To: Rugby Alberta Membership  

From: Graeme Moffat

Date: March 12th, 2019

Subject: COVID-19 Coronavirus

Dear Member,

The ongoing international health situation involving COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is having a significant impact in Canada and around the world.

We are about to enter a hectic time within the rugby calendar, and we want to assure you that the health and safety of our participants is a continued priority.

Rugby Alberta will be in regular communication with Rugby Canada and will continue to monitor updates and recommendations issued by the Minister of Health for the province of Alberta. We encourage our members to continue to monitor communications from the relevant health agencies.

At this time, Rugby Alberta will continue with the necessary training and education scheduled. These are essential foundations for the safety of our sport and a small enough that they represent a low risk to our community as they are small gatherings of people.

However, Rugby Alberta is strongly recommending suspending all nonessential rugby activities, practices, and training until further notice.       

Everyone is reminded of the importance of proper hygiene to help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infections to others. Here are some recommended measures to follow:

1. Wash your hand often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Make soap and/or hand sanitizer available in dressing rooms, practice facilities, and meeting places.

1. Monitor illness and injury at all times. Do not attend any rugby-related events if you are not feeling well or have any cold or flu-like symptoms.

1. Avoid contact with sick people, including avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.

1. Do not share towels, clothing, bars of soap, or other personal items with other players.

1. All players and staff should have their own water bottles to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria. Water bottles should be labeled and washed after each practice or game. Water bottles should not be shared at any time.

1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Please see the following Government of Alberta website for further information.

Update on COVID-19 in Alberta (March 12, 2020)

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=6980324A5B1B0-BC2C-40A8-A6AD9E30E3189425

COVID-19 coronavirus info for Albertans

https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx

As the circumstances with COVID-19 evolve or change, Rugby Alberta will issue new alerts to provide our members and the rugby community with all required updates and current information.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Moffat | Director of Rugby | Alberta Rugby Union | Percy Page Centre, 11759 Groat Road   | Edmonton, AB Canada | T5M 3K6 |  g.moffat@rugbyalberta.com  |  Phone: 403.862.7505  |  www.rugbyalberta.com

March 13, 2020

The following is a statement from Rugby Canada, regarding the impact of COVID 19 on rugby programming across our country:

As we all navigate this unprecedented situation, we remain first and foremost committed to the health and safety of our members, supporters, players, coaches, officials and staff. In keeping with this commitment, and in conjunction with our Provincial member Unions, Rugby Canada has made the decision to suspend all sanctioned rugby activities nationally effective March 14 until at least April 10. These activities include all inter-Provincial and Club competitions and training sessions, international and domestic tours, and all training & education courses for officials & coaches. National Senior Teams & players may conduct some training preparation under the approval and supervision of Rugby Canada’s Chief Medical Officer, following the advice and guidance of the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee and National and Provincial health agencies. The suspension of activities will be reevaluated prior to April 10, and further communication to our membership will be made based on updated advisement's from health authorities.

In conjunction with World Rugby, we continue to monitor the evolving situation around the globe, and will provide updates on international events and tours as decisions are made based on the best available information.

Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen stated, “The rugby community in Canada is brought together through the love of the game, which is founded on the principles of integrity, solidarity, and respect. As we navigate our way through this evolving situation, we thank the entire Canadian rugby community for their patience and understanding. We recognize the investment and commitment of our members, and are committed to providing the most updated information possible. While we all look forward to getting back on the pitch as soon as possible, we all have a collective responsibility to follow the recommendations of the appropriate health authorities, and strongly urge the entire community to do the same.”

"The health and well being of all who partake in our game, as well as support it, is paramount to us, " said Tim Powers, Chair of the Rugby Canada Board of Directors. "For now rugby, like every other sport, rightly takes a break so we can all focus on ensuring the welfare of our fellow Canadians. We hope to soon be back on our pitches playing the game we love."

For further information and advisement from Health Canada, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

For updated information from the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee, please see: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Update--3--Advisory-on-COVID-19.html?soid=1108867463200&aid=Xv-992-aw20

Registration 2020: Registration will remain CLOSED until further notice as we wait out at home....the Covid-19 situation.

All players, club management (coaches) and Board members need to be registered with your club. If you have registration questions, first contact your Club’s Registrar.  If they are unable to assist you, they will ask for help from the governing bodies.

New or Players Renewing Club Membership: LINK to registration portal

Before you step onto the pitch for games or for training, all Players AND Coaches need to be registered with Rugby Alberta/ Rugby Canada in the current season. Registration commences from date of purchase until April 30, 2021.

NEW PLAYERS:  If you have not already spoken with the club, please confirm with them that they will be fielding a team for your gender and age level this season. Click here for club contacts.

ERU Referee Abuse Policy

Please click the link in header above to read the Referee Abuse Policy from the Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) and the Edmonton Rugby Union Referees Society (ERURS). This policy is effective immediately and applies to all coaches and spectators.

Player abuse of referees will continue to be dealt with according to the World Rugby and ERU Rules and Regulations.

The ERU Club Presidents have committed their support of this policy.  The clubs have pledged to work with the ERU and ERURS to curb referee abuse.   Be reminded that it is the CLUB’S responsibility to control spectators as per item 2.3 in the Rugby Alberta Rules & Regulations

We ask that if you see any instances of referee abuse (or volunteer/staff abuse), that you let your board members know so that it can be dealt with.  Or speak to the coach or spectator yourself if you feel safe to do so.  If we do not curb this trend we will continue to lose referees and the game will suffer. 

August 2018