Dry weather delays England community rugby season, RFU says
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
Aug 14 : The Rugby Football Union has delayed the start of the competitive community season across England until September 21 because of concerns over player welfare and pitch conditions following prolonged dry weather, the governing body said on Friday.
After consulting representatives from across the country and reviewing options with competition committees, the RFU said no competitive matches in men’s leagues from Regional 1 and below, or in women’s leagues below Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) level, will be played before September 21.
The governing body said unusually dry conditions with no forecast of lengthy spells of rain had left many pitches hard and unsuitable for safe full-contact rugby, increasing the risk of injuries to players.
“We know this decision will be disappointing for clubs, schools, colleges, players, volunteers and supporters who were eagerly anticipating the start of the season, and we do not underestimate the impact it will have across the game,” RFU president Bill Beaumont said in a statement.
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
“This has been a carefully considered decision. After listening to views from across the community game and weighing up the options available to us, we believe that delaying the start of the competitive season nationwide is the right course of action.”
The RFU said training sessions could continue during the postponement period, provided clubs carry out pitch safety assessments before every session.
Source: Reuters
Sign up for our newsletters
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
About The Author
