This page will be updated regularly with the latest developments and new resources.
UDATE: Phase 6 - Return to Competitions - From September 5th, 2020
Since June 22nd, 2020, Sporting events with up to 1000 persons are officially authorized to take place, in all disciplines including contact sport. Together with Swiss Olympic and the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) the Swiss Rugby Union has therefore created a Return to Play concept, naturally accompanied by a concept of protection for its members and their families and communities.
The concept is designed to gradually re-start our sport, all while respecting the rules issued by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) as well as the Federal Council, and at the same time guaranteeing Player Welfare and safety while maximizing injury prevention strategies. A sport can not resume its activities without a federally approved concept. The Swiss Rugby Unions’ concept has been approved by the Federal Council.
The Swiss Ruby Union’s Concept has presented a gradual Return to Play in 5 Phases, with the 6th one being the full return to competitions, matches, and tournaments.
Download the Full Concept for Phase 6 - Return to Competitions
Coronavirus Return-to-Play Concept, Phase 1-5 - From May 11, 2020
On April 29th, the Swiss Federal Council decided that sports activites can resume, under strict restrictions, from May 11th, if the relevant national sports federation has created an accompanying Return-to-Play Concept for the Protection of participants and their communities.
Suisserugby has accomplished the very challenging task of creating and submitting such a concept, with the support of a group of medical and technical experts, within a very short deadline, and the concept has been accepted by the Swiss Government (BASPO/OFSPO).
PLAYER WELFARE: To ensure player welfare and minimize the risk of injury after a long pause, clubs and players are encouraged to follow the Suisserugby Return to Play guidelines above. With above alleviations by the Federal Council, clubs are encouraged move into Phase 3 of the Return-To-Play concept on June 6th, to move to Phase 4 and then Phase 5 starting from June 22nd. By returning to training activities with light contact for a few weeks, players can prepare themselves for a return to full contact later in June (Phase 4) and to friendly matches in July and August (Phase 5).
Download the Return-to-Play concept for Rugby in Switzerland, for Phase 1-5:
RETURN TO PLAY POSTER
Please find down below the “Return-to-Play” and "Return to Competition" Posters, summarizing the concept for phases 1-5 and for Phase 6.
Download it here:
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OTHER DIRECTIVES AND INFORMATION
On May 27th, and June 19th, 2020, the Federal Council has announced a series of alleviations of the measures to combat the Coronavirus in Switzerland. This is good news for our sport.
RUGBY TRAINING: STARTING FROM JUNE 6th, Rugby Clubs can resume normal training activities, so long as they follow the conditions described in the Directives below:
GERMAN
In addition, each club must fill out a “Protection Concept” for its own training activities:
GERMAN
The club must keep the concept on hand in case of inspection by the authorities during training.
COMPETITIONS: Starting from June 22nd, rugby competitions are allowed to resume in the form of friendly games, as well as competitive matches, starting from September 5th.
MEASURES TO KEEP IN PLACE:
Observance of the Hygiene Rules.
Observance of 1,5m Distance when not in game or training situations.
Each Club must have their Safety Concept in Place.
Each Player must perform a daily self-check - only players without symptoms may come to training.
Events with more than 1000 people remain forbidden.
Clubs must keep contacts of those present at trainings or games.
Players should train in their same training groups to avoid cross contamination.
Download the poster on the Measures here:
GERMAN
Tools for practical implementation of the Return-to-Play concept
In addition, we have prepared the following resources, as Annexes to the Return To Play Concept:
For U16-U18 and Adult Rugby:
For Kids' Rugby (Ecoles de Rugby) - U6-U14
Strength & Conditioning Programme
We have prepared a Strength & Conditioning Programme for U16, U18, and adult players, available for any clubs to use:
1-Hour Training Session for Kids' Training & Ecoles de Rugby
We have prepared a 1 Hour & 5 Minute Training session programme for kids' training, including exercise videos and examples. Download the Programme here:
Kids' Rugby Training Session (English)
Entrainement pour enfants / Ecoles de Rugby (Francais)
Trainings Programm Kinderrugby (Deutsch)
DOWNLOAD VIDEOS
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-MIQe3WBvCZIaLt5EYQbvr4j2pjfLy7E
Please note that all these activities are optional, and no clubs or players are obligated to return to training and to play if they do not feel ready to do so.
We are confident that we all can take our own responsibility and work together on the implementation of these concepts, to create a fun, safe, and healthy environment for all our participants.
Other Online Resources
Swiss Olympic has a lot of documents and information available for athletes, sports clubs, and federations, to address the COVID-19 crisis:
Swiss Olympic COVID-19 Web Dossier
World Rugby has also created a number of resources to address the COVID-19 crisis, available in several languages:
COVID-19 Online Education Modules
Best Practice Models from Around the World
#StayInYourClub Campaign
Suisserugby is participating in the national communication campaigned launched by Swiss Olympic. The clubs, too, are invited to participate.
This campaign, entitled #StayInYourClub, aims to support all sports clubs in Switzerland by encouraging their members to remain active and engaged. In fact, some of them are in great difficulty because their activities have been suspended and they continue to have to bear many costs. The aim of this campaign is therefore to make members aware of the need to remain in solidarity with their club.
The Swiss Rugby Union encourages all Swiss clubs to participate in the campaign.
Find all the information, graphics, and links in the Campaign document, you can download here:
OTHER NEWS
Swiss Rugby Union prepares for a safe Return to Competitions and Releases COVID-19 Guidelines
Swiss Domestic Rugby Competitions are set to re-start on September 12th, 2020.
Suisserugby’s Statement regarding an exit from the Lockdown
Zurich, 23.04.2020 - On 22.04.2020, the Swiss Federal Council made its first statement on the subject of an "Exit from the lockdown" for sport in...
Suisserugby Cancels Official Competitions for Spring 2020
Official competitions are now cancelled for the rest of the spring/summer season of 2020. This applies to all official competitions in all age...
Swiss National Teams will not participate in Rugby Europe Competitions
Zurich, 23.03.2020 - The Swiss Rugby Union has made the difficult decision to not send its XVs or 7s rugby national teams to participate in the Rugby...
Suisserugby Suspends all Competitions
Zurich, 13.03.2020 - In light of the current developments surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the “Coronavirus”, the central committee of the Swiss...
