Ready4Rugby given government approval as community game allowed to resume

The government has approved Rugby Football Union plans to reintroduce the sport at community level, initially in a non-contact format.

As reported by Women's Sport Daily, the RFU asked for permission for clubs to play an amended 10-a-side form of the game with no scrums, rucks, mauls or tackling.

The format has been branded as 'Ready4Rugby' by the RFU and clubs are allowed to train using the amended rules and play matches between players from the same club for the remainder of August. Matches will be allowed between different clubs from September onwards and it is understood schools will also be allowed to adopt the same form of the sport.

All forms of Touch Rugby can now return but the RFU's risk assessment showed there is still a long way to go before the full 15-a-side form of the game will resume.

Steve Grainger, RFU Rugby Development Director, said: "It’s great that we’ve been able to secure the green light to recommence some rugby activity. Ready4Rugby provides a great opportunity for the rugby community to recommence training with larger group sizes and begin to reintroduce matches. We thank government for their support over the last few months to help get us to this position.

“We know that players are eager to get back to playing team rugby and whilst we recognise that there will be some disappointment that the 15-a-side contact game cannot yet return, player welfare and safety is paramount and we must continue to manage risk appropriately. The reaction of our community clubs over the last few months has been amazing, with many doing incredible work in their local communities. We are now delighted that they will be able to put some effort back into getting rugby activity underway.

“We are sure this news will also be welcomed by schools, colleges and universities. We will continue to work with the education sector to ensure all rugby playing institutions are as prepared as they can be for the new academic year.”