London Welsh emerge from Lockdown 2.0 with the go-ahead to resume competitive contact rugby! With some tasty fixtures already on the cards!
After many months of speculation, lockdowns, false dawns, league cancelation and hope beyond hope- we are finally back!
Yes, the game may be slightly adapted (see below and attached) but it is as close to normal as we have been in nearly 12 months. In a double shot to the arm (covid tier system pending) spectators will be allowed back at Old Deer Park to watch the newly arranged exciting fixtures. This should allow up to 50% capacity at Old Deer Park up to 2000 people- although this remains to be clarified and depends upon the clubs own restrictions and health and safety measures.
The lifting of lockdown has seen the minister for sport and leisure sanction a return to adapted contact rugby as soon as 18 December 2020. This will also now clear the way for the RFU rearranged competitions to get underway in January 2021. As members and supporters will remember from our last update this sees Welsh pitted in a new local cluster cup competition between level 5 and 6 clubs, seeing clashes once again with national league opposition for the first time since 2017. See here for that article and the teams involved, start date to be confirmed by the RFU shortly: https://www.londonwelshrfc.com/news/london-welsh-to-return-in-the-new-year-2584765.html
The new rules are set out in the attached RFU briefing and although this will take some adaptation and getting used to, the first sight is not too disimilar to rugby league.
Training commences for the performance squad on Thursday 3 December and Director of Rugby Cai Griffiths will have the squad hard at it to adapt their game and ramp back up on fitness levels and testing after the heights of a long pre season.
In addition, a number intriguing delayed pre season fixtures are on the cards that could see a return on 18 December under lights at Old Deer Park! More to follow on this….
Keep your eyes peeled over the coming week for confirmation of fixtures, dates and arrangement for matches, spectator and member access and any pre match functions and hospitality!
Yma o hyd – #lwfamily
