Leicestershire Rugby Union

On behalf of Vipers Rugby Football Club it is with great sadness that we share the news that Frank Bewley sadly passed away on Friday morning, following a courageous two-year battle with cancer.

Frank was a much-loved and respected member of Vipers RFC, having been a Team Manager, Chairman and true Club Stalwart for over 30 years.

His dedication, friendship and contribution to the Club will never be forgotten, and he will be greatly missed by everyone at Vipers RFC.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his wife Sandra, his children Craig and Michelle, and all of their family at this very sad time.

The RFU has confirmed the start of competitions at Mens Level 5 and Women’s PWR and below are delayed until 21 September.

Off the back of that, here's the LRU position for all Senior and age-grade club rugby in the Union:

No LRU competition games, league or cup matches before Saturday 26 September.

Any LRU fixtures currently scheduled before that date will be rescheduled. The Competitions Working Group will be in touch with clubs directly regarding all Competitions.

The full statement from the RFU can be read here: https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-and-media/statement-start-competitive-community-rugby-season

We know this creates different challenges and everyone is itching to start playing but player welfare is paramount and safety will always come first.

Here's what it means in practice:
• Friendlies (U14+) can still go ahead but No Contact (T1) unless the pitch has been properly assessed as fit for contact by club AGR chair and Referee.
• Training continues, but only subject to pitch conditions and a full risk assessment from club official.
• Tag for Minis, and touch (only) up to U13, can go ahead from the start of the season, subject to pitch and weather.
We're asking every club to exercise real caution on pitch conditions and pre-season activity, and to follow RFU guidance throughout.

This position will stay under review. If your club has questions or concerns, get in touch.

We thank and appreciate everyone for their understanding, cooperation and patience during this next period.

Community Rugby season delay: RFU statement | Rugby Football Union An RFU statement on the delayed start of the competitive community rugby season.

After careful consideration and consultation with clubs across England, the RFU has decided to delay the start of the competitive community game season until the week commencing Monday 21 September.

The RFU recognises this will be disappointing for clubs, players and volunteers who have been preparing for the new season, but the decision follows consideration of a range of factors. For full details please follow this link.

https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-and-media/statement-start-competitive-community-rugby-season

With the dry spell set to continue a bit longer, here is some advice on managing your pitches during drough conditions

With dry spells putting extra pressure on rugby pitches, is your club prepared?

From dealing with watering restrictions to managing player safety on baked ground, our Managing Drought guidance has everything grounds teams and club committees need to know to navigate the heat.

Be proactive and read the full guide now:
🔗 https://rfu.widen.net/s/b5sqmqsjvd/managing-drought-guidance-doc

📣Applications are now OPEN for U16 Girls England Rugby Player Development Group.

Assessment days are 10th, 17th and 24th August.

You MUST register before attending. Scan the QR code in the image to take you to the registration form.

Check out this webinar showcasing the NEW England Rugby E Learning platform

England Rugby Learning Webinar This webinar will show you what England Rugby Learning is and the b...