Wales Alert: the Rugby Football Union has pushed back the start of England's competitive community game season until the week commencing Monday September 21. The delay follows concerns about player welfare and pitch conditions after prolonged dry weather left many grounds unsuitable for safe full-contact activity.
Sir Bill Beaumont said the move would be disappointing for clubs, schools and colleges, players, volunteers and fans, but added that the RFU believed delaying the start nationwide was the right course of action. He said the decision was carefully considered and aimed to give the season the best possible opportunity to begin on a fair and consistent footing across the country.
RFU guidance before the delay
Before the postponement, the RFU had already contacted clubs, schools and colleges, players and coaches with guidance on rugby pitches in drought conditions. It also referred to the Natural Turf Pitches Surface Risk Assessment, a way to judge whether a pitch is safe to use and to reduce the risk of injury.
Fair start across England
The practical effect is straightforward for the community game: the nationwide start moves back, and clubs, schools and colleges gain extra time to check whether their grounds are suitable for full-contact rugby. The RFU said feedback from representatives across different regions, plus discussions in competition committees, fed into the decision.
Sir Bill Beaumont said the RFU wanted clarity as early as possible so volunteers, staff and organisations behind the scenes could plan and prepare for the season. For affected readers, the immediate change is that the competitive community game season in England will not begin before the week commencing Monday September 21, with pitch safety now sitting at the center of every local decision on whether play can resume on time.
