The Rugby Football Union can confirm the Government has today approved their submission to a return to 15-a-side contact rugby, with some adaptations.

This follows the Government’s announcement last week that outdoor team sport can resume from Wednesday 2 December.

Further detail on the adaptations to the 15-a-side game and associated laws will follow. However, they are briefly summarised below:

• No scrums or mauls
• Where the game would restart with a scrum, this will be replaced with a free kick
• A minimum of five and a maximum of seven players from each team are required to form a lineout

WHAT CAN CLUBS NOW DO?

Clubs can resume adapted training for 15-a-side contact rugby again from Wednesday 2 December.

Clubs can resume friendly fixtures from Friday 18 December - this is to allow players to prepare properly and safely, having not been training over the past month.
Clubs can still play Ready4Rugby if they have matches coming up from 2 December to 18 December and beyond. There is no obligation to play adapted 15-a-side contact fixtures

Clifton Rugby will be making announcements shortly on their proposed fixtures and training in due course as the RFU releases further guidance, but it is pleasing to see that finally, we can look forward to some rugby at Station Road in the coming months.