RFU Monthly Magazine
Hi
Please find the latest edition of the Community Game Update. As previously communicated, we are moving to a regular, monthly communication, replacing our previous fortnightly releases.
We hope you find the update a benefit to your club, and if you have any feedback, queries or content you would like to feature, please email Tom Ainscough (tomainscough@rfu.com).
International Ticket Allocation - a letter from the RFU CEO Steve Brown
As you may be aware, at least 50% of all tickets for England internationals at Twickenham are allocated to the club game. Profits from ticket sales are reinvested in the game, both at grass roots and elite level. We have had to sanction 79 clubs, CBs and referee societies this season by temporarily restricting access to their international match ticket allocation, for selling their tickets on the black market.
With the sale window now open for clubs to purchase their allocations for the 2018 Quilter Internationals, a letter from Steve Brown reminding clubs of how they can utilise their international match tickets can be found here. The letter also provides examples of restrictions on ticket use. In order to continue policing this, we are always interested to hear from clubs about how they distribute their international match tickets. If in the past a club has sold international match tickets to unofficial hospitality providers and are prepared to disclose the details of such transfers then we will not be applying a sanction. Clubs can provide such information, on an anonymous basis if deemed necessary, to legal@rfu.com.
Electronic Match Card extended roll out
Electronic Match Card (EMC) will be extended to level eight within the men’s league structure and to National Challenge 1 within the women’s league structure. This will result in an additional 518 clubs and additional 5000+ matches captured via EMC. The level of detail required will be the same as currently required at levels five and six i.e. team line-ups and result.
To support the roll out, we will be launching a comprehensive training and support package to help you make this transition a success. In the coming weeks we will be communicating with club Honorary Secretaries and Fixture Secretaries (using the roles’ details in GMS) with further detail about the level of support that will be provided. As well as online tutorials and guideline documents, face-to-face training will be available during the last week of July and the first week of August. In-season support will include a dedicated phone line available during match days. Exact training sites are still to be confirmed. However, please note the following dates:
North DOC region
30 July – League Secretaries
31 July - Clubs
1 August – Clubs
Midlands DOC region
6 August – League Secretaries
7 August – Clubs
8 August – Clubs
London & South East DOC region
6 August – League Secretaries
7 August – Clubs
8 August – Clubs
South West DOC region
30 July – League Secretaries
31 July – Clubs
1 August – Clubs
Further details on booking spaces at training sessions will follow, but for more information please contact competitions@rfu.com.
Payment of players declaration update
Following on from the circulation of new payment of players regulations and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in last month’s Community Game Update, please find information here on the declaration, as well as a guide on how to access it via GMS. We would encourage clubs to utilise this, and participate in a test run of completing and submitting a declaration for the 2017/18 season, to familiarise themselves with the process and test the system. Please note that this would be a test run and it is not mandatory at this stage. It will also not impact RFU financial benefits for the 2018/19 season.
From season 2018/19 clubs will, if they wish to receive financial benefits from the RFU, be required to submit an accurate and completed signed annual declaration, confirming if players have been paid and the total value of those payments. Clubs will be free to exceed the maximum payments laid out in the regulations, but in doing so will render the club ineligible for RFU financial benefits. For more information or any queries, please contact PaymentofPlayers@rfu.com.
Age grade representative rugby teams
Representative rugby plays an important part of the ‘total rugby offer’ providing opportunities to enrich, reward and recognise talented and committed players, coaches, selectors, medics and volunteer administrators within the community game. Recent season have seen a number of changes to regulations and the delivery of Age Grade programmes. The RFU have created an updated Representative Age Grade Rugby Message, which provides clarification on the regulations, delivery models and funding of representative Age Grade teams. For more information, please contact your local Player Pathway Officer:
Alan Hubbleday, (alanhubbleday@rfu.com): Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire & Somerset.
Grant Hathaway, (granthathaway@rfu.com): Eastern Counties, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey & Sussex.
George Glenn, (georgeglenn@rfu.com): East Midlands, Leicestershire, NLD, North Midlands, Staffordshire & Warwickshire
Peter Taylor, (petertaylor@rfu.com): Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland & Yorkshire
Nominate someone from the game for a UK National Honour
We know that there are hundreds of people who are working hard, often behind the scenes, at grassroots level and in a voluntary capacity who play a vital role in the success of rugby in England. We want you to use the UK Honours system to thank those outstanding individuals.
Gaining a national Honour is an extraordinary achievement and we must make sure that the nomination has what it takes to make it all the way to Buckingham Palace. We would advise the following when considering a nomination:
• The nomination form should describe what is special about your candidate’s achievements and show where and how they have made a difference. There should be an emphasis on practical achievements and any charity and voluntary work should be included.
• Nominations should be made while the candidate is still active and, if possible, at least 12 months before he/she is expected to retire or stand down, because of the time needed to assess their contribution.
• It is important that any candidate nominated for an Honour is not told so as not to raise expectation or cause disappointment. We look forward to receiving your nominations.
Submissions can be made at any time throughout the year. A copy of the Guidance Notes and the Application Form can be found here.
Completed forms together with any letters of support should be sent to Hannah Feiner, Public Affairs Manager, at hannahfeiner@rfu.com. Equally, if you would like any help writing the citation please contact the RFU Public Affairs Team at the same email address and we will be able to advise further.
Clubs Contact Directory – please update your details now
All clubs should please update GMS by Friday 29 June, with your officers’ roles, emails, and short directions. Please also ensure that you consent to your details being included in the clubs directory and being hosted on our website. The RFU’s Club Contact Directory serves grassroots clubs, CBs and referees, with community clubs’ details, including contacts’ details and playing colours, and covers all clubs from National Division 1 and below, and also non-affiliated clubs.
All information will be taken from our GMS database so please make sure your club information is correct and opt in – log in to GMS/personal details/communications/opt in or out drop down menu. If you have forgotten your password, please contact gmssupport@rfu.com.
The next Community Game Update will be released on Friday 6th July
Teamwork
Respect
Enjoyment
Discipline
Sportsmanship
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