News

WRU sanctioned return to Non-Contact Training after the 1st August 2020.

Best practice guide to all players and coaches Team Managers and First Aiders.

As most will know by now, registration for all players and coaches will open on the 1st August 2020.

Everyone is expected to register by logging into the WRU game locker.

There will be a link attached to the registration which will take players to the World Rugby COVID-19 module which needs to be completed and submitted.  Players have been doing this already but unsure whether it is sufficing currently, if it is then great.

Game locker also has a COVID-19 daily symptom checker which needs to be completed before every training session is attended.  In the case of minis and juniors this can be done by the parents. This is a simple health check a couple of easy questions.

Once the registration is completed you are eligible to train.

In the case that someone has no internet facility available for the daily symptom tracker then a hard copy is being prepared by the club and will be available soon.

Persons in attendance at training must be symptom free themselves for the previous 7 days and had no contact with anyone who has had symptoms whether confirmed or not in the previous 14 days.  If all is well then you can train

So if no registration is done and no World Rugby COVID-19 module completed and any symptoms or contact with any person with or suspected to have COVID-19 confirmed or not in the previous 14 days then do not train under any circumstances whatsoever.  Stay at home and take the relevant advice from Health Authorities.

Also contact your Team Managers and club Operations Manager Paul Hearne or leads Dean Brown in the case of the Mini and Juniors rugby.

With regards to training sessions a maximum of thirty people are allowed, which is inclusive of coaches and first aiders.  A record must be kept of all those in attendance at training.

Players must wash their hand prior to training and wear clean kit

Bring their own drinks and nutrition and if possible hand sanitiser.

Travel to training alone or in family groups. No sharing with mates and no spectators permitted to attend sessions. In the case of parents then they should wait in the car or drop off and return to collect.

No gathering in groups prior to training no handshakes or high fives.

Sessions to be short and sharp in small groups of ten to 15 players, no sharing of any training equipment  with the exception of balls which can be used but must be sanitised or washed prior to handling and at the end of the session and if possible during any breaks.

If it is possible with regular trainers then try and keep the same players in the same groups.

Sessions should be fitness conditioning and ball skills, drills etc.

No spitting, no towel sharing, and players should be discouraged from putting their hands near their faces.

Social distancing should be maintained throughout the session.

Changing rooms and showers are no go now.

Any first aiders present should have relevant PPE, masks, and gloves for run of the mill injuries.

Any serious injuries which need closer attention will require aprons and visors.

All coaches and team managers if present should also have at their disposal masks and gloves.

At the conclusion of the session players must leave in the same manner by not hanging about for group chats or team talks.

At present the club is awaiting council permission to use the fields.

Just remember that this is strictly non-contact training and at this present time there is no sign of any social distancing rules being relaxed by the Welsh Government which would open the door for contact training.  So until that happens there is no date for rugby fixtures to resume so please be patient and do your best to stay safe

Paul Hearne

Club Operations Manager

Bridgend Athletic

You can find the WRU Return to Training guidelines by clicking the following link -  https://d2cx26qpfwuhvu.cloudfront.net/wru/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/16113640/WRU-Community_Covid-19-RTP-guidance-protocol_FINAL_V2.pdf