30pm
- Monday 31 August 12noon-5pm.
Based on social distancing requirements, we will be able to accommodate c50 members on a first-come first-served basis. The bar will operate on a table-service basis with Track & Trace data required. Due to the additional staffing requirements we would ask that if there are any members who are prepared help out in a voluntary capacity, taking orders or monitoring the entrance, it would be greatly appreciated.
The following weekend (5/6 September), we are looking to organise a working morning to link into the NatWest Rugby Force, followed by the televised rugby.
The weekend after that (12/13 September), we will look to be part of the RFU’s Back to Rugby program – watch club Social Media posts for further details once known.
We have had to push the AGM back to Tuesday 15 September and full details will be published shortly. As advised previously, we are proposing to keep membership fees at existing levels for the coming season. Membership income is vital to secure the continued operation of the club when all other income streams are virtually nonexistent, so if you can support your club by the early payment of memberships it would be greatly appreciated. As ever if there are genuine hardship cases please let us know as we would much prefer to discuss what is feasible rather than lose a member.
Subject to GMS playing ball, we have updated all membership cards so that they will continue to work until 30 September to give people more time to update their memberships.
Hopefully, we are now moving in the right direction in terms of both on-field and off-field activity. There is still a long way to go, but at least we can now watch some domestic rugby on TV, with all our local clubs turning in some decent performances. Let’s hope they continue!
