Rugby Victoria Update - 1st May 2020

On behalf of the Rugby Victoria Community, we would like to recognise and thank the frontline workers who are providing critical services to ensure our community remains safe and healthy during these difficult times.

Well done to each and every one of you for playing your role in maintaining social distancing to help flatten the curve.

Rugby Victoria has been working closely with Rugby Australia and the State Government to ensure we are best placed to re-commence community Rugby.

Rugby Australia and the Member Unions are developing a return to play framework that will support clubs, participants and volunteers as we prepare to transition back to playing Rugby. The framework will be released over the coming weeks.

Rugby Victoria is facilitating weekly Zoom meetings with Club Presidents to keep them informed. We have recently extended an invitation to Presidents of our affiliated bodies. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the Presidents for the positive way in which they have engaged in these meetings.

Victoria remains in a State of Emergency until the 11th of May. Premier Andrews has announced a plan to test 100,000 Victorians over the next two weeks as part of a major testing blitz across the State, to better understand how the virus is spreading in the community and to prepare us for the potential easing of restrictions.

Rugby Victoria has advanced its planning to recommence Rugby. Rugby Victoria presented a number of scenarios to the Club Presidents last week. Rugby Victoria is hopeful that we can recommence community Rugby during the month of July. We are working closely with a range of key stakeholders to identify ways to slightly extend the traditional Rugby season beyond 30 September into October.

Rugby Victoria is also participating in weekly meetings with Victorian State Sporting Associations, the State Government and VicSport. These meetings are providing a great platform to collaborate to identify issues facing the sector and strategies to enable solutions.

Rugby Victoria will continue to follow the advice of our State Government, Health authorities and the Rugby Australia Chief Medical Officer.

Rugby Victoria has pledged its support for the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe App – a major initiative being deployed to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with Coronavirus.

Consistent with its ongoing commitment to support the health and welfare of the Rugby community, Rugby Victoria has called on players, volunteers, Rugby officials and fans across the state to download the app to play an important role in curbing the spread of the virus.

Please continue to stay home, stay safe and stay connected.

Rugby Victoria President: Neil Hay
Rugby Victoria General Manager: Chris Evans