We have created a one-stop support centre to help rugby clubs through lockdown. We will continue to update our resources in this area so please keep checking back. If you can’t find the information you need on the pages below, please visit the Club Support Helpdesk or contact us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will respond as quickly as we can.

A reminder of Government lockdown guidance can be found here and a reminder of funding support available can be found here.

FACILITIES

PITCH MAINTENANCE 

www.englandrugby.com/groundsmenconnected - RGC - register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to ask questions. 

CLUB GOVERNANCE & BUSINESS 

Useful information

 

 Upcoming Virtual workshops

20 January - Club Leadership Teams

How can you structure your club effectively and plan for the future? Click here - This workshop has now reached capacity but will be available on-demand

2 February - Developing A Marketing Strategy

How will your club market effectively? Click here

17 February – Legal Structures 

Which legal structure suits your club best? Is CASC or Charitable status worth exploring for your club? Click here

2 March – Financial Sustainability - Click here

REVENUE GENERATION 

Preparing for when restrictions ease and clubs can return to rugby.

KEEPING PLAYERS ACTIVE & CONNECTED

Get Your Shirt On is a series of workout sessions led by former England players and aimed at the 6-18 age grades, but adults are also welcome to join in the fun and fitness. Ugo Monye, Danielle Waterman and Danny Care have taken it in turn to put viewers through their paces.

With community rugby currently at Stage A on the Return to Rugby Roadmap, it’s important for players to continue to stay active, even if it’s from home.

We also have online work out sessions led by England Rugby Men’s Pathway Athletics Performance Manager Robin Eager. England Rugby Prepare to Play home workouts.

COMMUNICATING WITH MEMBERS & ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS 

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Lockdown can take its toll on people’s mental health, with anxiety levels rising and many feeling isolated without their normal support network provided by club communities and team environments. Please check in with your members and team mates to make sure they are ok and that everyone knows about support available.

Kind Regards,

 

George Richardson

Training and Promotions Secretary

RFU LOANS

Coronavirus has had a big impact on our sport and we know things have been tough for our clubs. The RFU have, therefore, created an Emergency Loan Scheme to support the game at this challenging time. This scheme is open and available to RFU voting clubs that face cash flow challenges as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

Loans of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available to provide eligible clubs at league level 3 and below with financial support towards essential operational expenditure.

The loans will be interest-free, repayable over a period of up to three years, with an opportunity to defer the first payment for up to six months.

Apply here

CONSTITUENT BODY GRANTS

Funds totalling £1 million have been allocated to Constituent Bodies, enabling them to set up and administer an Immediate Support Fund to help clubs most in need. A further £400,000 has been committed collectively across CBs to further increase the level of funding available.

Please contact your Constituent Body for further details.

SPORT ENGLAND

Sport England have opened a £16.5m Return to Play Fund to support clubs affected by the Coronavirus Crisis.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

On 5th January 2021 the Government released various support packages, cash grants of up to £9,000 per property are available on top of the Local Restrictions Support Grants of up to £3,000 per month. Full information on the support available can be accessed here as well as what assistance is available here. Use the government business support finder tool to see what support is available. More information here.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANTS

One off, top up grants of between £4,000 and £9,000 per property are available to help organisations in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors through to the spring. Any club, which occupies a property and is the business rate payer, that has been legally required to close as a result of the national lockdown, may be eligible for a grant. Grants will be allocated on a per-property basis. The value of the grant available varies based on the rateable value of the property and will be administered by your Local Authority:

Rateable Value                          

Grant Available                     

£15,000 or under

£4,000

£15,000 - £51,000

£6,000

£51,000+

£9,000

These one-off grants are available in addition to existing support measures for businesses. For further details click here. As further details are made available – this will be shared via the Coronavirus hub here.

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS GRANT

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support closed businesses that do not directly pay business rates as well as businesses that do not have to close but which are impacted. Local councils have the freedom to determine the eligibility criteria and can determine which businesses to target and determine the amount of funding from the ARG. Find your local council.

We will update the below presentation when we receive further detail from Government. RFU tailored guide for rugby clubs regarding the government support.

 

Kind Regards,

 

George Richardson

Training and Promotions Secretary

Hello All,

 

Malcolm Eames has found an old video of Nick Lacey refereeing and the committee thought it would be nice to make it available for anyone within the society to view if they wish.

 

Please find video link here.

 

Kind Regards,

 

George Richardson

Training and Promotions Officer

Please find the law adaptions presentation here!

 

It contains all law variations and referee protocols for Leicestershire.

I have attached videos in our training and documents section underneath the presentation.

 

Please note:

If you have not attended a training session on this then you cannot return to refereeing.

 

Please email me and I would be happy to go through it with you.

 

Kind Regards,

 

George Richardson,

Training and Promotions Officer

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