Welcome to the third Rugby World Cup edition of the Community Game Update, which we hope you find of interest. Please feel free to send any feedback, queries or content that you’d like featured to Vee Montebello, RFU Senior Communications Manager (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Our communications to you are based on the data that is held in the Game Management System (GMS) so please check the information held is up to date and active.
What a tremendous time this is for our sport and, with the new season underway, what a busy time for the game in general.
I’ve been lucky enough to be out in Japan for some of the Rugby World Cup where the atmosphere is terrific and the mood in Eddie’s England camp is really positive. They are, I can assure you, very conscious and appreciative of the support back home. It provides great motivation in what is a very competitive tournament.
Although you can never take anything for granted in sport, and to win the Rugby World Cup means winning the remaining five games in five weeks, Eddie and his coaching team are fully focused on making sure that this squad are in the best possible position to deliver on its potential. I really do believe that Eddie is the best coach to lead us in Japan, who in 20 World Cup games has lost only two.
This is also a unique time and opportunity for all of us. Following the professionalisation of the game 24 years ago, there is an emerging sense that we are entering a critical phase in the development of the game and a new era for rugby. There are a number of big topics to resolve which will shape the game both at home in England and globally for the years to come.
We need to safeguard, protect and develop our game, collaborate with key stakeholders and ensure its future health and growth by uniting rugby union for the benefit of all.
A great deal of work is going on and I would like to thank all involved in supporting the England team, the game and its future.
By the New Year we will have completed months of thinking on Project Union, which is all about how we prioritise our resources and focus our energy. It defines our purpose, why the RFU exists; our vision of inspiring and leading rugby union in England; our core mission of how we will deliver on our vision; underpinned by key objectives and measuring our success in meeting them.
In this work we have consulted widely with the game and it will be to the game that we launch the finalised Project Union in 2020.
It’s great to hear about all the games being played as the season unfolds, as well as the Rise and Shine events around the country. The amazing work of volunteers nationwide was very apparent when I was at the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer of the Year Awards last month. Our volunteers are undoubtedly among our most valuable assets, no matter what their role, on or off the pitch, behind the scenes or on the committee.
This is a really exciting time to be involved in rugby and specifically England Rugby and I know, like all the Japan fans going crazy after beating Ireland, everyone involved in rugby in England is right behind Eddie and his team.
Rise and Shine
Great events continue to take place nationwide so please keep us posted, share your Rugby World Cup news and send in your photos.
This week we’ve pictured Sedgley Park RUFC who held an England v USA game event for 200 girls from eight local schools, promoting the women’s game. Laura Perrin, England U20 and Firwood Waterloo player was there to demonstrate and talk about the sport.
There’s loads of interesting posts on England Rugby’s social media channels providing news on the team and it’s great to have the nation behind the squad. #CarryThemHome
AGP means rain doesn’t stop play
The torrential rain has caused havoc around the country. However, it doesn’t mean that games have to be cancelled because we have the potential to host rugby at short notice on our AGPs. At this time of year it’s also a sensible option in any case to plan activity on AGPs whenever possible to avoid calling off events in bad weather.
There are 26 AGPs nationwide where players of all ages can enjoy any of rugby’s various formats. Currently, for a nominal fee of £1 clubs or groups of players can book a slot for a full pitch, at any time of day, on any AGP up to Saturday 9 November 2019. Simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain a code. This offer is subject to T&Cs and availability.
Changes to bear in mind for the new season
A number of changes have been introduced for the new season, including:
• Age grade player registration • Logging into the Game Management System (GMS) • Course booking system • Electronic Match Cards • 17 year olds playing adult rugby • The Half Game Rule • Game On • The Age grade playing calendar
To support clubs in making a good start to the season, an update is available below providing more information.
With less than a month to go before Bonfire Night, clubs planning fireworks events need to be sorting all their arrangements out and ensuring that they are fully insured. Protection for fireworks and bonfire parties is included as part of the RFU insurance, provided your club complies with the guidance from insurers. You can find the guidance online below. If you are not able to fully comply then please click here and upload a copy of the current Event Management Plan and/or Risk Assessment and advise which matter(s) you are unable to comply with and the reason(s) why. Howdens will then refer this to insurers for sign-off. For more information please click below, call 0121 698 8043, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The excellent response from the game to effectively using Electronic Match Cards has meant we could launch a new monthly activity, Team of the Month. Click below to read this month’s bulletin.
This monthly update is driven from the data that comes from Electronic Match Card. The results will appear in the new ‘Match Centre’ that will be available this autumn within the Fixtures and Results area of www.englandrugby.com.
We are keen to get more teams involved, particularly from levels 5 and below, to obtain more player data and deliver statistics for a wider range of clubs.
To get your club and teams included in the tables, simply submit your match day information on the Match Events tab of your Electronic Match Card below.
As we approach World Mental Health Day, we want to remind clubs of the importance of recognising and supporting members of your club who might be struggling with mental health issues. Information about where clubs can find appropriate support and guidance from recognised specialists is now part of RugbySafe, the RFU’s overarching player safety and wellbeing campaign, supported by SimplyHealth. Click below for more information.
It’s estimated that one in four people will experience a mental health illness each year in the UK. For them, the pressures and strains of life and work can act as a catalyst to mental health problems, with the most common being depression and anxiety. However, the links between good physical health and mental health are well recognised. Physical activity like playing rugby can be very beneficial for mental health and wellbeing as well as bringing physical benefits.
A number of CB and clubs have linked with local organisations to increase awareness and offer support for players. It is vital any CB/club considering doing this, undertakes the appropriate due diligence to ensure that the appropriate guidance and expertise is in place.
CBs Durham and Gloucestershire are both running their own mental health player programmes. New case studies of these programmes will be launched on World Mental Health Day.
National Parents and Sports Week kicks off today. There are some great materials available for clubs to use with their members provided by the Child Protection in Sport Unit of the NSPCC (CPSU). They have launched a campaign to engage and encourage parents to help their children to have a safe and fun time in sport by making the Sports Parents Promise below.
England Rugby and Optimum Nutrition have launched a new nutritional education hub ‘Food for Rugby’ to provide expert advice on nutrition for players, coaches and parents within the community game. The hub, is an easily accessible, one-stop shop for rugby specific nutritional information hosted on England Rugby’s website. Players can discover top tips including how to fuel themselves during training, what to eat on a match day, how to control muscle gains and fat loss and all-important recovery. There are recipes designed by leading rugby industry chefs and England’s nutritional team and players can learn how to replicate the meals prepared for the England squad. England players will also share their secret recipes via handy video tutorials.
We highly recommend sharing this handy tool with your clubs and encouraging players to take a look at the page below.
There is also an interesting video for players to watch here.
England Rugby has a ‘food-first’ policy but recognises there are circumstances where the use of selected supplements is appropriate. Guidance for rugby players who may be considering or already using nutritional supplements can be found below.
Clubs continue to make savings and benefit from free advice given on the VAT helpline, advising how to optimise levels of VAT recovery on general expenditure and facility improvements and explaining what incomes are VAT free. Over the past season this has seen VAT savings of just under £2m achieved across the game. The first 30 minutes of advice is free to clubs, with any additional services provided at greatly reduced rates. Clubs can contact the helpline either by calling Russell on 07710 329317 or by emailing their enquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Upcoming England & Twickenham fixtures
October: 12 – Rugby World Cup 2019 - England v France (9.15am)
November: 09 - England Women v France Women (Stade Marcel Michelin) (1pm) 16 – Quilter Internationals 2019 - England Women v France Women (Sandy Park, Exeter) (1.10pm) 16 – Killik Cup 2019 - Barbarians v Fiji (Twickenham Stadium) (2.30pm) 23 – Quilter Internationals 2019 - England Women v Italy Women (Goldington Road, Bedford Blues) (3pm)
If you are interested in attending any of the Red Roses’ Quilter Internationals or the Killik Cup, please click below to purchase.
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