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

• Securing your premises checklist 
• Legionella Advice

PITCH MAINTENANCE 

• Maintenance work during lockdown
• GMA Rugby Union Grounds Maintenance 
• RFU Rugby Grounds Connected on RFU Club Support YouTube Channel 
• RFU Pitch Maintenance Webinar 
• RFU Feeding your Turf webinar 
• RFU wet weather and problem areas webinar 

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

• Legal & Tax Helpline: 0333 0100337 
• Hospitality & Alcohol Licensing Helpline 0115 934 9177 
• RFU VAT helpline is here to help on all your VAT queries. Call Russell on 07710 329317 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• RFU Club Support YouTube Channel – Club Support Webinars 
• RFU Corporation Tax Webinar
• RFU & Irwin Mitchell Volunteer Employment Law webinar
• RFU & Irwin Mitchell Employment Law Basics webinar
• RFU & Irwin Mitchell Good Governance webinar
• RFU & Howdens Insurance webinar
• RFU & EY impact of Covid on consumers webinar 
• RFU VAT webinar
• RFU virtual AGM webinar 
• RFU Gift Aid for CASCs & Charities webinar

• NatWest Club Rugby Finance Guide 
• Business Continuity Plan Template 
• Emergency Financial Planning Guide 
• Creating a Risk Register for Clubs and Organisations 
• Preparing your committee to operate virtually 
• Running virtual meetings and AGMs 
• Insurance Cover factsheet 
• ER & Howdens Insurance Centre 

 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.

• RFU & Easy Fundraising webinar 
• RFU Raise the Bar – Bar Management video series

KEEPING PLAYERS ACTIVE & CONNECTED

• Get Your Shirt On Sessions

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 

• Communicating and engaging as a virtual club 
• Making the most of social media channels 
• Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme Leadership Network 
• Helping Volunteers to return when restrictions ease 
• Coach Education Webinars 
• Referee Education Webinars
• Maintenance work during lockdown

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.

• World Heath Organisation: Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak 
• NHS England: 5 steps to mental wellbeing 
• Mind: Coronavirus and your wellbeing 
• FSB: It's okay to talk about mental health campaign  
• Time to change: Supporting someone with a mental health problem 
• Heads Together: Get support 

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.

• RFU guide - Return to Play grant funds 
• RFU Guide - Return to Play Active Together Crowdfunding

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:

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

Dear All,

Following Government’s national lockdown announcement to counter the steep rise in Covid-19 infections, all community rugby activity in England is suspended until further notice.

In line with current Government policy, all adult and age grade rugby training and fixtures must stop. This means we return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap for all players. Outdoor organised sport for disabled people is allowed to continue.

Community rugby includes all levels below the Greene King IPA Championship (scheduled to restart in March) and the Allianz Premier 15s and Gallagher Premiership, which follow elite sport return protocols.

Click here for a summary of what is and isn’t allowed during the national lockdown. The new restrictions become law on Wednesday 6 January, but people should follow them as of now.

There is an exemption in place that allows elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) - or those on an official elite sports pathway - to compete and train.

Indoor gyms and sports facilities will remain closed. Outdoor sports venues, including rugby clubs, outdoor gyms, tennis courts, golf courses, swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting arenas and riding arenas must close.

What exercise can I do?

People can only leave their home to exercise, and not for the purpose of recreation or leisure.

You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person from outside your household, or with your household or support bubble.

This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

You should maintain social distancing while exercising.

Organised outdoor sport for disabled people is allowed to continue.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place including:

● parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
● public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
● the grounds of a heritage site
● playgrounds

While this is not the way we hoped to start 2021, we all need to play our part and strictly adhere to Government guidance over the next few weeks. This will help to protect our communities and to enable the vaccine to be as effective as possible, so we can all begin to return to a more normal way of life, including rugby, in the coming months.

We would like to thank you all once again for your commitment and resilience in the face of adversity. We appreciate the support you have provided for your rugby communities and thank you for your understanding during the toughest of times, for the sport and society as a whole.

If you have any queries, please visit our Coronavirus advice & support page or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kind Regards,

George Richardson

Training and Promotions Officer