The key message is that if you’re a senior men’s or women’s player, you can only train or play if you live in Surrey Heath. If you’re a mini, youth or academy player (U18), you may continue to train or play no matter where you live. There’s also important information for spectators and guidelines on travel. Our Ready4Rugby tournament remains ON whilst our senior men’s intra club match is OFF. Our minis Christmas tournament is ON. The Fish Tank remains open on both days and will offer a takeaway service.

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Dear All,

So as ever, it is one step forwards and two steps backwards. I am sure that is not a surprise for those of you who have been keeping an eye on the local figures, but Matt Hancock has just announced that Surrey Heath, alongside most of Surrey, will move into Tier 3 from Saturday morning.

So what does this mean for us?

• Rugby- Rugby is still allowed to continue in line with RFU return to play continuum: we will stay in Stage E. All training can continue as normal, with the same days and time slots. Please note: if you’re a senior men’s or women’s player, you can only train or play if you live in Surrey Heath. If you’re a mini, youth or academy player (U18), you may continue to train or play no matter where you live.

• Spectators- Under Tier 3 there are no spectators allowed to watch senior men’s and women’s matches/training sessions. Our mini and youth players can be accompanied by one parent or carer from, or into, a Tier 3 area to train or play. Please continue to adhere to social distancing and note the rule of six still applies.

• Travel- The rules regarding travel in tier 3 are very strict. There is to be no travel from a tier 1 or 2 area to a tier 3 area. You are also not allowed to travel from one tier 3 area to another i.e. Woking to Surrey Heath. So, under these restrictions you could only travel to Watchetts to play or train if you currently live in Surrey Heath. However, due to government exemptions for under 18s, Age Grade players (u18 and below) can travel across all tiers to train and play. The RFU does request that ‘wherever possible’ adult guidelines are followed, though. This also applies to coaches, referees and one adult accompanying an age grade player to sessions.

• Ready 4 Rugby Tournament- At the moment we are still planning on this to be going ahead. We felt that there wasn’t going to be hordes of spectators turning up, so hopefully not too much impact. That said, the travel across the tiers may alter your availability so can I ask that you update Pitchero or contact Kim Johnson or Matt Searle comms@camberleyrugbyclub.co.uk ASAP and let them know if it has changed.

• Intra Club Match- This has unfortunately been cancelled due to the number of players having to travel from other tiers.

• Sunday Training/Tournament- As we stand this will still be going ahead, as long as you are able to follow the travel guidelines. Please communicate with your respective Squad Managers should your availability/situation change.

• The Fish Tank- This will remain open as it is offering a takeaway service.

It is a shame that it has come to this so near Christmas but looking at the figures and seeing how the numbers have continued to rise over recent weeks, it is probably the right things to do. I am sure that you will all echo my thoughts and feelings to those whose businesses have been affected by this move up a tier and in particular those in the hospitality sector. All I can say is please help these businesses out anyway you can, shopping local and continuing to use takeaway and online services. So many of these businesses have been terrific supporters of our club over the years and now is time we can show some of this support back.

Finally, I wish you all a happy a merry Christmas and I hope you will still enjoy a small celebration on New Year’s Eve to see in 2021 when, quoting the appropriately named Northern Irish 90s band D:Ream, ‘things can only get better’!

Best wishes,

Roger Wood
Chair of Rugby
rogerw@camberleyrugbyclub.co.uk
07725232452