What Level 5 restrictions mean for rugby clubs and schools rugby

THE IRFU has urged the entire rugby community to continue to prioritise the safety of their members during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

All rugby clubs and schools must have a Covid-19 Health & Safety Plan in place and up-to-date in order to take part in any rugby activity.

At Level 5 restrictions, the public health risk means that you will be asked to stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of home.

The following applies to club rugby:

Matches and events:

No matches or events are to take place.

Training:

Collective training is not permitted for adults or children.
Individual training only.
Gyms must close.
These measure are currently in effect and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Under direction from the Return to Sport Expert Group, schools rugby and Energia All-Ireland League rugby are not classified under Professional and Elite Sport.

The IRFU is continuing to work with government stakeholders to ensure a full resumption of rugby at all levels of the game when it is safe to do so.

A full definition of Professional & Elite Sport is available on the Sport Ireland website. 

Restrictions in Ulster:

In-line with the latest NI Executive COVID-19 restrictions which were introduced on Saturday 26 December from 0.01am, and remain in place until Saturday 6 February at 0:01am, Ulster Rugby and the IRFU would like to emphasise to clubs in NI that:

All club rugby activity in Northern Ireland is to cease from 26th December onwards for a period of six weeks, in-line with NI Executive COVID-19 restrictions.
Ulster Rugby remains committed to providing competitive opportunities for players across all levels of the game, when restrictions permit.
Clubs are reminded players must undertake a Graduated Return to Contact phase before fixtures can resume. Further details on this will be released in due course.