At NERFU the health and safety of rugby players comes first and foremost. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to players, supporters, and the communities we live and play in. We are just as eager to return to the game as any player and adhering to the guidance of state and federal CDC’s ensures the quickest path to do so. NERFU has assigned state coordinators to monitor the latest guidance and mandates and we’ve compiled those resources here.
LATEST NEWS
NEC7C Announces Spring Cancellation Due To COVID-19
Club Spotlight: Upper Valley Rugby (COVID Edition)
End of Fall Season Update (COVID-Edition)
Club Spotlight: Worcester Rugby (COVID Edition)
COVID-19 Update on 2020 Fall College Competition
Colonial Coast Cancels Fall 2020 Season Due To COVID-19
HIGHLIGHTS
- All states in our region continue to prohibit/discourage contact sports.
- Rugby competition for both senior and college clubs is cancelled for the fall season.
- It is unknown if competition will resume in the spring.
- USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines ➥
- NCR Return to Play Update ➥
- World Rugby Return to Play Guidelines ➥
GUIDELINES BY STATE
Accordion Content
Contact CT COVID Coordinator: Ashley LaPlante, ashleylaplante@sbcglobal.net
Latest official guidance for the State of Connecticut can be found at ct.gov/coronavirus.
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 25 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
Contact ME COVID Coordinator: Jeremy Hammond, admin@nerfu.rugby
Latest official guidance for the State of Maine can be found at maine.gov/covid19.
March 5, the State of Maine updated guidelines for community sports and even specifically identifies “rugby” as a “Higher Risk” activity. Sports associated with a higher risk are restricted to the following “type of play”:
Level 1: Performing skill-building drills or conditioning with physical distancing, no close contact, and in limited numbers when possible (Updated 12/4/20)
Level 2: Team-based practice with physically distanced group activities
Tag or Touch Rugby is not specified in the state guidelines, but for reference, “7 vs. 7 flag (touch) football” is identified as a “Moderate Risk” activity. Sports associated with a higher risk are restricted to the above levels 1 and 2 “types of play” and also:
Level 3: Within-team competition (e.g. intra-squad scrimmages) or virtual competition with other teams. This level of play involves interaction within one cohort of participants. (Updated 11/13/20)
Level 4: In-person competition between teams from the same geographic area (e.g. the same county and in some cases adjacent counties). This level of play involves interaction between two cohorts of participants. (Updated 11/13/20)
There is currently no timeline by the state to permit inter-team play for rugby (regular or touch) with clubs in other counties or from other states.
There also extensive “General Requirements” all clubs and individuals will need to take into account. They are located here: https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/community-sports.
Contact MA COVID Coordinators:
Kelsey Maguire, seniorclub@nerfu.rugby & Zach Boswell, bosza195@gmail.com
Latest official guidance for the State of Massachusetts can be found at mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information.
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 25 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
Contact NH COVID Coordinator: Ely Thayer, ely.thayer@gmail.com
Latest official guidance for the State of New Hampshire can be found at nh.gov/covid19.
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 25 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
Contact NY COVID Coordinator: Lori Staples, lori.l.staples@gmail.com
Latest official guidance for the state of New York can be found at coronavirus.health.ny.gov.
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 25 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
Contact RI COVID Coordinator: Nick St. Germain, njsg25@gmail.com
Latest official guidance for the state of Rhode Island can be found at health.ri.gov/covid
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 50 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
Contact VT COVID Coordinator: Lex Reynolds, acreynolds7@gmail.com
Latest official guidance for the State of Vermont can be found at healthvermont.gov/response/coronavirus-covid-19
What can’t we do?
- Exceed groups of 25 people
- Share equipment, water bottles, other personal items (In RI you may share equipment amongst “controlled” groups and must sanitize before sharing with another group)
- Engage in activities with contact.
- Come out to practice if you are not feeling well.
Well then, what can we do?
- No to low contact activities where everyone has their own equipment, if applicable, such as:
- Strength & Conditioning
- Agility drills
- Walk-through set plays and back line plays
- Kicking Drills
- Ball handling drills
- Skill building drills
- Practice Social Distancing
- Wear a mask when appropriate (when 6ft cannot be maintained)
- Keep practice groups small.
