Coronavirus Advice and Support

Return to full contact rugby – update 14 July 2021

The Rugby Football Union has confirmed the re-introduction of scrums and mauls for rugby training in the community game from Monday 19th July.

Full contact 15-a-side matches will be permitted three weeks later from the 7th August.

Sevens rugby can return with full laws from Monday 19th July.

Clubs and coaches must follow the RFU’s Rugby Roadmap and return to scrummaging guidance, to provide an incremental and safe return for all players.

Further information and guidance on returning to scrummaging can be found on the following page of the RFU website.

Return to rugby at Unit Level – update 26 April 2021

The RFU Return to Rugby Roadmap moves to level D2 from Mon 26 Apr 21.

So what does this mean for my unit?

The commencement of Unit rugby is at the Commanding Officers discretion and risk.

In line with the RFU Roadmap, from 26th April Units may commence contact training (excluding scrum and maul) and play adapted law (no scrum and maul) matches within Garrison locations. The RO is to ensure all personnel participating are to be listed on UP1 orders.

As per our previous return, it is acknowledged some units do not sit within a Garrison area. The Chair Unit Competitions, Major Andy Bennett should be approached if units identify other local units or civilian clubs to play. ROs wishing for their units to play a match must follow the guidance given by the Chair Unit Competitions, Major Andy Bennett..

Full details the adapted laws can be found here and summarised below:

There will be no scrums or mauls in the game.
Instead of a scrum, the game will restart with a free kick. This free kick cannot be taken quickly.
A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout.
A team awarded a penalty or free kick will no longer be able to choose a scrum option.
A team awarded a penalty or free kick at a lineout can instead choose another lineout at the same mark.

We are conscious units and teams not based in England (under the RFU) may have received different guidance from their governing bodies. For example, the WRU have released this ‘Pathway to Participation’, which differs in dates and activity allowed to that of the RFU.

However, as your affiliation falls under the ARU (who are governed by the RFU), you should work to ARU guidance as this is where your insurance is.

Your Unit must be affiliated to the ARU to be covered by insurance to train and/or play rugby. If you have not yet done this full details can be found here – for any queries, please contact the ARU Admin Officer Mrs Izzy Camfield Email

Any other queries should be directed in the first instance to the Chair of Community Rugby Competitions, Major Andy Bennett Email

Useful links can be found to the bottom of this page and also on the Unit Rugby Officer page.

Representative rugby, Corps level and above, remains suspended until 17th May 2021, ref ABN 036/2021.

Changes to OSV’s and Training Camps direction and guidance – update 06 April 21

The source document for the conduct of Army Overseas Sports Visits (OSVs) and Training Camps has changed. Instead of an annual DIN, the direction and guidance are now contained in AGAI Vol 1, Ch 5 – Sport. https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC-166730

All applications for OSVs and Training Camps are to be submitted in accordance with the direction in the AGAI.

Routinely published in a DIN, the policy for Army OSVs and Training Camps is now contained in Part 9 of AGAI Vol 1, Ch 5 – Sport https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC-166730 (link via Defence Connect).

The ASCB website and Defence Connect https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC-329824 have both been updated so that when looking for information on OSVs individuals are directed to Part 9 of AGAI Vol 1, Ch 5 – Sport instead of 2019DIN10-001 (Army Overseas Sports Visits).

The various application forms are now included as Annexes of the AGAI and are available from both the ASCB Website and Defence Connect.

*** OSVs CONTINUE TO BE SUSPENDED until 30 JUN 21 at the earliest and this date will be reviewed monthly ***

Return to rugby at Unit Level – update March 2021

The RFU Return to Rugby Roadmap moves to level D1 from Mon 29 Mar 21.

So what does this mean for my unit?

We will be back in the position for the unit game as per the detail in ABN 095/2020. Our approval from the ASCB allows for unit level ‘Ready 4 Rugby’(R4R) training and matches to take place (see para 5, footnote 5 of the ABN).
Further details, including the rules and how to play R4R can be found on the RFU Website here.
This authorises R4R matches to take place between units in Garrison locations. As per our previous return, it is acknowledged some units do not sit within a Garrison area. The ARU Chief Ops Offr (Chris Fowke) and Chairman Unit Competitions should be approached if units identify other local units to play. ROs wishing for their units to play a match must follow the guidance given on the ARU website.
You are also able to resume contact training (excluding scrum and maul) as per level D1. Full detail of what this means is within the guidance and JPEG. This is CO authorised activity, and must be conducted in accordance with FRAGO 001 to Pj PHOENIX OpO 001 and the most up to date Force Health Protection Instruction (FHPI).

However, as your affiliation falls under the ARU (who are governed by the RFU), you should work to ARU guidance as this is where your insurance is. Thus, you can play Ready4Rugby from 29 Mar 21, but only in games against other ARU teams (no civilian sides).

Any queries should be directed in the first instance to the Chair of Community Rugby Competitions, Major Andy Bennett Email

Update from the Army Sport Control Board as at 23rd February 2021

ASCB Chief of Staff has issued the following: All Army sports secretaries are advised that Army HQ remains the only authority for Army sport to recommence, based on guidance from NGB and advice from ASCB. On current planning this will not be before the 29th March at the earliest. Further direction and instructions will follow.

Click here for the latest ABN 146/2020 updated 15th February 2021.

Update from the Army Sport Control Board as at 12th January 2021

All Army sport at Representative (Corps/Service) level remains suspended until 15th February 2021 at the earliest.

ABN_146-Continued_Cessation_of_Army_Representative_Sport

Update from the RFU as at 05th January 2021

The Rugby Football Union have announced, all community rugby activity is suspended until further notice and a return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap.

Further guidance from the RFU can be found here.

Return to rugby at Unit Level as at 02nd December 2020

In line with the Rugby Football Union Return to Rugby Roadmap, from Wednesday 2nd December Unit’s may begin adapted training in preparation for local friendly fixtures recommencing NB Fri 18 Dec. The commencement of Unit rugby is at the Commanding Officers discretion and risk.

Representative rugby, Corps level and above, remains suspended until 11th January 2021 at the earliest, ref ABN 146/2020.

These fixtures will have some law variations, full details of which are here and summarised below:

There will be no scrums or mauls in the game.
Instead of a scrum, the game will restart with a free kick. This free kick cannot be taken quickly.
A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout.
A team awarded a penalty or free kick will no longer be able to choose a scrum option.
A team awarded a penalty or free kick at a lineout can instead choose another lineout at the same mark.

So what does this mean for my unit?

Training: As above, you can now start training in line with the conditions laid down by the RFU at Stage E: therefore, contact is now permitted.

Matches: You cannot play a match in line with the law variations above until 18 Dec 20. For most, this means it will now be after Christmas.

The ARU Community committee is continuing to explore options regarding the best format/structure to enable fixtures to take place at community level, further information on this will be distributed to Rugby Officers by Major Andy Bennett, Chair of Community Rugby Competitions.

You are now permitted to play Ready4Rugby matches again from Wed 2 Dec 20. Rugby Officers wishing for their units to play should continue to follow the guidance given on the ARU website. Submission of a Risk Assessment as soon as possible ahead of the event is vital in order to obtain approval in time.

A reminder, careful planning as part of the risk assessment (in consultation with the RFU Facility Reopening Guidance) should be made to ensure social distancing measures are followed for those watching the game. Similarly, the RFU Guide on Restarting Competitive Grassroots Rugby should be consulted before running an event.

Any queries should be directed in the first instance to the Chair of Community Rugby Competitions, Major Andy Bennett Email