September Newsletter
Chris Davy Tel. 01912581117 [h]; 07742054040 [m] Email: cdavy@hotmail.co.uk
Welcome Back!
Member Schools Newsletter September 2015
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Affiliation
Your school should have received their Award package, if not please contact Chris Davy
Associated with your affiliation was a form to request assistance from the NRU Charitable Trust
towards a project in association with your local rugby club. I am very pleased to report that 3 requests
have received support:
Bede Academy with Blyth RFC
Longridge Towers, Berwick Academy, Eyemouth Academy with Berwick RFC
NSB with Northern FC
Rugby World Cup
A tremendous start to the Tournament last weekend.
Dates and Events
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Newcastle Falcons Legends Game Friday 2 October 7.45pm at Kingston Park, all the proceeds go to the Wooden
Spoon and Falcons Community Charities.
Matt Burke Coaching Master Class Wednesday 7 October 4.30-6pm and 6-7.30pm Fanzone; book your place
[£35] by calling 01912841 or email andy.buist@newcastle-falcons.co.uk
Match dates and times at St James
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Saturday 3 October – South Africa v Scotland k.o 4.45 before street theatre and music celebrating the traditions of
South Africa and Scotland
Friday 9 October – New Zealand v Tonga k.o. 8pm Huks Day Out in Newcastle with performances of the fierce
Haka and have a go yourself!
Saturday 10 October – Samoa v Scotland k.o. 2.30pm Rugby Nations Dance in the centre of Newcastle with
People’s Street Orchestra for a unique Geordie celebration of the sport and Nations competing in Newcastle.
Fanzone
This is at the Science Central [adjacent to St James Park]. It is free entry and will be open 2-11 October. There will be a
big screen, rugby community activity, food and drink concessions, music and entertainment on site.
What else?
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Scotland House – the SRU is operating a mini Fanzone for Scottish fans at Lane7, 80-90 St James Boulevard
NE1 4BN on Saturdays 3 & 10 October
Conversion Festival celebrates culture and rugby in Newcastle from 3-11 October around Grey’s Monument, St
James’ Park and the Fanzone
Northumberland
Player Development Pathway
This is for all players 13+ male and female, and is led by Drew Robertson. Ambituous players should be part of this
Northumberland and Falcons with the RFU scheme. If you need any clarification please contact me.
Referee and Coaching courses – teachers and students
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Coaching – please visit http://www.englandrugby.com/courses/ for details of courses. Level 1 – aimed at NRoP
and Level 2 aimed at XV-a-side are available to book at £115 per course. IF you are supported by your local club
then a grant of 50% may be available.
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Official courses – please contact Alan Moses for information alanmoses@rfu.com
Concussion
Player safety is at the forefront of current conversation and I would like to highlight the concussion module on
Englandrugby.com/headcase. The resources available guide you from diagnosis to the ‘return to play’ to help you
provide the best advice for players, coaches and parents.
ERFSU Action
Activity Census – November 2015
In November each year we ask our member schools and colleges to complete a short census on what rugby activity
is going on in their institution. This helps us to develop better support to help them with their rugby programmes.
Each school that completes the census will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win goodies such as
Canterbury staff kit, or a new equipment package! All they need to do is complete the census online through the link
which is sent straight to their inbox. More information to follow closer to the time.
New Process for Tours and Cross-Border Fixtures Permission
From 1st September 2015 local County Schools Unions will be responsible for approving tours and cross-border
fixtures. Please contact Chris Davy as above to gain approval. This is for all fixtures and overnight tours to other
Home Unions e.g. Scotland and is additional to previous when you had to obtain permission to tour outside the UK.
New Discipline Procedures
The RFU Age-Grade Rugby Disciplinary Procedures have been amended to include the new (World Rugby
approved) Age-Grade Rugby Recommended Sanctions. These can be found in appendix 6 at:
Englandrugby.com/regulations. Schools should familiarise themselves with: the procedures, the new sanctions that
apply to Age-Grade Rugby disciplinary incidents, the supporting Guidance prepared by the RFU, and the
requirement to share relevant information about any School rugby disciplinary case with the National Youth
Disciplinary Secretary (NYDS). 
Action: Please read the new procedures and ensure your member institutions
are aware of them. For any queries please contact Chris Davy (cdavy@hotmail.co.uk) or Schools@therfu.com.
Age Grade Rugby and New Rules of Play
The New Rules of Play are now being more widely adopted throughout the club and school environment. This
season clubs and Prep School members of IAPS will play the new rules up to and including Under 11. This is in
advance of moving to mandatory implementation across the game including Under 13 from September 2016.
As a result of the 4 year review, Age Grade Rugby will be based on the key principles agreed by the RFU Council in
April 2015 – player centred, development driven and competition supported. The Council also agreed changes
to the regulations from next season that will help to provide players with a better quality rugby experience and
improve player safety. Throughout the 2015-16 season information and support will be provided to help clubs,
schools and colleges prepare for the September 2016 kick-off. For more information please visit:
www.englandrugby.com/age-grade-rugby