From today, Monday 17 May, Covid lockdown restrictions are relaxed and the authorities are advising our new freedoms should be enjoyed with restraint and common sense. Here’s the new rules summarised.
Outdoor
- Up to 30 people can meet.
- Organised outdoor sport and physical activity can take place in any numbers.
Indoor
- Six people or two households can meet.
- No limit on numbers for indoor physical activity so long as participants adhere to capacity restrictions.
Spectators
- Although rugby must remain at Stage D2 (no scrums, no mauls) spectators are now permitted to view matches and training but must to adhere to social distancing rules and gathering limits.
- The good news for those who like to celebrate tries is people can now choose whether or not to hug people they don't live with.
- Time spent congregating at a venue before and after a sporting activity should remain limited.
- Care must be taken in areas of congestion such as entrances and gateways. Close proximity face-to-face encounters and heavy petting should avoided wherever possible.
- All Sport providers and facilities are required to keep a record of all participants and visitors to their venue. This information must be retained for 21 days and be disposed of securely. Every visitor aged 16 or over must log-in and scan the NHS QR code or provide contact details (not just a lead member of the group). If you are player, coach or club volunteer you fulfil this by submitting your team pro-active declaration.
Players
- Changing rooms and shower facilities can be used but are discouraged. For the time being, the club will continue with staggered start times for sessions and requests players arrive in kit, ready to warm-up.
- Players should maintain social distancing throughout warm-ups and when not on the field of play and should bring their own labelled water bottles. Balls and other equipment will continue to be sanitised.
- Irresponsible behaviour off the pitch, when socialising before or after activity, jeopardises public health and undermines the case for safe sport to take place. National governing bodies have the power to issue sanctions against clubs and individuals who do not adhere to the rules.
Eaters and Drinkers
- From 17 May our clubhouse can reopen to serve seated customers indoors, but capacity will be limited by ventilation rates and square footage of our venue (the Eccles RFC calculation task force are currently working that one out!)
- Hospitality facilities are legally required to refuse entry to those who refuse to check in or provide contact details.
- The club will be continuing with advance table booking, outside and inside, using this link ECCLES RFC TABLE BOOKING
- Table service is required at venues that serve alcohol and tables must remain socially distanced.
- Queueing must be avoided and all customers enjoying food or drink at the club must remain seated.
- Payment can be taken at the bar where payment at the table is not possible.
- When moving through an indoor venue, volunteers and visitors should wear face coverings.
- The club is permitted to provide takeaway food and drink (including alcohol) but it must not be consumed on the club premises.
- Delivering this required hospitality service will put enormous pressure on our already stretched small group of kitchen and bar volunteers. To put it bluntly, the club needs to double its ranks of volunteers. If you can spare a few hours at the weekend, please step forward. No volunteers, no beers.
