We are hoping that a return to rugby will be possible from the start of December with the Government expected to make an announcement this week regarding what form the exit from Level 5 restrictions will take.
At the moment no adult collective training in any sport other than at elite level is allowed.
Hopefully, the restrictions will be relaxed enough for the teams to resume contact training as all our Senior and underage teams will require at least two weeks of contact training before playing games.
In an update published at the start of November, the Leinster branch emphasised that they are ready and willing to restart competitions in abbreviated forms as soon as the regulations allowed.
They specifically acknowledged the positive affect on mental health that sport has and in that light, want to maximise games for the rest of the season. If the Leinster League resumes it will be in an abbreviated format, with the aim of all sides playing each other once, rather than home and away.
Unfortunately, in this format there will be no promotion/relegation. A Champion’s League style Cup competition is also being muted. Fingers crossed there is still lots of rugby to play and we will see our first Senior games on our new 3G pitch not long after it opens!
All Senior Players are asked to make sure than they work on maintaining their fitness so we can hit the ground running as soon as training resumes.
Senior Training
Senior Training is currently suspended during Level 5 restrictions for both the Men’s and Women’s squads.
All players are asked to work individually to maintain their skills and fitness. A return to rugby plan will hopefully be devised in the coming weeks.
Underage rugby allowed to continue during Level 5 restrictions
With the back drop of the Level 5 lockdown restrictions we have some great news, due to the physical/mental benefits of training outweighing the chances of Covid transmission especially with all the extra precautions in place, non-contact, max pods of 15, Covid screening etc. the Level 5 Irish Government guidelines allow school age children to continue attending training.
Furthermore, the 5 km/within county restrictions do not apply for dropping our Mini/Youth players to training.
The club weighed everything up carefully but think our players need an outlet during these times.
So, get your gear out and get down to training there is lots we can do and it will mean that we will come fitter and more skilful when we get back to doing what we love; playing competitive rugby.
Some changes to training times may be made, with some groups moving training to the weekends, as there are no games. Coaches will send any updates out in their WhatsApp groups.
Minis (Boys/Girls)
U6-U12 Sundays 10.30am-12.00pm.
Boys
U13 Wednesday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2008)
U14 Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2007)
U15 Mon 7.00-8.30pm and Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2006)
U16 Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2005)
U17 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2004)
U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2003 & up to 01/07/2002)
Girls
U12&U14 Thursday 7.30-8.30pm
U16&U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm
Contact 0862526741 for more information.
Longford Rugby Club is a 'Minimum20' club. Youth teams up to U15 promote minimum 20 minutes game time for all players on match day squads. Longford Minis rugby promotes equal game time at all times during games or blitz events.
New 3G Pitch Progress Update
Despite all the bad weather there is great progress been made on our new state of the art 3G pitch with all the foundation stone now installed.
Fingers crossed all is on target for opening early in the new year, which coincides with the time of the year when an all weather pitch is most required.
Once opened cancellations due to water logged pitches will be a thing of the past. We will keep posting weekly updates on its progress.
The cost of project is c€600,000. Although we have received a sizeable grant from LCDC of Longford County Council through the Leader programme, we still need to raise the balance of the funds.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. We still have some way to go, however. If you can contribute, please contact Derick Turner on 0862559624.
An innovative scheme is available where any contributions can be spread via a lost cost monthly direct debit.
Philip Caldwell Trust
Philip Caldwell (38) is a rugby player who suffered serious spinal injuries in a freak accident in July and is making a slow, but steady recovery and is slowly learning to walk and use his arms and hands again while also learning to cope with his changed life circumstances.
After three months in the care of the Spinal Ward Unit in the Mater Hospital, Philip is currently in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire.
In order to assist that progress, his friends have created the Philip Caldwell Trust and are calling on rugby supporters and sports lovers to pay €10 for a virtual ticket for Ireland’s final Autumn Nations Cup match on December 5.
All money raised will go straight to the Philip Caldwell Trust to assist in Philip's recovery, with any excess funds going to the IRFU Charitable trust. Log on here for more info.
