Florida Rugby Union Coronavirus and COVID-19 Update (last updated 1/28/2021):

We at the FRU are trying to implement standards so that our members can safely return to playing the sport we love. We cannot do this without your help. Please follow all CDC and FRU guidelines regarding social distancing, safety, appropriate match rescheduling and canceling of training, etc. If you do not feel comfortable playing, we fully support your decision and encourage your clubs and teammates to do the same.  For those looking to play rugby, the FRU are supporting you by providing a schedule, referees, and flexibility. Please work within the guidelines set forth so that we can have a positive (covid negative) return to play.

In line with USA Rugby’s published guidelines, the Florida Rugby Union & Florida Youth Rugby Union have created these policies to help guide teams through the complicated process of returning to play rugby in Florida. A listing of authorized clubs is at the end of this page. 

These policies are subject to change dependent on the current CDC and local health guidelines and circumstances surrounding the virus. Thus if your county moves to a more conservative stage of activity, rugby will need to do the same.

FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION NOT LIMITED TO SUSPENSION OF PLAY. Referees are asked to not call an unsanctioned game and will be reimbursed by the FRU (who will then bill the home club) if they determine on game day that the match participants are not compliant.

Match play, contact training, should not take place until the return to play steps have been completed.

Match Play

Additional information on returning to MATCH play can be found here.

SOCIALS:

Guidelines for hosting socials. 

Contact training 

1. Return to play documents (including training requirements) still need to be submitted to FRU for clubs returning to training.
2. Contact training needs approval from the county/local health authority to participate in contact sports. At this time, the colleges and universities need to follow their college’s rules. Please provide a letter to the FRU from your county or a screenshot and link to your county’s website, it may list rugby or it may list “adult organized sports” are allowed.
3. All participants must be registered as full usa rugby members (not the training registration) to participate in contact training or matches
4. Temperature Checks are still required, as well as sanitizing equipment, logging players present, players not participating if positive for 14 days (or 2 negative tests following a positive), and keeping within county numbers

Return to Play Steps (most clubs have completed)

Your regional health mandate supersedes any policy outlined by the FRU, USA Rugby, or World Rugby: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html 

If your local county https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/ allows social activity such as sports and gatherings then you can create a plan for how you can return to play via the steps below.

The insurance policies have an exclusion for communicable diseases and pandemic/epidemics, so while a broken leg would be covered, COVID itself is not.

• Youth/High School Teams, if you are a youth and/or high school team looking to return to play please carefully read the CDC and Florida Health Guidelines for this.

Florida Rugby Template Documents – REQUIRED TO PLAY OR TRAIN AT ANY LEVEL

• Return to Play Authorization Letter – To be completed by the club before they begin practices, this document must be completed, club name inserted in the required sections, and signed by both the lead coach and the club administrator. The signed and the completed form should be emailed to Florida Rugby General Manager Evan Haigh (evan.haigh at floridarugby.org) 
• Return to Play Participant Log – To be completed by the club lead for each practice and match and/or team meeting, this should be stored by the club representative — For clubs who want to use it o an iPad in excel form here is the excel version.

If you are a college club, your school’s policy should also be consulted for guidance and it also takes precedence over any FRU policy.

USA Rugby has a detailed return to play guideline, we have abbreviated this below for the FRU.

https://assets.usarugby.org/docs/medical/USAR-R2P.pdf?v=1590538775401

Step 1: Reference your local health mandate using this link to determine what local guidelines apply. If social activity such as sports and gatherings as outlined below are allowed, proceed to Step 2. If sports and gatherings are not allowed yet, you cannot play rugby yet.

Step 2: Your coach and at least one club administrator need to complete the World Rugby Return to Play online modules. Then, determine the suggested activity level allowed by your city/county and cross-reference each element with local health protocol. Stages listed below outline which activity level is appropriate based upon city/county guidelines. If you are past stage 2 in the chart proceed to Step 3. A larger reference file can be found on page 6 of this link. Use this link for Symptom Checks to be performed at training.

Step 3:

1. Develop rugby activity plans for training and competition based on the determined stage.
2. Present activity plans with local health officials for assurance of safety and public welfare. Upon local approval, contact the FRU (email Evan Haigh) to let us know you have resumed and what stage of activities. If your local authority defers you to get governing body approval first, please contact the FRU (email Evan Haigh) with your proposal first.

This Stage 3 guide has been reviewed by local medical and scientific professionals and is intended to mitigate the risk of participants. Each county/city across the state may have different guidelines, and thus teams must follow their local guidelines even if other teams have moved forward to a different stage.

USA Rugby Update Page which also includes document linked above:

• https://www.usa.rugby/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-status-and-updates-usa-rugby/

If you have specific questions the above information does not answer, please email inquiries to president AT floridarugby.org

Future Guide for when state guidelines reduce restrictions:

Currently Approved and/or waiting to be Approved