The Rugby Soccer Union plans to introduce non-contact rugby to varsities in England to make sure the game stays “fit for the 21st century”.
An unbiased overview commissioned by the RFU discovered a decline within the variety of pupils collaborating in rugby union resulting from issues over gamers’ welfare and beneficial plans to safeguard its future.
The overview, led by Sir Jon Coles, chief govt officer of nationwide colleges group United Studying, additionally discovered “clear evidence of a very large untapped market in schools which don’t have a tradition of playing rugby”.
The overview recommends that full-contact rugby ought to nonetheless be accessible for under-15s and over.
The RFU mentioned: “Following the recommendations of the review, the RFU has begun the rollout of T1 Rugby, the first non-contact form of the game that reflects the characteristics of rugby union, including lineouts, scrums, kicking and a breakdown, in schools across the country with a target of 5,000 schools playing T1 Rugby within the next four years.”
The governing physique mentioned it was investing in a nationwide community of 100 faculty rugby managers by 2027, with 40 already in place.
Coles mentioned: “This can be a second for change. The RFU should now take daring steps to be sure that colleges with a robust rugby custom wish to play rugby and different colleges wish to take part.
“Our proposals for the RFU to codify nationally three formats with clear competitive structures, are designed to make sure that established schools feel able to keep rugby firmly on their timetable for all pupils.
“The framework for full contact rugby for U15 upwards will give colleges a transparent technique to handle threat and responds to the proof that till this age group, harm threat will not be considerably larger than in different sports activities.
“There is enormous potential for the growth of a game which is now played and loved by players of both sexes, all skin colours, all economic backgrounds and all shapes and sizes – but historically hasn’t reached this whole population.”
