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Important letter to all @essexrugby affiliated clubs - please read.

Important letter to all @essexrugby affiliated clubs - please read.

Peter Watson15 Mar 2018 - 14:56
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https://www.brentwoodrugbyclub

DISCIPLINE: AREAS OF CONCERN & ACTION REQUIRED BY CLUBS

Dear all, please see below and kindly share with all players, supporters, parents and friends of Brentwood RFC. If you have any concerns please feel free to raise them to the clubs ExCo via exco@brentwoodrugbyclub.com

Dear Chairman and Secretary,

DISCIPLINE: AREAS OF CONCERN & ACTION REQUIRED BY CLUBS

We are now reaching the end of the season and the overall level of discipline this season has been very disappointing compared to previous seasons with an increase in cases of some 50%. As this time in the season also sees the culmination of league and cup campaigns, when passions can run high, there are two areas in particular that clubs need to address:

1. Match Official Abuse – quite simply there is too much of this, ranging from casual swearing, to serious and persistent abuse from players and also spectators, and this is unacceptable. The potential consequences to the game are huge: not only do we risk losing referees but our claims to be “not like football” are becoming empty boasts. With immediate effect anyone found guilty Match Official Abuse will been given an additional ban of up to 4 weeks as an aggravating factor over and above the entry point sanction. This could mean a ban of 10 weeks for even a low end offence.

2. Behaviour at Youth and Mini Matches – a number of youth matches has been abandoned in recent weeks as a result of players fighting and adults becoming involved with on field matters. This is also unacceptable and the amount of damage that it is doing to the game is massive with the adverse publicity on a national level actively discouraging parents from involving their children in the game. Any further incidents of abandoned matches, and other spectator issues, will be treated with the utmost seriousness and substantial and wide ranging bans will be imposed on any clubs and individuals involved.

Please acknowledge receipt of this email to the email address below and confirm that the contents have been advised to all your members. This could be done at the same time as reminding all your members of the RFU’s Core Values to reinforce the message. If however, clubs fail to control their players and spectators with regard to the above issues, sanctions may be imposed against clubs themselves which for the most serious offences might include whole club bans or the deduction of league points from their 1st XVs.

If you have any queries about this letter or need any help getting the discipline message across within your club please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,
Simon Wakefield
simon@yellowadmiral.co.uk
Chairman of Discipline
Essex County RFU

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