Along with clubs and teams in Caerphilly County Borough, RCT, Newport, Merthyr, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff, Swansea, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan where the temporary rugby suspensions have already been lifted, teams of all ages in Neath Port Talbot, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Conwy and Flintshire may now return to training within the current return to rugby guidelines (CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS), if they feel they can provide a safe environment for players, coaches and volunteers.
It has also been confirmed that, following last Friday’s announcement by the First Minister, children are now permitted to travel out of, and into local lockdown areas to participate in sport or other activities from 6pm tonight (Friday).
This change will apply to anyone under the age of 18, and they will be able to be accompanied by one responsible member of their household over the age of 18 if required for transport and safeguarding reasons. The new regulations also allow for volunteers, including coaches, who are required to facilitate activities for under 18s, to travel into and out of areas of local lockdown.
Adults are not permitted to enter or leave local lockdown areas to participate in sport – or as volunteers or coaches for adult sport.
More information on what is permitted in local lockdown areas are available here : gov.wales/local-lockdown
Players and parents have also been reminded they must complete the symptom checker on the WRU Game Locker ahead of every training session, and clubs have also been reminded of the protocols around contact tracing and positive cases.
WRU Operations Director Julie Paterson said:
“We have taken a number of factors into account when reviewing the situation of every area where local lockdowns were imposed following a period of temporary suspension of rugby activity. We look at Public Health Wales information, our own data and local intelligence around rugby clubs having consulted Club Operations Managers and volunteers from all of the rugby clubs in these areas.”
WRU Community Director Geraint John added, “We are very grateful to the volunteers, players and parents for adhering to the protocols we have put in place in order to create safe environments for community rugby and we ask all concerned to remain vigilant as they return to the current stage in our Return to Community Rugby plan. The clubs in these areas feel they are in a good place to make a call as to whether to return to regular training at this time following a temporary suspension and in managing day to day activities at their club within the current guidelines.”
The situation with regards to Llanelli Town will be reviewed next week.
