The Welsh Rugby Union has issued advice to member clubs which means it’s ‘game on’ for the start of the new rugby season in Wales.
The union’s Community Game Board (CGB) met this week to discuss the effect summer weather has had on pitch conditions throughout the country and address associated safety concerns in advance of next week’s season start.
After taking advice from the Met office, reaching out to other governing bodies around the UK and conducting its own research at selected clubs in Wales, the CGB has unanimously agreed to give the go ahead for fixtures to take place where both sides, and the referee, agree it is safe to do so.
The WRU has also consulted medical advice to generate detailed guidance around risk assessment and injury prevention to be shared with clubs.
The CGB has ruled that any club can reschedule a fixture without risking any sanction for doing so, by citing pitch conditions on the day or lack of contact preparation time in the build up to the game.
This provision will be in place up to and including the weekend of Sunday 13th September, at which time an update to the advice will be issued.
In addition, in a letter issued to clubs today, the CGB outlines provisions to ensure games played are done so with the safety of players remaining central to the decision making process.
“The Community Game Board has made the sensible decision, reflecting on all the information available to us, to allow clubs to play where it is safe to do so,” said WRU Community Director Geraint John.
“We are saying to our players and our clubs that it is very much ‘game on’ in Wales, but with the caveat that player safety and welfare must be an absolute priority when the decision is made at a local level about whether or not to play games.
“Games can go ahead where it is safe to do so but, equally, clubs and referees are entirely free to make the call to reschedule on safety grounds if there are any doubts whatsoever.
“The game in Wales is about participation and enjoyment and we have all been looking forward to the start of a season when our player registrations have hit an all time high.
“We have avoided the disappointment of having to cancel all community fixtures, but also enabled those on the ground, who know their teams, their players and the conditions around their pitches best, to make the right decisions.”
The WRU has also issued detailed easy to follow advice to clubs about checking pitches as well as about playing on artificial surfaces, making specific recommendations about when to delay or postpone matches in relation to the conditions.
- As per Competition regulations for National League regulations, if there is no mutual agreement on the condition of the pitch then the scheduled fixtures will not go ahead and there will be no sanction against any team who is not willing to play. These games are then to be rearranged for the next available date unless both teams agree to a different date.
- If both teams are willing to play but the appointed match official makes the decision that the pitch is not suitable for play, then the fixture will not go ahead and there will be no sanction against either club. These games are then to be rearranged for the next available date unless both teams agree to a different date. NOTE – SHOULD MATCH OFFICIALS MAKE THIS DECISION PLEASE CAN CLUBS RESPECT THIS AND THE INDIVIDUAL – OUR VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS ARE IMPORTANT AND IT IS MADE IN THE INTEREST OF PLAYER WELFARE.
- We urge clubs to communicate with each other as early as possible to ensure there is no unnecessary travel. Teams are also able to reverse fixtures if there is a mutual agreement, but there is no obligation to do so under our Competition regulations.
- An additional decision made by the CGB outside of the regulations is that if a club is not willing to play due to a lack of contact preparation, then the scheduled fixture will not go ahead and should be rearranged for the next available date, unless both teams agree to a different date as Player Welfare is a priority