The Rugby Football Union has urged the Government to fast-track its return-to-play plan for the community game after conceding it risks losing a generation of players from the sport. On Tuesday the RFU will begin Stage D of its return to rugby roadmap which will allow grass-roots clubs to resume tackling and rucking in training but only for 15 minutes of a 75-minute session. However mauling, scrummaging, opposed lineouts and upright tackles are still not allowed because of the Covid-19 transmission risk while a return to full contact club matches would require “social distancing [to be] removed completely” under the RFU’s definition for Stage F. Senior grass-roots figures, including Rosslyn Park president Nicolas Goddard, have warned that thousands of players could be lost to the sport during the hiatus, particularly as grass-roots football and cricket have already resumed. Steve Grainger, the RFU’s development officer, does not dispute that analysis but says its hands are tied by government policy. “As a start point I don’t think we disagree with that,” Grainger told Telegraph Sport. “We all want to get the club game and particularly first XV rugby going again because a) it is really important for player retention b) it is really important for club revenues. The challenge we face is that we have to have our plan approved by the Government. It is not our decision. We are as desperate as Rosslyn Park and other clubs to get this done. It dominates our thoughts on a daily basis.” Government restrictions on face-to-face contact around the scrum, maul and upright tackling are the main obstacles preventing community rugby’s return. The RFU has offered National League clubs the option of starting their leagues without those fundamental elements in matches. “Of course the majority of clubs say no that’s not real rugby and it would not attract spectators,” Grainger said. “You are in this vicious circle, but that’s where we are.” With coronavirus infection rates rising, the only way that club rugby could resume within England is if the Government changes it policy. Meanwhile the Scottish Government has given the green light for the Scottish Rugby Union to resume grass-roots rugby from October 31. “The Scottish approach seems to be put the foot on the accelerator hard and brake when you need to,” Grainger said. “Our Westminster Government’s approach seems to be keep your foot on the brake and every so often you are allowed to accelerate. We are watching the Scottish approach very carefully and we will be having dialogue about what their evidence is based [upon]. For rugby to return, the risk appetite of the [UK] Government has to increase. A bit like they have done in some other areas like in education they have got to the point where they say crack on.”
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