Stage 4
October 26, 2020 – The TRU has determined that Stage 4 of the USA Rugby Return To Play protocol applies to the entire union, putting Texas and Louisiana at the same level as Arkansas and Oklahoma. We are aware that case rates are rising in some counties, but at the same time government restrictions have relaxed and many sports have resumed activities. The TRU fully supports any members that choose not to increase their rugby activity at this stage.
Group size under local government & facility approved amount
Face masks required for coaches & admins; highly encouraged for players
Temperature check all participants
Adhere to social distancing protocols
Rigorous cleaning of communal equipment & players must hand sanitize frequently
TRU real time updates and status during COVID-19
UPDATED October 26, 2020
The current nature of COVID-19 is an ever-changing situation in the Texas Rugby Union. Please refer to this page for the most up to date information and resources as the situation continues to unfold. Understand that the TRU Return to Play Task Force is monitoring the growing threat on a daily basis, while we keep in contact with USA Rugby and their connections to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and World Rugby.
If you have specific questions the below information does not answer, please email inquiries to admin@texasrugbyunion.com.
RECENT UPDATES
USA Rugby Club 7’s Championship – CANCELLED
USA Rugby has formally announced that the 2020 Club 7’s National Championship has been cancelled amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. See the official release here. The TRU and RRRC are actively
TRU Statement on USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines
On May 26, USA Rugby released their Return to Play (RTP) Guidelines. The newly formed TRU RTP Taskforce has reviewed them in detail, alongside World Rugby guidelines and various state-level
USAR Return to Play Guidelines
USA Rugby has published their Return to Play Guidelines available here. Please take the time to fully read the guidelines and share with your clubs. The TRU and RRRC are
USA Rugby Proposed Return to Rugby Guidelines Expected Soon
USA Rugby updated their COVID-19 Status and Updates article May 19th, sending an official statement via email that the proposed Return to Rugby Guidelines are still on track to be
COMPETITION MANDATE
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 claims will not be accepted during the above window of time.
RETURN TO PLAY
This information is based on the proposed framework from USA Rugby to reference as they determine potential return to play plans amidst the COVID-19 climate.
It is important to understand that the following outline is not official medical advice, whereby your club and athletes should more definitively refer to the instruction of your local health officials when determining a return to play calendar. Given the close contact nature of rugby, it is important to note that our sport lives beyond most when it comes to the threat of spreading respiratory diseases. The collective rugby community must remain patient and considerate through this process.
While we are all eager to return to rugby, the wellbeing of our friends, family and teammates must remain priority. It is on all of us to acknowledge responsibility and do our part to combat the spread of COVID-19.
WILLIAMS PRICE DISTILLING - LIQUID UNSCENTED SANITIZER
Zachary Hiller’s company has graciously extended a 35% discount on liquid unscented sanitizer to TRU members.
- Go to https://www.williampricedistilling.com/ and scroll down to the various sizes of liquid unscented sanitizer.
- Use discount code “TRU”
- Shipping is charged at cost but local clubs can select pick up.
NEED TO GET TESTED?
Need to get tested? Use the Texas Division of Emergency Management/DSHS COVID-19 Test MapREGIONAL HEALTH MANDATE
TRAINING
TEAM ACTIVITIES
COMPETITION
INSURANCE
STAGE ONE
STAY AT HOME
- At home individual training with personal equipment
- Participant should be symptom free before engaging in training activities
- Rigorously clean and disinfect home training area
- All communication and interaction done via virtual method
- No competition or inter-squad rugby activity
- Accident and Liability Insurance claims not accepted
STAGE TWO
STAY AT HOME LIFTED
SOCIAL DISTANCING
- Individual training with personal equipment at home or state approved outdoor locations
- Adhering to social distancing rules if not at home
- Coaching occurs virtually
- Rigorously clean and disinfect training area
- All communication and interaction done via virtual method
- No competition or inter-squad rugby activity
- Accident and Liability Insurance claims not accepted
STAGE THREE
SMALL GATHERINGS
NON-CONTACT
- Group size under local government approved amount
- Non-contact drills and activities
- No participation of players or coaches experiencing symptoms within previous 14-days
- Temperature check all participants on arrival must register lower than 99.6 F
- Coaches and Admin wear masks
- All communication and interaction done via virtual method or at distance of 6ft
- All on site, continue to adhere to social distancing wearing masks
- No competition or inter-squad rugby activity
- Non-contact intra-squad scrimmage permitted
- Accident and Liability Insurance claims accepted
STAGE FOUR - ALL AREAS
MID-LARGE GATHERINGS
OPEN PUBLIC FACILITIES
LIMITED CONTACT
- Group size under local government and facility approved amount
- Limited contact drills
- No participation of players or coaches experiencing symptoms within previous 14-days
- Temperature check all participants on arrival, must register lower than 99.6 F
- Rigorous cleaning of communal equipment
- Coaches and Admin wear masks
- Team meetings and gatherings under local government approved amount
- All on site, continue to adhere to social distancing wearing masks
- Limited contact intra-squad scrimmage permitted
- No scrums, ruck, mauls or lineouts
- Touch rugby suggested
- Accident and Liability Insurance claims accepted.
STAGE FIVE
NORMAL SOCIAL ADVENTURES
FULL TRAINING & COMPETITION
- Traditional training and contact protocol
- Continue rigorous cleaning of communal equipment
- Traditional team gathering protocol
- Continue rigorous cleaning of communal equipment
- Full sanctioned competition permitted with permission from local rugby organization
- Fan and crowd attendance permitted with permission from local health officials
- Continue rigorous cleaning of communal equipment
- Accident and Liability Insurance claims accepted.
RESOURCES
- USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines
- World Rugby Return Return to Play Guidelines
- World Rugby Coach and Administrator COVID-19 Courses
- Required for all coaches and administrators before returning to any type of rugby activity (send to admin@texasrugbyunion.com).
- World Rugby COVID-19 Symptom Checker
- USOC and Paralympic Committee Return to Training and Event Planning
EVENT STATUS
- 2020 RRRC XVs Championships (May) | Canceled
- 2020 USA Rugby Club Championships XVs (May) | Canceled
- 2020 RRRC 7s Series (June-August) | Canceled
- 2020 TOLA 7s Series (June-August) | Canceled
- 2020 Club 7s National Championships (August) | Canceled
- Adjusted 2020 TOLA 7s Series (Mid-July – August) | Canceled
- Adjusted 2020 Fall Tournaments (Mid-October – December) | Pending
- 2021 XVs League Season | Pending