Welsh Rugby Union announce plans for return of community rugby

By Adam Evans

THE Welsh Rugby Union have announced a ‘pathway to participation’ initiative to ease the return to rugby at community rugby clubs; players can expect to be returning to full contact in August.

Any players under the age of 18 have been given the green light to return to organised training from 27th March, however confirmation of this is pending from the Welsh Government this week.

From 1st April the WRU said that touch and tag rugby fixtures can be sanctioned within their own districts providing that public health conditions remain looking as positive as they currently are.

Players of all ages can also look forward to a month of sevens and tens rugby from mid June – under modified laws – this period will help lead into the phased return of 15-a-side rugby.

A set of modified laws has been agreed by the governing body so that friendly 15-a-side matches can be sanctioned from mid July with formatted WRU Competitions beginning in August; the format is still to be finalised.

League rugby for male senior and youth teams are set to return from the middle of January and run through to May 2022. The new season for female rugby will begin at the same time.

WRU chair Rob Butcher said: “We know there is a strong desire within the community game to get back on the field. Rugby clubs are at the heart of our communities and we all miss the social interaction they provide.

“As soon as Welsh Government guidelines allow, we will sanction the gradual and safe return of rugby activities, provided the clubs have all the necessary protocols in place.

“We will continue to support the hundreds of community rugby volunteers in doing this. They have played such an important role over the past year as always.

“We had around 300 WRU clubs when the pandemic hit us a year ago and our priority is to come out of this with all those clubs and other community teams in a position to welcome back their players, coaches, volunteers and members to their facilities.

“We are confident this can be achieved having worked closely with clubs on all matters including funding streams, Welsh Government and Local Authority support, help accessing additional equipment needed at this time including PPE, and guidance in putting appropriate systems and protocols in place to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

Steps for the return of community rugby in Wales

• April 1. Return to Tag and Touch fixtures for players under the age of 18
• May 1. Youth and senior teams permitted to return to modified contact training (no scrums)
• From mid June. Return of competitive contact rugby at 7 and 10 a side for all ages and full contact training (male and female)
• From mid July. Friendly, 15-a-side matches sanctioned under agreed set of modified laws
• August – November. Return of some 15-a-side WRU-organised competitions at all levels (male and female).
• Dec – mid Jan. Winter break
• Mid Jan. Return of WRU League rugby (male game); start of new Female Hub season.