The Government of Ireland have announced that new public health measures are coming into place in April.
 
From April 26th, “underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 can recommence for all exercise activities outdoors , subject to public health advice at the time.”
 
Provisionally, this means only under age sections clubs and schools in the Republic of Ireland will be able to offer non-contact rugby training from that date.
 
All clubs and schools who wish to resume rugby must have and up-to-date COVID-19 Safety Plan – No Plan, No Play.
 
On March 23rd, the IRFU and provinces facilitated a #ReadyForRugby Support Webinar on considerations for updating COVID-19 Safety Plans.
 
A recording of this webinar can be viewed at https://youtu.be/9nQM_q7UBM8
 
Following clarification from Sport NI and the NI Executive, clubs in Northern Ireland can resume outdoor training in distinct groups of 15 (inclusive of players and coaches) from April 12th.
 
Further information on permitted activities will be issued to all clubs and schools in due course.
 
More #ReadyForRugby information can be viewed at https://www.irishrugby.ie/running-your-club/return-to-rugby-for-clubs/
 
Additional upcoming webinars may assist your club or school in preparing for a resumption of rugby.
 
#ReadyForRugby Support Webinar 4: An Introduction To Coaching Touch Rugby
 
Time: Thursday 1st April 2021, 13:00 – 13:30
 
Registration Link: http://bit.ly/RFR-Web-4
 
Presenters:
 
Billy Ngawini (Ireland Touch Association)
IRFU COVID-19 Project Team
Suitable For:
 
Adult & Age-Grade Coaches
Team Managers
Club Officers & Volunteers
This webinar is designed to help clubs and schools who want to know more about touch rugby as an offering to players for skill development, fitness and fun. It will provide an overview of resources available for first-time coaches of touch rugby.
 
#ReadyForRugby Support Webinar 5: RugbyConnect Refresher For Administrators
 
Time: Tuesday 6th April 2021, 13:00 – 13:30
 
Registration Link: http://bit.ly/RFR-Web-5
 
Presenters:
 
Lucy Mulhall (IRFU)
Suitable For:
 
Club and School Administrators
Club Officers & Volunteers
RugbyConnect is the IRFU’s online administration system for clubs and schools. This webinar will walk through updates to the system and help refresh knowledge for clubs and schools ahead of any return to rugby activity.

Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce a new pilot initiative for the 2020/21 season aimed at increasing retention rates of youth players across the province.
 
Drawing on best practice in youth sports this initiative, known as Connacht le Chéile, is a commitment by coaches to give all players in a matchday squad equal game-time. The pilot is being rolled out at all U13 boys and U14 girls league matches this season as well as an open invitation for any coach, team or club that wish to take part.
 
Speaking about Connacht le Chéile, Spirit of Rugby Officer Luke Murphy said:
 
“In naming this initiative we wanted to draw on the bond between the West of Ireland and the Irish language as well as highlighting that we’re all working together to create the best opportunities for young people to enjoy sport”.
 
The rationale behind Connacht le Chéile is that all young people deserve the opportunity to experience at least half a game of rugby, rather than sitting on the bench until the last couple of minutes of a match.
 
Research conducted by the IRFU and Connacht Rugby has shown that young rugby players regularly rank team-work and enjoyment of the game ahead of the result of a match, and that players who get quality game-time are more likely to be retained in the sport and this initiative aims to increase these occasions.
 
Luke added:
 
“We’re delighted to get this pilot programme up and running and launching during Parents in Sport Week is the perfect time to highlight the positive impact youth coaches, the vast majority of whom are parents themselves, can have on young people’s enjoyment of rugby. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young rugby players to get quality game-time and experience at least half a game of rugby each week and we believe it will be instrumental in increasing retention rates across the province and help foster a life-long love of the game.”
 
“Matchday squads will still be capped at 23 players and this initiative means that everyone involved will get at least 30 minutes of rugby each week, helping to develop their skills, cement the bonds of friendship through teamwork and continue to provide a child-centred environment for our youngest players to enjoy the sport.”

The brand new Connacht Rugby Summer SkillZone with totalhealth Pharmacy has seen bookings in huge numbers since its initial launch last week.
 
The series, which sees two-hour, one-day camps take place in 10 clubs across Connacht, begins this Friday. Two of those camps, at Galwegians RFC and Creggs RFC, are now completely SOLD OUT with just a handful of spots left in places like Connemara RFC, Ballinasloe RFC and Tuam RFC.
 
In these two hours, children will get to relive the enjoyment of rugby in their community with fellow players their own age, all under the guidance of fully accredited IRFU and Connacht Rugby coaches.
 
Most importantly, these SkillZones will be held in a safe and healthy environment, where the wellbeing of all attendees will be of absolute paramount importance.
 
Connacht Rugby would encourage parents, particularly in Loughrea, Sligo and the Mayo vicinity of Westport, Castlebar and Claremorris, to avail of the opportunity of sending their kids to a Summer SkillZone in advance of the planned reopening of the schools next month.
 
Joe Gorham, Head of Rugby Development at Connacht Rugby, says they have been blown away by the response to the Summer SkillZone series:
 
This has been a summer unlike any other. While there have been some extremely challenging times for everyone associated with rugby in Ireland, I am delighted to see such a positive response to our return to the Connacht communities with the Summer SkillZone series.
 
We are thrilled to see so many events already sell out, but I would also encourage everyone to consider a spot for their sons and daughters in one of our other camps where there is limited availability.
 
The Summer SkillZone is our first step towards a ‘new normal’ and we can’t wait to get it all started. We’d also like to say a particular thank you to our partners totalhealth Pharmacy for their continued support, particularly in these difficult times.”
 
For full details on our Summer SkillZone series, and to book a place, click on the link below.
 
BOOK A SUMMER SKILLZONE SPOT HERE

Connacht Rugby Club & Community can now confirmed the below roadmap for the return of Youth Rugby in the province.
 
The following was agreed after many weeks and months of planning on the back of the unprecedented challenge posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic. It involves a five stage process beginning with friendlies only in September, and gradually working towards competitive league and cup action until the end of the season in May 2021.
 
Full details can be found below, or CLICK HERE for a PDF version of the document.
 

 

 

The IRFU are now in a position to add a ‘Competition Stage’ to their Return To Rugby Guidelines For Clubs.
 
This is to allow clubs to plan and work towards the start of the 2020/21 season and the playing of rugby matches.
 
September has been given as the month in which rugby matches will be permitted to return for clubs.
 
Given the changing nature of the reopening of society and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, a specific date will not be issued until further clarity is available and will remain subject to change.
 
The given date will also factor in a minimum window of five weeks permitted for contact training ahead of a return to rugby matches.
 
The Competition Stage is the final stage in the summary roadmap of the IRFU Return To Rugby Guidelines. All clubs are currently in the COVID-19 Safety Planning Stage, which they must complete before moving to the resumption of training at any level.
 
The IRFU are working toward a modified season for 2020/21. The governing body recognises concerns over travel, safety and expense and this will be reflected in the season’s structure. Clubs should expect that games at the start of the season will be kept local where practicable.
 
Further detail on the structure of the season will also be issued in due course.
 
The IRFU Return To Rugby Guidelines For Clubs are available at https://www.irishrugby.ie/running-your-club/return-to-rugby-for-clubs
 
Speaking about the announcement, Chair of the IRFU Rugby Committee Greg Barrett said:
 
“This is another welcome step in our return to rugby. There is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes in clubs at present as they put Health & Safety plans in place to manage the risk of COVID-19. This announcement helps give us all something to work towards.
 
“It’s important for rugby players to have competitive sport to look forward to and they deserve to know that our return to rugby guidelines are built around their welfare.
 
“We will provide further clarity on what the 2020/21 season will look like, but what we can say is that the first matches permitted will keep travel to a minimum.
 
“This should help with concerns around travel, but our hope is that this will also serve as an opportunity for the rugby community to support their clubs and help generate some much needed cash-flow.
 
“For now, I would urge clubs to continue to focus on completing the COVID-19 Safety Planning Stage of our guidelines and availing of the education & training supports that the IRFU have put in place. That is ultimately what will lead to the resumption of rugby as we know it.”

Connacht Rugby partners, Clubforce, are hosting a Webinar on Wednesday 10th June on the topic of ‘Fundraising in a Virtual World’, something that has become very relevant over the last few months.
 
Clubforce would like to share their wealth of experience and support in this area with all Connacht Clubs. We encourage a member of your club to attend online to gain some invaluable knowledge for future fundraising.
 
Clubforce: Fundraising in a Virtual World Webinar
Date: Wednesday 10th June
Time: 7 PM
Registration link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7314591670880317196
 
“While some clubs have frozen their fundraising activity and are waiting for “things to return to normal”, more and more clubs are recognising that we will have to adjust to a new normal and are accelerating their online fundraising efforts in anticipation of a return to sports participation in the near future. The old reliable ways of fundraising through in-person, cash-based fundraisers have become a thing of the past”.
 
“Clubforce offers clubs the flexibility to handle virtually any fundraising effort with ease online. We provide a range of alternative ways of generating revenue for your club from members and supporters at home and abroad. All fundraising activity is made easier with the Clubforce app, designed to make it easier to raise funds and manage member data from one complete club management system”.
 
In this webinar, Clubforce will look at
– Examples of current Club fundraisers on our system
– Communicating with your members with new fundraisers
– How to utilise the Clubforce App to promote sales

The IRFU has published a summary roadmap for a return to rugby in clubs.
 
The objective of the roadmap is to provide high level clarity to clubs and ensure COVID-19 safety measures are taken before activities can resume.
 
Irish Rugby is now in the COVID-19 Safety Planning Stage of its roadmap.
Clubs may only resume training and rugby activities in accordance with government protocols.
 
Full details are available at https://www.irishrugby.ie/return-to-rugby/
Clubs are being asked to focus for now on COVID-19 safety planning. A range of training and education supports will be available to guide clubs through this stage.
 
IRFU Return To Rugby Guidelines will be issued to all clubs on Friday June 5th 2020.
 
The summary roadmap and details of the COVID-19 Safety Planning Stage were issued to club Honorary Secretaries on Friday May 29th.
 
Recommendations include the appointment of a COVID-19 Club Safety Officer to oversee public health measures in the club. Appointed COVID-19 Club Compliance Officers will be asked to monitor day-to-day compliance with protocols across all teams.
 
Clubs will be guided through the process of completing a COVID-19 Club Risk Assessment and a COVID-19 Club Safety Plan to outline safety measures and minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
 
Templates for these documents will be issued to clubs as part of the IRFU Return To Rugby Guidelines
 
Speaking about the plan, IRFU Director of Rugby Development Colin McEntee said:
 
“Like everyone else, our community has been following the updates to government roadmaps and recovery plans and asking when clubs can reopen. That’s from junior clubs right up to our men’s and women’s clubs in the Energia All-Ireland League.
 
The fact remains we can only resume activity in line with the easing of government restrictions, but there is also a lot we can do to ensure the right practices are in place.
 
Many clubs are already looking at revised operating procedures. This plan is about helping all clubs move forward as one in providing health and wellbeing opportunities for their community.
 
I’m hopeful our clubs can rise to the challenge. The support will be there for them at both national and provincial level.
 
From there, we can look at a graduated return to rugby with a focus on reduced activities and non-contact forms of the game along the way.”
 
There were 217 clubs active in the 2019/20 season.”
 
Guidelines for rugby in schools and third-level institutions will be issued in due course.
 

Following yesterday’s statement from the IRFU, Connacht Rugby wishes to reaffirm that the decision to conclude the 2019/20 season applies immediately to all domestic rugby within Connacht Rugby.
 
As is the case with the Men’s and Women’s Energia All-Ireland Leagues, there will be no promotion or relegation in the respective Connacht Rugby Leagues for 2019/20. All teams will remain in the leagues they are currently in for 2020/21.
 
In the respective Cup competitions where the two finalists are known, the cups will be shared with the two teams who have reached the final. In particular, this applies to the Connacht Junior Cup.
 
This also applies to the respective Connacht Schools competitions as there were a number of cups & leagues outstanding.
 
In total 69 leagues and cups were held across Adult, Schools and Youth Rugby. Of those competitions:
– 25 competitions have been completed with one winner.
– 15 competitions have ended with shared winners, based on the criteria set out by the IRFU Rugby Committee.
– 25 competitions have been declared incomplete.
– 4 competitions are listed as non-competitive.
 
The final status of each competition is listed below. While Connacht Rugby shares in the deep disappointment of the Club & Schools rugby community that the season was unable to conclude, we are fully supportive of the decision by the IRFU to put the physical welfare of our rugby community above all else.
 
We would encourage every member of our Clubs & Schools to continue to adhere to the advice of the HSE and the Irish Government in relation to the current COVID-19 outbreak, particularly with regards to social distancing at all ages.
 
Never before has the sense of community been more important to all of us. Please continue to look out for the vulnerable people within your localities and above, stay safe.
 
CONNACHT RUGBY COMPETITIONS CONCLUSION 2019/20
 
ADULT RUGBY

Women’s League – Westport RFC
Women’s Invitational Plate – Westport RFC 2nd XV
Women’s Invitational Bowl – Ballinasloe RFC
Women’s Cup – Incomplete

Senior League – Sligo RFC
Senior Cup – Sligo RFC
Cawley Cup – Creggs RFC
Curley Cup – Ballinasloe RFC & Corrib RFC shared
Ard na Cregg Cup – Incomplete
Junior Cup – Connemara RFC & Castlebar RFC shared
Junior Plate – Tuam RFC & Westport RFC shared
J1A League – Incomplete (Won by Connemara RFC prior to conclusion)
J1B League – Incomplete
J1C League – Incomplete
J2 League – Portumna RFC & Westport RFC 2nd XV shared
 
SCHOOLS RUGBY

Girls Junior 10s League – Incomplete
Girls Senior 10s League – Incomplete

U14 A League – Incomplete
U14 B League – Athlone CC
U14 C League – Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin
Junior A League – CBS Roscommon
Junior B League – Athlone CC
Junior C League – Gort CS
Senior A League – Sligo Grammar
Senior B League – St. Muredach’s College
Senior C League – Gallen CS

Junior A Cup – CBS Roscommon
Junior B Cup – Athlone CC & Coláiste Éinde shared
Junior C Cup – Enniscrone & Sancta Maria shared
Senior A Cup – Garbally College
Senior B Cup – St. Muredach’s College
Senior C Cup – St. Joseph’s Foxford & Gallen CS shared
 
YOUTH RUGBY

U14 Girls Div. 1 – Non-competitive
U14 Girls Div. 2 – Non-competitive
U16 Girls Div. 1 – Claremorris RFC
U16 Girls Div. 2 – Corinthians RFC & Westport RFC shared
U18 Girls Div. 1 – Ballinasloe RFC & Connemara RFC shared
U18 Girls Div. 2 – Corinthians RFC & Portumna RFC shared

U13 Boys Div. 1 – Non-competitive
U13 Boys Div. 2 – Non-competitive
U14 Boys Div. 1 – Buccaneers RFC (Black team)
U14 Boys Div. 2 – Ballinasloe RFC
U14 Boys Div. 3 – Gort RFC & NUIG RFC shared
U15 Boys Div. 1 – Sligo RFC
U15 Boys Div. 2 – Ballinasloe RFC
U16 Boys Div. 1 – Creggs RFC & Corinthians RFC shared
U16 Boys Div. 2 – Incomplete
U17 Boys Div. 1 – Ballina RFC
U17 Boys Div. 2 – Corrib RFC
U18.5 Boys Div. 1 – Ballinasloe RFC
U18.5 Boys Div. 2 – Corrib RFC & Westport RFC shared

U14 Girls Cup – Ballinasloe RFC & Creggs RFC shared
U14 Girls Plate – Incomplete
U16 Girls Cup – Ballina RFC & Claremorris RFC shared
U16 Girls Plate – Incomplete
U18 Girls Cup – Incomplete
U18 Girls Plate – Incomplete

U13 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U13 Boys Plate – Incomplete
U14 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U14 Boys Plate – Incomplete
U15 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U15 Boys Plate – Incomplete
U16 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U16 Boys Plate – Incomplete
U17 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U17 Boys Plate – Incomplete
U18.5 Boys Cup – Incomplete
U18.5 Boys Plate – Incomplete

The Irish Rugby Football Union, together with Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster Rugby have announced the suspension of all Domestic Rugby activity from 6pm this evening 12th March until the 29th March (inclusive), in response to the latest Government advice on the Coronavirus (Covid – 19) pandemic.
 
Future Domestic Rugby activity will be reviewed in line with government advice.
 
Training and Playing
All Rugby activities across Clubs and Schools , from minis to adult rugby, must now cease.
 
Clubhouse Operations:
While Rugby Clubs may wish to continue to operate facilities such as bars and function-rooms they must observe government restrictions in relation to the number of people that may attend indoor (no more than 100 people) and outdoor (no more than 500 people) events.
 
Impact on fixtures of note:
We will work with clubs and schools to rearrange fixtures.
 
Professional Game:
Updates, when available, in relation to the professional game will come from tournament organizers.

The draw for the 2020 Connacht Youth Cups took place last Monday night, with 137 teams across 22 clubs learning their opponents for the months ahead.
 
In all there are nine cup competitions – six Boys Cups ranging from U13 to U18.5 level, and Girls Cups at U14, U16 and U18 age grades.
 
It’s the girls who get their campaigns underway this weekend, with the last 16 games across the three competitions taking place on Saturday, while the Boys Cups begin next month.
 
Other important dates for your diaries are the three Cup final days, with a triple-header of Girls Cup deciders on 8th March and the Boys Cup finals on the 19th and 26th April, with all nine games taking place at the Sportsground.
 
The full draw including who could be playing who in the latter stages can be found below. Best of luck to all clubs taking part!