In a normal year the university rugby season would be in full flow by now, though the harsh reality is that, in the current climate, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Initially, it was announced by BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) under their ‘Return to Play’ plan that competitive leagues were to resume between January and April 2021. However, with a second national lockdown looming, it is looking increasingly unlikely that this will be the case.
No one feels this growing sense of disappointment and frustration more than University of East London Rugby captain Zach Winfield who explains how UEL Rugby have dealt with the Covid-19 restrictions that are currently in place.
A Shift In Emphasis
“Training has had to change so that it aligns with the social distancing guidelines set out by the RFU and the government,” Winfield explains.
“There is no contact like before and the size of the groups allowed to interact with each other has been limited to ten. It has been a big change as training has moved away from any sort of contact and shifted emphasis to support play, quick passing and skills-based games.”
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have created a clear, nationwide tier system which outlines the rules and regulations that every club must follow for rugby to return in a safe, controlled manner.
“East London Sport have aligned themselves with the RFU and have emailed us links to the RFU page and given us updates every time a change in tier occurs so that we can run the sessions in accordance with the new rules.”
A Potential ‘Bridging Season’
Asked about a potential return to competitive in what BUCS have called a ‘bridging season’, Winfield says, “I think it is the only reasonable way for rugby to resume, at least for us.
“There is no way that we would be able to get an entire seasons worth of rugby crammed into a few short months, especially considering how busy the second and third term is for most students. It wouldn’t make sense for us to be stressing about a competitive season so late in the academic year, so I think that it being a bridging season makes a lot of sense.”
However, with the country now in a second national lockdown, the likelihood of university rugby returning is fading rapidly. The hope for Winfield’s side is that they will be able to organise friendly fixtures in the new year to get back playing, though that will all be dependent on the coming weeks and months.
Ready4Rugby
The RFU have introduced a new, non-contact game as part of their plans to facilitate the safe return of community rugby. Ready4Rugby allows two teams of up to ten players to participate, with East London Rugby playing this game mode during their training sessions on Monday evening.
“I think it has been a success, it has allowed clubs all around the country to get back to some sort of competitive play,” says Winfield of Ready4Rugby.
“The RFU does need to iron out some of the issues as I don’t think every referee and club is clear on the rules but, in general, I think it has been successful and has definitely improved my own decision making and handling skills thanks to its fast pace.”
Feelings of Frustration
There is a certainly a feeling at East London Rugby that the coming season is one that could’ve been, particularly on the back of last year’s title-winning campaign. The side were hoping that, with an influx of new players to strengthen the squad after some key players graduated, they could build on last season and push for another title.
“This is probably the most frustrating thing about the entire situation,” says Winfield of the setback after last year’s success.
“It has been very frustrating, especially considering we were coming into this year as champions from the previous year. I think that it being my final year does add to the disappointment, especially as captain. I was looking forward to finishing my degree and leading the team to another title.
“The only silver lining is that I will have more time to work on my dissertation after the Christmas break,” he jokes.
Social Setbacks
The close-knit spirit in the side is key to their success and is there for all to see, with the togetherness of the squad stretching way beyond the pitch.
“Rugby is a very social sport, and this has never been truer than at East London Rugby,”, says the skipper.
“Missing out on our weekly Wednesday socials and not being able to gather and watch the sport at the weekends together has been a real setback and is something that many of us have really been missing”.
