Sent on behalf of Chair of Community Game Board Rob Briers
Dear All
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Adult Male Competition Structure Group (AMCSG) to date, your input is greatly valued.
We wished to provide Council with a brief update following the AMCSG presentation of some initial findings and recommendations at a Community Game Board meeting also attended by the CEO earlier this week (and ahead of the Community Game Update to clubs next week).
The AMCSG has reviewed all the input received through various channels, and the initial findings and recommendations were discussed at length by the CGB.
CGB agreed the key principles presented by the Group and a process moving forward. This includes a range of models for the structure of leagues to address appropriate travel time/distance, player welfare, player experience / quality of competition and club sustainability factors. These models all therefore variously “flatten” the pyramid and reduce some league sizes.
Next steps in this work will be to socialise the proposed structures across the game in two phases in early 2020:
Phase One – late January/February – will be to communicate the findings and undertake a digital survey with players and clubs on some of the models and proposals (the aim will be to give Council sight of this before it goes to the Game)
The AMCSG will report feedback and proposed models to the RFU Council at the end February.
Phase Two - (March to early April) - will consist of a number of face to face meetings with clubs and other stakeholders to explore in more detail the feedback and the initial proposals.
A final presentation of, and decision on, the league structures which are to be implemented in the 2021/22 season, will be made at April Council meeting.
As a result of initial feedback received, where possible some adjustments to address issues such as player welfare and flexibility, e.g. with rest breaks, will aim to be introduced from start of season 2020/21, which will now be a transition season ahead of full implementation in 2021/22 season. Full guidance will be communicated to all clubs before the end of the 2019/20 season. Significant additional work is still required on promotion/relegation, cup rugby, Lower XVs in leagues etc., and options on these will be progressed in parallel with the socialisation periods, along with discussions on the future management of competitions.
Council members are encouraged to utilise the above information to communicate progress with stakeholders, where required.
Please feel free to contact Competitions-Development@RFU.com directly if there are any initial questions or CGB colleagues.
