News Archive

Community Game Update: May 2019

 

May 2019 Community Game Update contains important information on the following:

 

• International Ticket Allocations Update
• We Play Rugby: Game On
• Essential Information for the game and GMS administrators
• National Rugby Survey Deadline
• Making sure they love their rugby
• Deadline for Declaring Player Payments
• Poll: how do you rate your rugby experience?
• VAT’s No Problem
• Legal and tax help

 

 

International Ticket Allocations Update

 

Thank you to the 525 clubs who have inputted information on their 2018-19 matches into the Game Management System so far.

 

Those yet to do so are reminded that failure to enter the required information is likely to result in a lower allocation of international tickets to your club than is currently the case.

 

Further information on these changes is available in previous editions of the Community Game update (click here to view). Clubs are reminded that the deadline to enter all 2018-2019 matches is Friday 17 May 2019.

 

Using this 2018-19 data, the RFU will forecast and share the indicative number of international tickets community clubs and geographic Constituent Bodies (CBs) can expect to receive. The actual allocations will be finalised once the results from the 2019-20 season have been collected.

 

Apart from determining ticket allocations, inputting your club’s matches will provide the RFU with a clear view of the health of the game and inform a review of the 2018-19 season.

 

Any clubs with significant gaps in GMS matches and teams data, should contact their RDO. For support accessing GMS and other FAQs, please click here. For technical help, please contact the GMS Service Desk (0208 831 6651, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday) or email [email protected].

 

 

We Play Rugby: Game On

Supporting getting more matches played and a Regulation from 2019-20

 

Game On has been developed to get more matches played at lower levels in the adult game. This includes playing with less than 15 players, uncontested scrums and/or lineouts, reduced playing time and use of rolling subs. It is a direct response to feedback from players and teams in the National Rugby Survey about the kind of rugby they want to play. Approximately a third of scheduled matches at lower XV level for men and women are cancelled. Game On has been designed to provide a menu of options to teams and players that reduces this figure.

 

From the start of next season, Game On will be embedded into RFU playing regulations, which means it applies to all friendly matches and competitions OUTSIDE the men’s and women’s RFU English Clubs Championship. This is a positive approach towards ensuring that more matches are played.

 

Game On support guides and information will be available in the coming months to help everyone prepare for the 2019-20 season. At this stage, we are asking players, club officials, team managers, referees, coaches and competition organisers to be aware of Game On, spread the word and prepare for its introduction.

 

For further information contact your local RFU rugby representative or Competitions Development Officers (CDOs):

 

• North – Matt Bryan ([email protected])
• Midlands – Liz Fletcher ([email protected])
• London and South East – Ben Ramsay ([email protected])
• South West – Katie Oldrieve ([email protected])

 

CDOs are specifically tasked with supporting CBs and competitions organisers in developing playing opportunities to retain and transition players and are working with a number of CBs to do so for 2019-20.

 

 

Essential Information for the game and GMS administrators

 

Ahead of the 2019-20 season, some significant changes have been made to GMS processes, to help CB and club administrators:

 

Electronic Match Cards

 

Following this season’s largely successful introduction of Electronic Match Cards (EMCs) down to Level 8 for men and National Challenge 1 for women, for the 2019-20 season this will be rolled out to all men’s and women’s RFU leagues and Cups in the English Clubs Championship.

 

To support this, the following will be available for clubs and CBs:

 

1. Further technical upgrades to improve the process and user experience
2. Refreshed video and written training materials reflecting technical upgrades housed on a dedicated section of the GMS Hub
3. Face-to-face training sessions delivered in the summer
4. A dedicated EMC Helpdesk available at business critical hours at weekends in addition to the GMS Helpdesk available 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
5. In response to requests, we are also developing a set of reports available in GMS allowing clubs and CBs access to relevant EMC data to assess availability patterns and match events for their players, teams and clubs. Exact dates for the publication of this information are still to be finalised. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact RFU Competitions Manager Paul O’Leary ([email protected])

 

National Rugby Survey Deadline

 

To understand accurate numbers and support Age Grade players, we need all clubs to forward the link to latest England Rugby National Survey for their young players to complete.

 

We want to hear from players aged between 7-18, and from those who may have played previously but don’t now.

 

Please help by getting this link to them www.englandrugby.com/survey.

 

All responses will be entered into a prize draw to win tickets to an England match at Twickenham Stadium. The survey closes on Monday 3 June.

 

Making sure they love their rugby

 

Nobody wants young rugby players to leave the game because of pressure from parents, coaches or supporters on the touchline.

 

Sometimes what’s perceived as encouragement can discourage and what’s believed to be supportive can undermine players’ confidence and self-esteem.

 

Clubs who want to make sure that they are protecting the wellbeing of their players can take advantage of an RFU Rugby Aware workshop which they can deliver themselves at a time that suits everyone.

 

Aimed at parents, coaches, team management and volunteers, the Rugby Aware workshop discusses the current and important topics within the game. The focus is on touchline behaviour and player welfare and the role and impact that individuals can have on players. It covers the importance of promoting rugby union’s core values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

 

Why not play your part in putting player welfare at the heart of the game in your club?

 

Email your questions to [email protected] or download the resources now by clicking here.

 

 

Deadline for Declaring Player Payments

 

With two months to go until the deadline for submission of Payment of Player declarations, mandatory under RFU Regulation 7, please note that Sunday 30 June is the final deadline for submissions.

 

The requirement came in to force on Wednesday 1 August 2018 for the 2018-19 season for all clubs (Level 3 and below) wishing to be eligible for RFU benefits. The declaration covers the period of Friday 1 June 2018 – Friday 31 May 2019.

 

For more information about the registration of contracted players, please click here.

For any queries around Payment of Players, contact [email protected].

For any player registration queries, contact [email protected].

 

 

Poll: how do you rate your rugby experience?

 

To ensure rugby is enjoyed by all involved in the game, it’s important we understand how the rugby community rate their individual experience. From this, we can better understand how we’re performing and where our work is having a positive impact, as well as those areas we need to continue to focus our efforts.

 

Please help us by filling in this quick, two question poll available here.

 

The poll will be open until Friday 31 May and we would be grateful if you could please share among your networks.

 

VAT’s No Problem

 

Is your club getting the most out of recovering VAT costs?

 

Why not join all the others who are making savings thanks to free advice from the RFU’s VAT helpline?

 

Whether it’s optimising your VAT recovery on general expenditure and facility improvements, or discovering just which incomes are VAT free, your club simply needs to call Russell Moore on 07710 329317 or by send an e mail to [email protected].

 

Legal and tax help

 

All RFU member clubs can get free advice on legal or tax related matters, as well as online support to create standard contracts and legal documents.

 

To draft legal documents covering things like employment agreements, health & safety or website privacy policies, you only need to respond to a series of easy-to-answer questions to put them together.

 

Register by entering the RFU clubs’ voucher code – ARAG751BIZ and to access the system click here.

 

The RFU’s Legal & Tax Helpline is on 0330 303 1877.