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30 Nov 2020 | 2 min |

Return to adapted Rugby approved by Government

The Rugby Football Union can confirm the Government has today approved our submission to a return to 15-a-side contact rugby, with some adaptations.

This follows the Government’s announcement last week that outdoor team sport can resume from Wednesday 2 December.

Further detail on the adaptations to the 15-a-side game and associated laws will follow. However, they are briefly summarised below:

  • No scrums or mauls
  • Where the game would restart with a scrum, this will be replaced with a free kick
  • A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout 

What can clubs now do?

  • Clubs can resume adapted training for 15-a-side contact rugby again from Wednesday 2 December. 
  • Clubs can resume friendly fixtures from Friday 18 December - this is to allow players to prepare properly and safely, having not been training over the past month.
  • Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby if they have matches coming up from 2 December to 18 December and beyond. There is no obligation to play adapted 15-a-side contact fixtures.

Further Government guidance is expected on travel, changing, spectators and clubhouses. The RFU will work to interpret Government information and will provide a detailed briefing.