ROADMAP FOR RUGBY
Plan for grassroots
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
 
Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

As an ex player and coach, I read with interest the latest information about when there will be a likely restart to our amateur game of rugby.


Professional rugby has returned, albeit behind closed doors. However, grass roots and amateur rugby is still awaiting clearance to start playing again. The RFU have launched a visual road map of the way forward and it seems we are at stage D now.


A roadmap infographic and guidance on restarting competitive grassroots rugby has been produced to clarify what clubs should have in place and what activity is permitted.

 

 

The RFU has announced a national roadmap to support a return to community rugby activity. This roadmap consists of six stages. Stage A relating to individual training with one other person, moving through to Stage F when there can be a return to competitive matches against other teams.


From 1 September, clubs have been permitted to move to this Stage D, which allows limited contact training. Mauls, scrums, opposed lineouts and upright tackles are still not permitted because of the risk of transmission, and contact training can only be done in groups of six or fewer, but allowing some contact activity is an important first step.


As well as introducing contact, clubs can now arrange non-contact fixtures (touch or Ready4Rugby) with other clubs. The Stage D guidance provides detailed information on what activity is and isn’t permitted.

 

Many clubs have got players back training, but we are still awaiting clearance to resume competitive games. I have again heard via the grapevine and speaking to some clubs a likely date for starting will now be the 1st November. However if the Covid-19 outbreak continues to fluctuate, I have no doubt we will see further delays to the return of competitive matches being played, which are the lifeblood of many clubs up and down the country.


As mentioned in a previous article, the financial impact of this Covid-19 is only just beginning to be felt. The real question is how long can many of these clubs last before we find a vaccine to halt this pandemic?


I have no doubt the same applies to many other sports clubs (cricket, bowls, tennis, football), who are experiencing the same difficulties.


Many sports facilities are still running on reduced staffing levels, with furloughed staff awaiting a date to return to work - if indeed they have a job to return to?

 

 

I am also hearing that there has been a number grounds professionals been made redundant in recent weeks - and also worrying, I see on LinkedIn two respected BIGGA employees have announced they are leaving the organisation.


Which once again brings me to consider, what does the future hold for our two main trade shows if this pandemic continues to drag on well into next year?


BIGGA announced recently that they have cancelled their popular trade exhibition due for January 2021, because of the ongoing uncertainty. In their official statement they said they had prioritised the health and wellbeing of its members, exhibitors, staff and other attendees.


It was stated that the decision was taken following consultation with members of the association and ongoing dialogue with representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre plus other major stakeholders. It was agreed the hosting of a gathering of turf professionals from across the globe would create an unacceptable risk of infection, potentially putting lives at risk.

 


This leaves us with the rearranged GMA SALTEX show, now scheduled to go ahead in March 2021. However, as mentioned above, this pandemic does not appear to be going away any time soon. Therefore we still may be faced with the prospect of having no shows at all in the first part of next year, if the GMA are forced to postpone their show again?

 

Covid-19 has definitely changed peoples mindset on life and what matters, while at the same time driven businesses to look at new ways of working. Online shopping has dramatically increased four fold and more and more companies are moving to to online marketing strategies.


Our industry is renowned for being adaptive and able to react to major issues quickly and overcome problems, especially when we take time to work and support one another.


It one of our greatest assets, helping one another out. I am sure during this pandemic we all will learn many new ways of working until we finally get a vaccine to combat this terrible disease.


While still on the subject of Covid-19 and how it has affected different parts of our industry, my colleague Steve Gibbs, editor of our sister title Service Dealer, has recently published an interesting article whereby he asked several major manufacturers (including names like Iseki, Stihl, Stiga, Kramp, Kubota, Husqvarna, Ego, Price Turfcare, to name a few) how they have been coping this year and what they think the future holds for them in the next twelve months. Well worth a read.


As for other thoughts for this week, I read with interest that Textron Specialized Vehicles will be relocating all of its Jacobsen mower manufacturing processes to the UK’s Ipswich facility as from this autumn.


This should be a positive development for the jobs market in the local area and the company says the move will enable them to focus its investments in mower production on a single facility, using the existing resources and expertise at Ipswich where it has been being building mowers since 1832. Great news indeed.


Also, we are only two months away from the clocks turning back in October, bringing the start of our autumn and winter seasons. With the nights drawing in and temperatures dropping, it signals the end of the main growing season.

 

It is during the winter months that we need to address the needs of servicing our machinery and equipment. It is money well spent, keeping on top of servicing and warranties of machinery and equipment.

 


There is nothing worse than having a machine that does not start or is not fit for purpose. On occasion I’ve seen some equipment in a real state in grassroots sports clubs sheds or containers. Quite often this machinery is old, not maintained and not able to do a particularly good job. I just wish these clubs would look at investing in new equipment. There are many ways to secure funding for this equipment and machinery.

 

 

There has been some funding provided by Sport England during Covid that could be put to securing new equipment. The RFU have for several years, along with some manufacturers, been offering equipment deals to help clubs replace machinery that has seen better days.


There are ways for clubs to access or arrange a finance deal with a dealer or manufacturer for the supply of specific machinery needs. This can become a regular monthly payment plan that finances all the key equipment. Golf courses for example, have been doing this for years.


There are many machinery dealers who would be happy to advise clubs on the way forward in terms of buying right equipment for their clubs.


As mentioned in a recent article about budgets maintenance of playing surfaces comes at a cost. The choice and selection of the right machinery for your facility is essential for you to be able to maintain your playing surfaces efficiently.

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In this issue
EDITOR'S BLOG
ROADMAP FOR RUGBY
NEWS
ALL JACOBSEN MANUFACTURING TO BE RELOCATED TO IPSWICH
TURF TANK CONTINUE UK EXPANSION
VANMAC BECOMES UK DISTRIBUTOR OF BROUWER KESMAC
DR POWER EQUIPMENT ACQUIRES MEAN GREEN
PHIL SELF JOINS ISEKI
REESINK IRELAND MD RETIRES
UPGRADE FOR DARTFORDIANS RFC
ETESIA ANNOUNCE NEW FINANCE OFFER
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