Fellow members,

Navan RFC has been working very hard to continue to make rugby activities available for all our members, underage and adult, throughout the COVID pandemic. We operate under five layers of regulations:

• Government legislation
• public health guidelines
• IRFU guidelines
• Leinster Branch guidelines
• Navan RFC club procedures

Thanks to the work of our Club COVID Safety Officer and the COVID Compliance officers on each and every team, we have mercifully fared well thus far, and maintain a responsible and compliant approach to these difficult circumstances.

With Monday's announcement of a 6-week stint of Level 5 restrictions (with variations), it is important to understand how that applies to Navan RFC.

As it stands, training tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) should continue as they were under Level 3 guidelines, which have previously been circulated to the COVID Compliance officers.

We expect to have clarification from the IRFU by Wednesday evening, before the new conditions come into effect at midnight on Wednesday night/Thursday morning.

Any changes and clarifications will be advised to all teams, as usual, though the COVID Compliance Officers.

The Club's position is that we will facilitate training for as long as we can do so, and in compliance with the prevailing public health guidelines as confirmed to us by the IRFU.

This is a volunteer organisation and people's circumstances can vary widely, so no one - parent, child or coach - will be forced to go to rugby. We have many parents of underage members who want to continue to train, and a number who don't. That's a personal decision either way and will not be questioned.

If any team has a shortage of available coaching staff, they should seek assistance from either the Youth Coordinator or the Mini Coordinator as appropriate, and discuss the matter before cancelling a training session.

This is not to compel anyone to attend training, again that's a personal decision - but the club and the coaches have a responsibility to those members who do want to come to training, and are (for now) entitled to do so.

Thank you for all your efforts - stay safe and well.

Regards,

Eddie Lyons

Chairman, Navan RFC