Fellow Millwallians,

As today marks the start of the second national lockdown, I wanted to give you an update on what this means for Millwall Rugby Club's activities for the next four weeks and beyond.

Last night the RFU confirmed that, as of today, we return to Stage A on the Return to Community Rugby Roadmap, which means that no competitive or formal rugby activities can be undertaken until at least Wednesday 2 December. The club is therefore suspending adult and youth training sessions on Millwall Park for the duration of the current lockdown. 

The closure of all hospitality venues also means that the clubhouse bar will be shut for the duration of the lockdown. 

Looking further ahead, it has been confirmed that the 2020/21 league season has been cancelled for all community clubs in England. The RFU is, however, looking at alternative competition models, which would be entirely optional for clubs and have no impact on promotion or relegation. These proposals are expected to be finalised by the end of next week. As a return to full contact rugby is unlikely until Spring next year at the earliest, the club is also in regular discussions with our local rivals about more fixtures under the modified ‘Ready4Rugby’ touch rules. I was among a group of players who travelled to Ilford Wanderers for a match under these rules his past Saturday and can report that, despite the constraints, it felt great to be on the pitch in a Millwall shirt. 

The club’s fundraising campaign will be running to the end of the year. If you can donate or would like to help the spread the word, more information can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/millwall-rugby-club-25th-year-campaign

I hope that we will be able to resume some form of rugby activity in December, but this is obviously subject to Government and RFU regulations at the end of the lockdown period.

In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the international games later this month. 

Toby Sanders

Chairman, Millwall Rugby Club

Fellow Millwallians

I hope you are all well. Although I don’t yet have the pleasure of announcing the start date for league matches, there has been progress on various fronts in the last month, which I detail below.

Club captain

Following discussion between the playing chairs, our Youth Chair Scott Vinnicombe has been appointed Club Captain for the 2020/21 season. As both a player and a coach, Scott has been a wonderful servant to Millwall Rugby Club down the years: his place on the honours board is well deserved. 

Return to rugby

We are now at Stage D on the RFU return to rugby roadmap, which allows a limited amount of contact in training in addition to the 10v10 touch rugby which has been allowed since August.  As a lifelong member of the front row union I regret to report that scrums, mauls and contested lineouts remain prohibited in training until we reach Stage E.

The RFU confirmed to member clubs last week that organised rugby training and touch rugby matches are exempt from the 6 person limit on gatherings that was introduced on Monday.

Now that Millwall Park has become less busy on weekday evenings, Men’s training sessions have returned to their usual time of 7.30pm on Monday and Wednesdays. Venus training sessions are now also running on both Monday and Wednesday, from 7pm. The enforced break from competitive matches is a great opportunity to improve our technique and work on our gameplans, so I encourage anyone who is able to do so to come down to training. It is, however, absolutely essential that every adult player attending a training session fills out a Covid self-assessment on the club website: https://www.millwallrugby.com/training-s2021-1

Youth training recommenced on 6 September, with an encouraging number of new players in some age groups. Like last season, we are looking to encourage current players in the adult teams to help out with coaching the youth sides. If you're interested, please speak to one of the playing chairs (email addresses below). 

Taster sessions

This week the club is hosting taster sessions for potential new players and would really appreciate your help in promoting these to your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. If you are part of any residents’ groups on social media that would be a great place to share the flyer (attached to this email). These will be free and fun training sessions providing an opportunity for those new to rugby or those who have played before to get to know the game a bit better and, if they like what they see, join our friendly and social club.

All levels are welcome, no experience required: all that participants need to bring is clothing suitable for exercise and a pair of trainers or boots. As with all training at Millwall Rugby Club, all sessions will run according to RFU COVID-19 guidelines. The timings are as follows:

Wednesday 23 September

• 7-8.30pm Ladies Taster Session

Sunday 27 September:

• 11am-12:30pm Youth Taster Session

• 1:30pm to 3pm: Men and Ladies Taster Session

If you – or anyone you know – would like to come along to one of these sessions, just message one of playing chairs, who can send you more information and sign you up for the relevant session.

Men’s chair: Shek Palit menschair@millwallrugby.com

Ladies’ chair: Meg Over ladieschair@millwallrugby.com

Youth chair: Scott Vinnicombe youthchair@millwallrugby.com

Clubhouse bar opening

There were a few successful nights of trial opening of the clubhouse bar in August and September, including after training last Wednesday. The clubhouse currently has a members-only maximum capacity of 33, with no more than 6 people to a table and no moving between tables or moving chairs to another table. These restrictions are far from ideal for such a social club as ours, but they are now expressly required by law and are unlikely to be loosened before the end of the year given the current prevalence of coronavirus. Nonetheless, I encourage those who live locally to come down for a drink – keep an eye on the club’s social media channels for opening times.

I have not completely given up hope that, when I next write to the club's membership in October, we will have some indication of when league fixtures can begin. In the meantime, the best any of us can do is to keep ourselves fit and healthy. 

Best regards

Toby Sanders

Chairman

Preseason info for S2020/21

FROM SEPTEMBER 2020 - PHASE D

MILLWALL PARK

LADIES - WEDNESDAY'S FROM 19.30

MEN - MONDAY & WEDNESDAY’S FROM 19.30

The RFU has now moved to Stage D on its Return to Rugby Roadmap, meaning we can bring in 15 minutes of restricted contact (small group tackling and rucking drills) into training, alongside non-contact drills and touch rugby. Contact your Playing Chair directly should you have any questions or comments:

• Meg Over, Ladies Chair - ladieschair@millwallrugby.com

• Shek Palit, Men’s Chair - menschair@millwallrugby.com

GUIDELINES FOR ATTENDING OPTIONAL TRAINING

Please find below the guidelines that must be followed during training sessions. These guidelines will be regularly updated in line with RFU guidance and any updates with be communicated with you. Please ensure you read these guidelines carefully. By attending training, you agree to understanding and following these guidelines.

KEY PRINCIPLES

• Players should only return to training once they are comfortable / able - there is no pressure for everyone to return yet.

• Players must submit a COVID-19 self-assessment form before each training session, before arriving at the session.

• This form confirms you plan to attend the session, and also asks you to confirm that you have not experienced certain COVID-19 symptoms. If you are not sure if you will be able to make a training session, submit one anyway. If you answer yes to any of the questions, you must not attend training.

• Players are discouraged from using public transport to attend training. Run / cycle / drive if possible.

• Players are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitiser for use before / during / after training.

• Hand sanitiser will also be provided by the club for use at training.Players are strongly encouraged to bring their own water bottle.

• There will be no water provided by the club, and no sharing of bottles is permitted.

• Players are also encouraged to bring a towel to wipe off sweat.

• There is now limited access to the clubhouse before and after sessions. Players will be allowed to drop off kit / bags and use the toilet at the start and end of sessions only. You will not be able to access the clubhouse if you arrive late / leave early.

• Players are still encouraged to arrive at training ready in kit.

• Players must maintain social distancing before, during and after training, except whilst playing touch rugby / completing drills

• .Equipment will be cleaned before, during and after sessions. A clean ball will be swapped in every 15 minutes during the session, and players encouraged to sanitise their hands.

• Players should avoid touching their face.

• Players should avoid spitting in the training area.

Have a question in the meantime or just want to find out more? Click here to drop us a line.

The Clubhouse team has been working hard behind the scenes to ready our bar under the arches for the coming season. It has been deep cleaned with hand sanitation points added and socially distanced areas marked out etc.

As a result, we are going to have a trial opening of the bar on Friday 28th August from 7.30pm. This is so we can test our COVID protocols to see what works and what doesn’t before we fully re-open, hopefully sometime in September. For the time being we will only be selling bottles/cans/spirits (i.e. no draft).

We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow and easing into the Bank Holiday weekend in true Millwall style but there are some key changes we have made and everyone will have to adhere to these to ensure we stay safe and minimise risk.

 KEY POINTS OF THE NEW LAYOUT:

• All to sanitise hands on entry

• All to sign in, and strictly members only - remember to bring your Membership Card to get your discounts! 

• One way system in operation:

  • Queue and order at bar, return to table

  • Entry by main door, exit by door by kitchen

• Table seating only, no standing:

  • Limited Max capacity of 33 (first come, first serve, no pre-booking)

  • Max 6 people per table (and 1 table of 3)

  • No moving between tables

  • No moving tables or chairs

The above is pretty standard in this new world and these protocols are in place to ensure the safety of all our members and minimise the spread of COVID. Please remember to be respectful to all members and comply with any instructions from Bar staff. Any refusal to comply with these instructions will result in refusal of service and you will be asked to leave.

If you have any questions, please contact us on clubhouse@millwallrugby.com.

Thanks,  

Paul Fisher

Clubhouse Manager

Dear fellow Millwallians,

Background:

The outgoing committee had previously agreed the membership rates and modest increases for the new season towards the end of last season. However with the impact of COVID, we thought it would be best to wait until there is some clarity and the new committee could have input into the plans. As a result of this we are now in a position to outline the rates for this season below (albeit with a lower COVID option for Men’s and Ladies players should people opt to take this due to their current situation).

It is worth noting that even though we are not yet returning to competitive league games (and all the expenses incurred that go with this), we still have baseline expenses. These are around £3000pm with regards to the club operations and clubhouse costs, even if we “do nothing”, (insurance, rent, heating, lighting, water, IT, Accountants etc.).

There will be automated emails going out to request the 2020/21 membership at full rates for everyone on 1st September.

Anyone who paid their membership last year by direct debit (monthly or one-off last season), their DD should adjust and continue automatically.

 Reminder of some of the benefits of membership:

• Bar Discount (c20% on alcohol)

  • News coming very soon on the clubhouse re-opening…

  • As it stands when the bar re-opens it will be for members only (no guests/Pay Per Play)

  • This enables us to Track and Trace should we need to.

• Access to international ticket ballot (8 Nations in November, 6 Nations in March – subject to COVID)

• Ability to purchase End of Season Dinner tickets

• AGM Voting rights

• Local discounts

Call to arms:

With all the above in mind, we would REALLY appreciate if as many members who can afford to, continue to pay their membership at the full rates outlined below in Option 1.

However, we do appreciate for some of our members that this may be difficult because of their individual circumstances in light of COVID and for this we have an alternative outlined in Option 2.

It is also worth noting that we still offer the opportunity for those of our members who are suffering hardship to apply for special consideration/concessionary rate by raising your case with the Ladies/Mens chair/Clubhouse manager and/or the treasurer and this will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

ACTION REQUIRED BY YOU:

• If you want Option 1 – Do nothing

• If you want Option 2 - Please email Gareth on treasurer@millwallrugby.com before 31st August and he will alter your rate on the system for you.

NEW RATES

Option 1 (Standard) – Runs Sept ‘20 to Aug ‘21

Ladies                                £18pm x 12m/£216pa

Mens                                  £20pm x 12m/£240pa

Social                                 £7.50pm x 12m/£90pa

Youth Family                      £7.50pm x 12m/£90pa

Youth Child                        £2.50pm x 12m/£30pa

Every adult member who takes this option and makes payments Sept to Dec will receive a £10 bar token in January as a thank you for continuing to support your club during this difficult time

Option 2 (COVID) – Runs from Sept to Dec, then reverts to Option 1 in Jan ’21 (depending on COVID situation)

Ladies CV                          £7.50pm x 4m then £18pm x 8m

Mens CV                           £7.50pm x 4m then £20pm x 8m

Social CV                          £7.50pm x 12m

Youth Family CV               £7.50pm x 12m

Youth Child CV                  No Charge until Jan ’21 then £2.50 x 8m

Every adult member who takes this option and makes payments Sept to Dec will receive a £10 bar token in January as a thank you for continuing to support your club during this difficult time

*FYI - for those that do not have membership, Pay per Play subs are now £12.50 per adult game.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email myself on treasurer@millwallrugby.com or our membership manager, Seb on membership@millwallrugby.com.

 Thank you once again for your continued support of your local club.

Gareth Hargreaves

Treasurer