It'll be all go this Sunday as we welcome 900+ kids to Wimbledon Rugby Football Club for our minis rugby festival.

*This page was last updated at 11.40am on Sat 14th March with the fixture list*. No further updates are expected. See you all on Sunday!

Following Thursday's government update we have the following announcement regarding our festival:

The Wimbledon RFC Spring Minis Rugby Festival on 15 March 2020 will run as planned.

We ask that anyone with a new, persistent/continuous cough and/or a temperature of 37.8 degrees or above - ie those who have now been asked to self isolate for 7 days - not to attend. This is consistent with government advice.

We know that the government plans to extend such self-isolation requests to whole family groups (when there is one family member with these symptoms) in the near future. We ask that any family in this situation to stay away.

With today's new government advice, there are, as yet, no restrictions on holding sporting events/large gatherings. We have no further recommendations from the rugby governing bodies at this time. Should the government advice, or that from the RFU/Surrey RFU change before Sunday, we will update our position further.

Government advice on washing hands is key and we'd ask that parents ensure their kids wash their hands regularly. We have two locations where hands can be washed: the clubhouse and the pavilion in the middle of the pitches.

To minimise unnecessary physical contact, at the end of matches, we will ensure only 'three cheers' are exchanged, rather than handshakes.

A big welcome to the 95 teams playing this Sunday - by far the biggest festival we've ever put on.

Parking

In short, unless you are an early-arriver AND in a proper 4x4 (don't even try with low profile tyres), you won't be able to park near the club. Once the 4x4 parking is full all parking will be off-site as per the map below. A few permits have been issued for Inclusive Rugby players and visiting head coaches (only). If you have a blue badge there will also be parking at the club, please show yours to the marshalls at the junction of Copse Hill and Barham Road.

There will be parent volunteers in hi-viz to help make the parking as stress-free as possible. Please listen to any parking instructions you are given - and respect that everyone marshalling the parking are parent volunteers. Wimbledon RFC is situated in the middle of a residential area with some of the roads being private roads so if you are asked not to park somewhere, please listen. The same goes with cones, if you see a street with cones on, don't park there.

Anyone blocking access to homes or restricting ambulance access will be reported to the police.

If you need directions to Wimbledon Rugby Football Club click here

The programme for Sunday can be downloaded here and the fixtures for Sunday is here.

Here's the pitch plan - note: a larger copy of the pitch plan is in the programme, downloadable above.

Two messages from Sophie Castle, Wimbledon's child protection officer

(1) Remember, everyone (parents, coaches and players alike) must observe the RFU rules and spirit of play...namely

1. Support positively and applaud good play (even if it's not your team!)
2. Respect officials and opposition players
3. Remember that children are playing to have fun
4. Behave as good role models on the touchline
5. Congratulate the opposition and make their supporters welcome.

(2) Coronavirus/Covid-19

We have been in contact with the RFU and they are not issuing specific guidance in relation to the Coronavirus at this stage. The reason they state is that there is nothing to add above and beyond the detailed advice issued by the government and this is already in the public domain and well-known.

Advice to the public - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-pub...

Further advice on what we can all do to prevent the spread of infection: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-setti...

Bad behaviour by players will not be tolerated
The London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees has announced a zero-tolerance approach to backchat and appealing from players during matches. This approach is wholly endorsed by Wimbledon RFC and all players should expect to be warned and then penalised for instances of arm waiving and backchat/challenging refereeing decisions during games.

Bad behaviour by parents will not be tolerated. This from Brian Moore
[Children] do not always recognise a general expression of disappointment and believe it is directed at them. Head shaking, rolling of the eyes, looking away, kicking the ground – any of these can discourage children, and exhortations like “come on” and “sort it out” are as practically useless from the touchline as they are on the pitch. Full article is here

Hope you enjoy the festival and remember TREDS

Teamwork • Respect • Enjoyment • Discipline • Sportsmanship