
COVID 19 and USA Rugby Chapter 11
To the True South GU clubs and their members: As many of you may have now heard, USA Rugby has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy which is a type of bankruptcy for an organization to restructure both itself and its debt. Between that and the COVID-19 pandemic our sport is dealing with an unprecedented situation. The True South board wants you to know that we are engaged with the restructuring efforts and devising a strategy with other unions to bring back competitions. With regard to USAR, our Women’s Director Michele Yarbrough is one of four USAR Congress members that have been asked to work with their Board of Directors and has been actively working to create a path forward with World Rugby and USAR. Mike Millikan has been handling the extensive communications between other GU’s and the task force that has been put together. I’m monitoring the potential competitions format and timing for the Southern Conference which includes Florida, Carolina’s and Georgia. I would not expect to see any competitive 7’s competition this summer and the union is not endorsing any social 7’s tournaments. I can say that our finances are secure and sufficient to get through this. USAR does not owe us any money, nor do we owe them any. CIPP registration and the insurance that goes with it are critical parts of the ongoing discussions. It may be that the union or conference will have to take that on internally, it’s simply not clear at this point. I have had conversations with both referee societies to gauge their concerns. Referee certification is part of what USAR handles meaning World Rugby provides the guidelines and class courses while USAR deals with the logistics. This is a bit of a sticking point as World Rugby will not act with anything less than a national governing body so our union and our conference will not have any say in this. It is important for each of you to know that as long as there is a national stop in place for playing rugby due to COVID 19 – if you play or practice during this time – your CIPP insurance will not cover you. If we reach a point where the stop is lifted and the National Governing Body is still in Chapter 11 we will provide further guidance on the CIPP insurance at that time. I expect to have more clarity with all these issues by the end of April and the board will continue to monitor the situation and provide our membership with hopeful outcomes. In the meantime, let’s look after each other, stay in touch and help our community where we can.
Peter Steyn, President, True South GU
True South Rugby Geographical Union
TRUESOUTHRUGBY.COM
From Randall Johnson: MSRRS Chair:
As we are all aware, USA Rugby has filed for Chapter 11 and as such there are many unresolved questions that will hopefully be answered in short order. This letter is to state the MidSouth RRS position on USA Rugby’s circumstances as well as address the COVID situation. MidSouth RRS’s position on the COIVD situation is very simple: We will follow all mandates from the various federal, state and local governments. Once group sporting events resume, MidSouth will provide referees to member rugby organizations within our purview. In regards to the USA Rugby situation; MidSouth RRS had prepared in advance for the possibility of rugby without USA Rugby and with a gracious grant from True South Geographical Union, took steps to insure our full time referees through the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). Understanding the uncertainty surrounding CIPP coverage, the NASO option was the most prudent path to allow uninterrupted referee coverage for our constituents. What this means for your organizations is that referee coverage for all matches will be uninterrupted once rugby is allowed to resume regardless of USA Rugby’s situation. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. — Randall Johnson
MidSouth Rugby Referee Society Chairman
MidWest RRS Territorial Panel Referee
Home
585-704-1605
randall.johnson@gmail.com
midsouthrugbyreferee@gmail.com
True South – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
True South Member Teams,
From Peter Steyn:
To the member clubs of the True South GU: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the board has made a decision to suspend any matches that fall under our jurisdiction until further notice. The referee societies have been notified and there will be no sanctioned matches for the foreseeable future. The True South finals in New Orleans will remain on hold also, as well as the conference finals set for Knoxville this May pending further information. We take this action in response and concern for the safety of our players and fans. The competitions committee will be considering what we can do for our finals this April in conjunction with the host club and state or federal guidelines. This is an unprecedented situation that we have never seen before in our sport so the board asks that clubs and their members take necessary precautions to remain safe and bear with us as we move forward in this difficult time.
Peter Steyn, President, True South GU
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USA RUGBY SUSPENDS SANCTIONED COMPETITION AND ACTIVITIES FOR 30 DAYS; SPRING COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIPS (XV & 7s) CANCELED
Dear Members,
USA Rugby today announced the decision to suspend sanctioned rugby competition and activities for a 30-day period effective immediately. With the threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19) escalating day by day, the need for suspended activities was a complicated but necessary resolution. The 2020 USA Rugby Spring College Championships and College 7s National Championship have also been canceled due to precautionary measures within the union and a growing number of colleges and universities.
USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young: “It’s been an extraordinary period of time around the globe, whereby the rugby community is of course affected. While we evaluated as best we could to keep competitions intact, the situation has risen to a point where precautionary measures take precedence and is in the best interest of not only our members, but the general public.”
Effective immediately, USA Rugby adamantly encourages all members to suspend competition and rugby activities for the next 30 days to ensure the health and safety of themselves and those around them. The USA Rugby Medical Committee will continue to monitor the condition of COVID-19 and provide further instruction before the end of this period on April 12, 2020. Playoffs, qualifiers and eventual championship events for USA Rugby Spring College XVs and 7s will not occur in 2020.
While regional and national Senior Club competition is included in the immediate suspension, the 2020 Club XV and Club 7s Championships will remain under review. With a differing competition calendar to the scholastic game, the state of those events will be determined at the end of the 30-day period.
Through the provisional period, members are encouraged to stay tuned with USA Rugby communication channels and social media for live updates and information on the situation.
Thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this complicated time; please remember to follow the guidance of health officials in your every day operations and we look forward to taking the pitch again soon.
Sincerely,
USA Rugby
Union finals results
Semifinals D3 Men
Memphis 61 Huntsville 26 Pensacola 36 Clarksville 8
Semifinals D2 Women
Knoxville 55 Memphis 0 Nashville 35 Louisiana 33
Semifinals D2 Men
Nashville 31 Birmingham 22 New Orleans 29 Chattanooga 27
Finals
Pensacola 33 Memphis 19
Knoxville 39 Nashville 17
New Orleans 52 Nashville 17
True South and South Championships
All the current information for the True South Championships can be found on the Competitions – True South Championships page
The South 15’s Championships location will be in Savannah, GA. Daffin Park on May 4th and 5th. Please contact Minchul Cho, minchul.cho@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Upcoming Coaching and Referee Training
The True South GU will be offering in cooperation with USA and World Rugby a dynamic suite of referee and referee coach training courses in conjunction with the Battleship Rugby Tourney in Mobile Alabama the following courses are being offered.
Level 2 Referee / Start time 2:00 pm Friday Nov 9th, referees will have course work and also referee matches at the Battleship Tourney on Nov 10/11th.
Coaching of Match Officials 2 / Start time Friday Nov 9th 9:00 am. Coaches will have course work throughout the weekend and also work with referees and referee coaches at the Battleship Tourney on Nov 10/11th.
Coaches of Match Officials 1 / Start time 6:00 pm Friday Nov 9th. Coaches will have course work throughout the weekend and also work with referees at the Battleship on Nov 10. (This course will conclude Saturday afternoon)
Level 200 Coaching Course – December 9th @ Gretna Sponsored by NOLA Gold
(Already filling up, suggest you register soon if you want a spot)
Level 1 Referee Course – December 9th @ Gretna Sponsored by NOLA Gold
All courses are posted for registration and are filling up quickly. If interested, I suggest you register soon. Airport options include Mobile (MOB), Pensacola FL (PNS) 55 min and New Orleans (MSY) 2 hours
Please contact me if you have any questions or need more information.
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STEVE PARRILL | World Rugby Trainer | Chairman USA Rugby Referee Training Committee | True South Referee Executive Director |
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e: sparrill@usarugby.org c: +1.985.974.1134 | ||||||
2655 Crescent Drive, Unit A / Lafayette CO, 80025 | ||||||
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True South GU – Membership Meeting
The next True South membership meeting will be on Saturday August 18th in Birmingham AL. The meeting will be held at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Birmingham Downtown Near UAB – 1016 20th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama, 35205 from 10am-1:30pm. The meeting agenda and current financials with 2018/19 proposed budget have been posted to the Administration – Meeting page on this website.
*If you are unable to attend the meeting, please complete a proxy form assigning your vote to another person. Return the proxy form to the True South GU Secretary, Rebeccah Rodrigues – rebeccah.rodrigues@gmail.com
EXCLUSIVE PRESALE | Single Day Tickets for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
View this email online or in your mobile browser.
PRESALE DATES & DETAILSBegins: Today, May 3rd at 2 PM PTEnds: Sunday, May 6th at 11:59 PM PTSingle day tickets start at only $75 (plus service charges)Purchase at: rwcsevens.com/ticketsEnter Code: READYFORRUGBYSingle-day tickets will go on sale to the public this Monday, May 7th at 12 PM PT and seats will be sold on afirst-come, first-serve basis. DON’T WAIT!
USA Rugby | 2655 Crescent Drive, Unit A | Lafayette CO | 80026
True South Finals
Semifinals, Men’s D3: Montgomery 63 Clarksville 17, Huntsville 36 Chattanooga 23
Semifinals, Women’s D2: Knoxville 45 Memphis 17, NOLA 55 Nashville 22
Semifinals, Men’s D2: NOLA 34 Chattanooga 32, Birmingham 44 Nashville 24
Men’s D3 finals: Montgomery 62 Huntsville 12
Women’s D2 finals: Knoxville 44 NOLA 33
Men’s D2 finals: Birmingham 24 NOLA 18
Southern conference finals hosted by Southern Pines at the National Athletic Village, 201 Airtool Dr., Southern Pines, NC on MAY 5 – 6.
2018 Alabama 7’s Tournaments
June 9, 2018 = Alabama State Games in Huntsville. Alabama – age 6 and up
June 30, 2018 = Vulcan 7s in Birmingham, Alabama – age 6 and up
July 14, 2018 = Luau 7s Tournament in Mobile, Alabama – age 6 and up