From Capital President Matt Robinette:

USA Rugby updated their Return to Play document on Friday, August 28, 2020. The Union carefully reviewed the updated Return to Play information and evaluated the new policy against our jurisdictions’ regulations and will sanction non-contact intra-squad practice. There are some very important mitigating strategies that each club must implement to return to the pitch. Each club president, coach, and captain are responsible for the following actions prior to returning to non-contact intra-squad practice:

• Review local guidelines – local guidelines take precedent over any Union (Capital and/or USA) directives/approvals
• Review USA Rugby R2P document and implement requirements outlined. The Capital is sanctioning Stage 3 as outlined in this document – https://assets.usarugby.org/docs/medical/USAR-R2P.pdf?v=1598791077718
• Register with USA Rugby – This is going to be tricky and frustrating for individuals and clubs because SportLomo is a new platform and club rugby fee structures were just announced. Players and coaches must be registered with USA Rugby to participate in non-contact intra-team practice. Follow this link to register with USA Rugby: https://usarugby.sportlomo.com/

I am excited that we have found our way back to the pitch (non-contact intra-squad practice) however, we are still experiencing a pandemic! We, administrators, coaches, and players, must remain vigilant as we slowly return to non-contact intra-squad practice. Your actions and decisions directly impact the health of our friends and families and could result in the death of a loved one. Implementing local guidelines is critical to minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
The Union committed to sanctioning play as soon as possible and we are delivering that commitment. You must commit to keeping your teammates and their families safe by implementing mitigation strategies outlined by your local health departments and governments.

Thank you for your patience during these unprecedented times.

Questions: Matthew Robinette – matthewrobinette55@gmail.com

Please see https://macrugby.org/2020/09/16/further-update-on-fall-2020/ for the MAC statement about Fall 2020.

Meeting was held via Zoom on 08/09/2020 at 3:00 PM. Meeting concluded at approx. 6:07 PM. The Zoom recording is at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/tOYpcKHK2F1Ladb99k-DWa46J9jveaa8gHMaqKAPyx7V3Qgjw3NVtonkITuhxgcf and will be deleted on 9/9/2020; please note that this starts 30 minutes into the meeting.

Reports:

Welcome

Roll Call – 31 clubs in attendance at roll call with several joining later. Quorum was reached.

Officer Reports: See above.

USA Rugby structure, bankruptcy, and Club Council. Ad hoc discussion on the state of USAR.

MAC Elections. Positions elected and filled; see https://macrugby.org/about/

Other or new business – None.

We are adding items to the new Registration tab (above in the main men as we get them.

Important Return-to-Play information from the Union:

Due to guidance from the governments where our members, reside the Capital Rugby Union will not sanction any rugby activity. North Carolina (Raleigh), Virginia, D.C., and Maryland health departments have each announced regulations that restrict our ability to play rugby. Pennsylvania has relaxed restrictions but the nature of our sport and the travel required across state lines requires that the Union does not sanction play in Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh).

Union leadership is eager to get back to the pitch but we are committed to following health department directives. While we are eager to get on the pitch we want to be intentional and as safe as possible.

Regardless of your local county/municipality’s phase of reopening, the Union does not sanction any rugby activity.

There is no definite date when we can return to rugby activities. Union leadership will continue to monitor health department regulations and suggestions. I will provide updates and communicate information as it becomes available/changes.

To be clear: Rugby activities are not sanctioned by the Capital Rugby Union. CIPP insurance coverage does not cover an individual, club, or referee for unsanctioned rugby activity.

On behalf of the board of the Capital Rugby Union, thank you! Thank you for your continued commitment to this wonderful sport and our rugby community.

Sincerely,

Capital Rugby Union
Unanimous Board

USAR will be posting a statement saying that the 2020 National 7s Championship will be cancelled. When that posting is released, we will add that to our Facebook and MAC website postings.

The MAC 7s Committee is under discussion about a possible event or events. It is still too soon to see what clubs across the region (VA, DC, MD, PA) may be able to do. There may be other non-MAC events, but those are under the purview of the GUs or other groups.

However, USAR added (in their draft) the following: “Moving forward, as the sevens rugby season gets underway, teams and clubs are permitted to engage in local sevens activities in line with permission of local health officials and guided by the USA Rugby Return To Play Guidelines. While potential versions of play might be acceptable through the summer, no sanctioned national championship will occur.”

The key here is “…teams and clubs are permitted to engage in local sevens activities in line with permission of local health officials and guided by the USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines.” Therefore, you must comply with both local guidelines and the specifics of USAR’s Return to Play. There are a lot of things to do in the latter, so read it.

Additionally, keep in mind that local health officials will follow their governor’s orders and others. Additionally, local parks and recs folks may opt for tighter restrictions and reservations may not be possible.

As an example: Virginia will be mostly moving to Phase 2 on Friday (with the notable exception of Richmond and Northern Virginia who will remain in Phase 1 for a bit longer). This will now allow gatherings of up to 50. BUT… that does not clear you from following USAR’s Return to Play Guidelines (as well as getting field permits).

Therefore, let’s be clear: As mentioned at some point in the last month, we are NOT going to tell you not to practice or play. However, you must comply with the above (as stated by USAR) AND can show proof of compliance (forms, etc.), you don’t have USAR liability coverage. No coverage. Zero.

The bottom line: if you choose to go practice and play, assign responsible people in your club to track all of the needed items (like player verifications).

The MAC Committee met and discussed both 7s and 15s.

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7s

As most of you know, USAR will announce something around June 1. IF we get an “all clear” by USAR, we still have a number of other bodies that must do similarly: the states, the localities, and local Parks and Rec (to re-open fields to contact sports). Assuming 7s can start, there will likely be a compressed schedule of 1 or 2 MAC events (and there might be other local events, of course).

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15s

Teams will be contacted over the next week about Fall scheduling.

The draft schedules should be completed by your coordinator by June 15, checked with that division’s teams, and set by June 30.

Although we will use the tacit assumption of starting as normal, we STILL may have the re-opening issue that we have with 7s. We need to allow for maximum flexibility if (a) we can’t start on time OR (b) play gets held up AFTER we’ve started because of a second (or third) virus wave. Flexibility means sliding weekends if suspension of play happens. We also must consider a few (2-3) weeks of pre-season practice. Thus, we will ask that no “bye” weekends be requested unless there is no option; each division may reserve a weekend or two for everyone in that division (as both a bye weekend and a makeup slot).

We WILL plan on MAC Championships – for the divisions that play semis and a final – on May 1, 2021.

We do NOT know about USAR Championships yet; the new USAR bylaws and structure were just approved last weekend (Sat, May 9) and the new USAR Senior Club Community group will be reforming the Competitions Committee. There are other discussions going on to try to get playoff rounds closer (regionally) but all of this will take a while to work out… as well as a change in the Competitions software for rosters and match reporting. This will be a busy summer.

UPDATE (03/20/2020)

From USAR, “All sanctioned competition and rugby activities are suspended for the foreseeable future, effective March 20, 2020. Members and clubs are asked to refrain from match play, training or team gatherings during this period. Accident and Liability insurance will not be valid during the above window of time. Information on when rugby activities will be able to resume will be communicated by USA Rugby.”

https://www.usa.rugby/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-status-and-updates-usa-rugby/

The Capital Rugby Union supports MAC’s decision to suspend competition and revisit the situation on April 13, 2020 (changed on 3/13/2020 due to late announcement from USAR). The Capital would take it a step further and suspend any friendlies that are scheduled.

The nature of our sport exposes individuals to a greater risk of catching the Coronavirus. While most of us are outside of the age ranges for fatality, we can’t risk bringing the virus to our individual communities and families. The goal is to play rugby as soon as possible but, for now, any and all matches within the Capital are temporarily suspended until at least the above date.

Each club will have to decide on continuing to practice. I’ve seen some Parks and Recreation facilities close their fields/facilities but I’ve also seen some private indoor venues state that they’re open for business. Again, practice participation is exclusively a club decision.

Thank you for all you do for this great sport and please post any questions you may have in the comments and I will respond as best I can.

Respectfully,

Matt Robinette
President
Capital Rugby Union

All: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all MAC matches for the next few weeks will be suspended. On Monday, April 6, MAC will provide an update on the status of match play.

We do not know what this means yet for our conference games, the MAC playoffs, or the National Championships. This depends on local, regional, and national issues.

If you have matches scheduled for the next few weeks, please let your referees know.