The Swiss Rugby COVID-Safety Concept is Successful
Swiss Rugby: Mid-Season Report
Zurich, 12.10.21020
Last weekend marked the half—way point in the autumn season of the Swiss national rugby championships, the yearly amateur club competitions in Swiss Rugby. It was always going to be a particular season, when playing a contact sport in the middle of a pandemic, but the Swiss Rugby Clubs and the Union have worked hard throughout the summer with the national and local authorities to put in place the best possible conditions and mechanisms to allow the players, coaches, and spectators to enjoy the sport of rugby in the safest way possible.
The protection concepts put in place mandate that the Swiss Rugby community reduce the risk as much as possible when it comes to the exposure or spread of COVID-19, while reacting and communicating as quickly and efficiently as possible in case of a positive COVID-test or a suspicion. These procedures are set out in detail in the Swiss Rugby Return to Competition Guidelines, and summarized in the Return to Competition Poster, which can be found HERE
After 5 weekends of play, with 5 more to go before the winter break (Swiss grass pitches remain closed from late November through mid-March), we take stock of the season so far.
Throughout the 1st quarter-season, 39 matches have been postponed by the Swiss Rugby Union. Of these, 31 were postponed as part of the COVID safety protocol, due to positive cases or suspected cases (the others were due to rain storms or snow).
Meanwhile, 93 junior and senior matches have been played, and 256 kids’ team appearances (U6-U14) at youth tournaments have been recorded.
All in all, there have been 8 positive Coronavirus cases within the rugby community, and all others were suspected cases which turned out to be negative. To our knowledge, all 8 positive cases came from outside the rugby club, no club has had more than 1 positive case, and no infection was passed on to other members of the club or of another club.
This means that the COVID-Concept of the Swiss Rugby Union is working, that we are able to successfully stop the chains of infection, and that the clubs are doing an excellent job at being attentive, vigilant, and reactive throughout the entire implementation. It is thanks to the Swiss Rugby Community´s hard work and vigilance, that the season has been going well so far and the entire community has kept themselves and each other safe.
As we go into the fall and winter, and as numbers rise throughout our country, it will be even more important to stay alert and disciplined, and keep ourselves, each other, and our communities safe.
You can find the Return to Competition Safety Concept as well as the Poster in PDF Form below.
