eNewsletter – November 2019

We can confirm that the ballot for the 2020 Guinness 6 Nations has now been completed. Schools who were both confirmed members of the County Schools Union (as of 1 September 2019)  AND who had a valid email and contact on the RFU Game Management System were eligible for entry to the ballot and were contacted directly by the RFU ticket office.

The next ballot for the Quilter Autumn Series will be completed in April/May 2020. Those schools who are in membership and who have a ticket contact listed on the Game Management System will be eligible to enter the ballot. There are also non-balloted matches at Twickenham such as Varsity Match, England v Barbarians which are open for public sale.

To check your membership status and to confirm who is listed as the main ticket contact at the school, in the first instance, please contact your County Schools Union.

Please find the link to the letter sent to Schools associations with regard to a pilot to be applied to the Age Grade Rugby Playing Calendar for the second half of the season – January to May 2020.

From Under 12 to Under 16 the playing windows are being trialled as priority windows, rather than exclusive windows.

A reminder:

If a school wishes to host a Competition, more than 3 teams, it needs to apply to its County Schools Union for Permission to Host a Tournament.

Rugby is an inclusive game that can be played by anyone regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality or background. To highlight the importance of being inclusive, the RFU will be supporting this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign where the call to action will be ‘play your part’. This is a chance for all sports to celebrate, educate and inspire action and make sport everyone’s game.

Key dates to be aware of:

22 November – the campaign launches
23 November – Rainbow Laces will be worn at the Quilter International – England Women v Italy Women game taking place in Bedford
27 November – Rainbow Laces Day

Click here if your school wants to support this campaign.

From Saturday 30 November 2019, new laws will come into force about the use of drones.

• Anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg will need to register as an operator. The cost for this will be £9 renewable annually.
• Anyone flying a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg will need to take and pass an online education package. This is free and renewable every three years.
• Drones must also be clearly marked with its registration number, which should be large enough to be seen from the ground.
• What to do if a drone is spotted over a school and gives cause for concern:
• As a general rule, unless the drone pilot has permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), they should not be flying a camera-equipped unmanned aircraft (drone) within 150m of a ‘congested area’, which includes schools.If there are any concerns about unmanned aircraft being used around your school, either from a safety or privacy perspective, contact the police on 101, with the drone’s registration number if possible.
• For further information please go to the Civil Aviation Authority web site.
• 

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Please please note that the process for applying for Permission to go on Tour or to receive an Incoming Tour has slightly changed this season.

NB All tours include Training Camps in another Union, including Ireland, Scotland and Wales without a fixture also require permission.

In order to request permission you will be required to complete the necessary forms, and to complete an online Typeform where you will be required to upload supporting documentation.

Further information and links to Application Forms may be found from this Link

If you wish to play a team from another Union, including Ireland, Scotland or Wales, not requiring an overnight stay permission needs to be obtained from your County Schools Union.

Please see the link to the RugbySafe Newsletter, content:

Concussion Education Programme Research
Schools Injury Surveillance and Prevention Programme
Activate
Being a RugbySafe School
Headcase