Rugby continues! Hurrah

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

GREAT NEWS!!!

Rugby is cleared to return from Sunday 6th December.

Let's get as many kids down to play rugby whilst we can!

Minis Groups (under 6 to under 11s) & Inclusive Rugby at 9.15am
Youth Groups & all Girls Rugby (under 12 and above) at 11am

Get in touch with our age group managers or head coaches if you want to come any try us out: http://wmrfc.co.uk/contacts

...and a brilliant Girls Rugby Camp for girls aged 10 to 18 to book on to - December 22nd, run by England World Cup Winner Rachael Burford and top coaches - they promise a full day rugby coaching camp you will never forget!

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

England Rugby are running Sunday morning fitness sessions on their YouTube and Facebook pages to help keep our kids fit and engaged in rugby during Lockdown 2.

They are really good 25 minute-long sessions tailored to three age brackets. My two (aged 7 and 14) really enjoyed the first week's sessions. Two more sessions are planned and will run on Sunday 22nd and 29th November.

9.30-10am u6-u10s
10-10.30am u11-u14s
10.30-11am u15-u18s

We are still hoping to back playing on Sunday 6th December. Please keep an eye out for news on this.

With England now in a second Covid-19 lockdown, all amateur team sports are put on hold until the 2nd of December. Keep fit in the meantime and we'll be back as soon as allowed. We have all the protocols and coaching plans in place to get rugby back as soon as announced. Keep an eye out on our club Facebook group for news as well: https://www.facebook.com/wimbledonrfc

Last Sunday saw lots of great rugby being played. Here's a shot from the under 8s last week. This is what it's all about! Stay safe everyone.

Welcome to another fun Sunday of rugby.

Please note: The RFU have banned the use of gloves by players as they inhibit the effectiveness of the regular hand sanitisation breaks. The only option for wearing gloves is to bring four pairs of clean gloves each week and swap for a fresh pair when your child hand sanitises every 15 mins. If you have any questions regarding this please direct them to Richard Castle, Chair of Minis Rugby (minis@wmrfc.co.uk).

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

Please remember to socially distance on the touchlines (2m apart and no groups of people more than six). The clubhouse uses the NHS Covid app to manage clubhouse users and given the new Covid restrictions there can be no mixing of households at all inside.

This weekend: Farmer's Market at the club

Running this Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, get your breads, cheeses, billtong, honey and lots of other goodies alongside our own highly-successful veg and fruit stall. 9am to 4pm both days.

The Track & Trace form for this week is here

Don't forget the clocks go back this Sunday morning!

Great to see the season continuing as well as it is - thanks to all parents and coaches for your support. If you are one of the few still to pay your subs please pay up this weekend. Get in touch with Nick the treasurer via treasurer@wmrfc.co.uk if you're struggling to make the GMS site work for you.

A good number of updates have come from the RFU recently. As well as some new coaching courses and changes to age grade regulations there is a ban on the wearing of gloves. For some children this is not ideal as they feel the cold so please add lots of base layers, leggings, hats etc to help keep them warm. The only way around the gloves ban is to bring enough pairs of clean gloves (four or five pairs) to change at every 15-minute hand sanitising break.

The monthly RFU update can be read here

There's also this video update from RFU rugby development director Steve Grainger: https://www.englandrugby.com/video/1rFbFUQX

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

Please remember to socially distance on the touchlines (2m apart and no groups of people more than six). The clubhouse uses the NHS Covid app to manage clubhouse users and given the new Covid restrictions there can be no mixing of households at all inside.

Next weekend: Farmer's Market at the club

Running on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, get your breads, cheeses, billtong, honey and lots of other goodies alongside our own highly-successful veg and fruit stall. 9am to 4pm both days.

The Track & Trace form for this week is here

Following this week's announcement that London is moving to Tier 2 on the Covid-19 status scale, there is NO CHANGE for us and we can carry on as we have been all season. Hurrah!

The RFU have informed clubs that gloves must not be worn by children playing rugby from now on. For some children this is not ideal as they feel the cold so please add lots of base layers, leggings, hats etc to help keep them warm.

There are a few places left for half term in our multi-sport holiday camps for kids aged 7 to 14. Details and how to book are here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/october2020

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

Please remember to socially distance on the touchlines (2m apart and no groups of people more than six). The clubhouse uses the NHS Covid app to manage clubhouse users.

The Track & Trace form for this week is here

A slightly firmer reminder to those who are yet to settle their annual subs to please pay up. The annual fees are vital to help keep the club going. Details on how to pay are here: http://wmrfc.co.uk/howtojoin

Filling up quickly are our fabulous multi-sport holiday camps for kids aged 7 to 14. Details and how to book are here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/october2020

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

Clubhouse Covid Regulations
We have worked hard with Merton Council to agree the following protocols for the clubhouse, please follow these rules to help ensure we can stay open and keep the rugby going for our kids.

• everyone aged 11 and above is required by law to wear a face mask in the clubhouse
• everyone entering the clubhouse (other than to use the toilet) must use the new NHS Covid app (so download it before Sunday perhaps) and scan the QR code on entering. If you are unable to do this then please ask a member of staff who will take your details
• the BBQ will operate as normal
• there will be a table outside the clubhouse folding doors for take-away coffee, tea, soft drinks, snacks and the bar. This will have an express coffee station on it that will be manned by WRFC staff, and if anyone wants a different coffee then please order at the table and a member of staff will go into the clubhouse and make it for you. Likewise for the bar. The queue for this service point will be marked out and people must adhere to the queueing system. It may make service a bit slower, so please bear with us. No-one will be able to order inside at the main bar or coffee bar
• there will be a strict one way system for those entering the clubhouse – in through the front door and out through the rear. This will help people avoid those in the queue for drinks. Please do not cut through the queue in between people – go round instead
• the number of people legally allowed to meet socially is six. It is critical people abide by this rule, in any setting, indoors and outdoors
• please do not congregate around the clubhouse during busy periods. If on the patios then please sit on a table, do not stand around
• kit sales will be on the lower patio and a queue marked out for this

A message from Sophie and Kate, the club's child safeguarding team about the NSPCC's Parents in Sport Week which runs from 5th to 11th October 2020.

We want all the children and young people involved in rugby through Wimbledon RFC to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Parents’ engagement in youth sports is really important and the NSPCC Parents in Sports Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of parental involvement in the safeguarding of kids sport.

Specifically, parents are asked to sign the NSPCC's Sports Parents Promise

• I promise to listen to you if you have any concerns about your sport
• I promise to learn how your club keeps you safe and what I can do to help
• I promise to make sure that I set a good example and support you (and your teammates) in a positive way

Our Club Safeguarding Officers are Sophie Castle and Kate Singleton who are around the club most Sunday mornings. If you have any questions about safeguarding arrangements at WRFC, please do ask Sophie (07970 212727) or Kate (07952 643939).

So we've made it through a month! Yes, this is week five of the new season. Thank you to all the parents, kids, volunteers and clubhouse staff for doing so much to get the season running.

A quick reminder to those who are yet to settle their annual subs to please pay up. The annual fees are vital to help keep the club going. Details on how to pay are here: http://wmrfc.co.uk/howtojoin

A key highlight this Sunday (1pm to 2.30pm) is the Girls Taster Rugby Session. It would be great to encourage our current player base to see if there are other players keen to try rugby for the first time. This was a hugely successful day last year and it is important we continue to build on the great momentum being built in the Girls section – which is now 3 separate age groups, including more players in the minis section. Please see below and help get the word out to all our parents. There could be a budding star waiting to be discovered!

A reminder about our fabulous multi-sport holiday camps for kids aged 7 to 14 which are now open for booking. These always sell-out quickly so do book your kids in early. Details and book here: https://www.wimbledoninthecommunity.com/book-a-camp/october2020

Here are the pitch plans for Sunday:

Every child attending training is required to have their attendance logged in this Sunday's Track & Trace form which can be filled in below.

Clubhouse Covid Regulations
We have worked hard with Merton Council to agree the following protocols for the clubhouse, please follow these rules to help ensure we can stay open and keep the rugby going for our kids.

• everyone aged 11 and above is required by law to wear a face mask in the clubhouse
• everyone entering the clubhouse (other than to use the toilet) must use the new NHS Covid app (so download it before Sunday perhaps) and scan the QR code on entering. If you are unable to do this then please ask a member of staff who will take your details
• the BBQ will operate as normal
• there will be a table outside the clubhouse folding doors for take-away coffee, tea, soft drinks, snacks and the bar. This will have an express coffee station on it that will be manned by WRFC staff, and if anyone wants a different coffee then please order at the table and a member of staff will go into the clubhouse and make it for you. Likewise for the bar. The queue for this service point will be marked out and people must adhere to the queueing system. It may make service a bit slower, so please bear with us. No-one will be able to order inside at the main bar or coffee bar
• there will be a strict one way system for those entering the clubhouse – in through the front door and out through the rear. This will help people avoid those in the queue for drinks. Please do not cut through the queue in between people – go round instead
• the number of people legally allowed to meet socially is six. It is critical people abide by this rule, in any setting, indoors and outdoors
• please do not congregate around the clubhouse during busy periods. If on the patios then please sit on a table, do not stand around
• kit sales will be on the lower patio and a queue marked out for this