Please see the message below received from Nic
Scott - RFU Welfare
Kind regards
Ivor
Dear All,
Some of you will have already seen the recent
government announcement about the further delay
to the introduction of the full Vetting &
Barring Scheme due to come into force this
October. The recent announcement stated that the
scheme will still start in October 2009. However
the impact on sports clubs will not be felt
until July 2010 and even then
with will only be though the introduction of new
style CRB forms.
Subject to RFU Regulations being passed, rugby
clubs will not really be affected until the
start of season 2010. The criminal offences
under the new legislation will not come into
force until November 2010.
In respect of all this news we expect that club
workforce personnel will not require
ISA-registration through the Vetting & Barring
Scheme until September 2010. Full training will
be given in the late Spring of 2010.
We must however remind you of the need for all
those who work closely, regularily
and/or intensively with children now
must have a CRB application with us at HQ within
6 weeks of being deployed into their chosen
activity (eg coaching). Contact Chris Rawlings
chrisrawlings@rfu.com for any assistance on
CRB forms. Those without RFU-processed, Enhanced
CRB clearance MUST only coach under the
supervision of someone with a
current, RFU-processed, Enhanced CRB check..
There will also probably be a new regulation
(awaiting RFU ratification) for season 09/10
that will make it mandatory for all Club Welfare
Officers to have undergone the RFU Club Welfare
Officers Workshop. Contact
alexisholding@rfu.com for course
information.
The April edition of the safeguarding newsletter
will be with you within the week.
Regards,
Reacting to Racism
The RFU is committed to
promoting the principles of sports equity amongst all affiliated
clubs and schools:
"All participants in
the sport of rugby football will be given equal opportunity
irrespective of their age, creed, colour, disability, ethnic
origin, martial status, race, religious persuasion, or sexual
orientation. The RFU fully supports this principle and is
committed to satisfying these principles in all its activities
and publication material."
Sports equity is defined
as:
"Sports equity is
about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising
inequalities and taking steps to redress them. It is about
changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes
equally accessible to everyone in society."
Closely linked to sports
equity is the principle of fair play, defined as:
"Fair play is much
more than playing within the rules. It incorporates the concepts
of friendship, respecting others and always playing within the
right spirit. Fair play is defined as a way of thinking, not
just a way of behaving. It incorporates issues concerned with
the elimination of cheating, gamesmanship, doping, violence,
exploitation, unequal opportunities, excessive commercialisation
and corruption."
(European code of sports
ethics, 1992)
Background
The
publication of the Macpherson report in February 1999 is
regarded by many as a defining moment in British race relations.
The report by Sir William Macpherson followed an inquiry into
the Metropolitan police's investigation of the murder of a black
teenager, Stephen Lawrence. The 18-year-old A-Level student was
fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack as he waited for a bus
in Eltham, south London, in April 1993. Nobody has been
convicted of his murder. Allegations of incompetence and racism
against Metropolitan police officers in charge of the case
soured race relations as did two internal police inquiries which
exonerated the Met itself. Out of this report a clear set of
guidelines were established which identified that people who
were the victims of racism often endured victimisation for a
long period of time with redress. That as a consequence a great
deal of faith was loss in the ability of those in charge to take
appropriate actions to ensure that victims were supported rather
than vilified.
Definition
It is illegal to discriminate against anyone
of the grounds of their race. This includes their colour,
nationality or ethnic origin. Unfortunately, it still happens
and referees need to be aware how to stand up for such a
principle and not let any player or watcher of a game get away
with it. There are different types of discrimination but they
are all wrong and all punishable by law.
Direct Discrimination
Direct Discrimination is when a player or
onlooker blatantly makes a comment direct towards another person
or treats them differently because of their race. This can
include applying sanctions based purely on people’s race or
making direct verbal comments using race as part of their
description.
Harassment
Often, there is no one incident that stands
out as being racist but is apparent in the way that people are
treated. This can be in the form of racist jokes or underhand
jibes or physical torments and the perpetrators remain unclear.
If this knowingly continues, team captains, manager’s etc. are
considered to be just as guilty despite them not joining in. If
they overlook the behaviour then they are just as guilty.
Indirect
Discrimination
This type of
discrimination is not quite so blunt but it includes rules or
practices that put people at a disadvantage in the sporting
arena because of their race. So it may be that clubs or teams
institute a new dress code for no particular reason such as
health and safety, which discriminates against people from
certain ethnic backgrounds. They may try to talk their way out
of it and say it isn’t racist but if it puts people at a
disadvantage because of their ethnicity, then it is.
Disciplinary
procedures
If you do experience any
complaints or accusations of unfair treatment or discrimination
application of a robust disciplinary procedure is required to
handle it. This may include the need for a formal hearing,
recording of all the evidence from both sides, and the right of
appeal. Further details on this can be found in the 1994 Sports
Council publication, Getting it right.
Recommended
Actions
It is clear following
the MacPherson Reports guidelines that anyone who considers
themselves the victim of racism is in fact to be believed until
it is proven otherwise. Therefore a Referees reaction needs
to reflect this stance.
If a report of any
Direct Discrimination occurs during a game, the appropriate
sanction should be a Red Card to the person who is the
source of such comments or actions. A comment should be made
directly to both team captains to ensure they are clear of the
reasoning behind the action. A detailed note of the incident is
made immediately. At the end of the match and as soon afterwards
an incident report should be sent directly to the Honourable
Secretary.
If a report of any
Harassment occurs during a game, the appropriate action
should be that the incidents should be reported to both team
captains, if it is happening within the field of play, or to the
most senior official of the club if the apparent sources are on
the sidelines. If there is no action taken or matters continue,
the game may be stopped and/or abandoned. Both team captains’
should be informed of the decision to ensure they are clear of
the reasoning behind the action. A detailed note of the incident
should be made immediately. At the end of the match and as soon
afterwards an incident report should be sent directly to the
Honorary Secretary.
If there is a report of
any Indirect Discrimination then a comment to the most senior
official at the club needs to be made for this to be rectified.
A detailed note of the incident is made immediately. At the end
of a Referee’s time at the club and as soon afterwards an
incident report should be sent directly to the Honorary
Secretary.
Sources
http://www.law.cf.ac.uk/tlru/Lawrence.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/main_issues/sections/facts/newsid_1190000/1190971.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/feb/24/lawrence.ukcrime12
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.WebSite_Detail/StoryID/249
Dear All,
Could you please circulate the message below for the attention
of ALL your Coaches – This is a major consultation exercise by
the RFU Coaching department, the results of which will have a
major impact on our game and it will be to their advantage in
the end to take part.
Many thanks for your help
Kind regards
Ivor
From:
Linda Fell [mailto:LindaFell@RFU.com]
Sent: 24 April 2008 11:41
Cc: Coaching
Subject: New Laws Experiment
Dear CCC
I would be most grateful if you could circulate the
consultation statement below to your club coaches at all
levels, and endeavour to promote the importance of
involvement in this survey. This will not only assist the
RFU in formulating a response to the ELVs, but will also
further enhance the role and status of the Club Coach
Coordinator.
RFU consults grassroots over new laws experiment
The Rugby Football Union is giving everyone involved in
English rugby the chance to have their say on the
International Rugby Board’s proposal to introduce eight new
Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) throughout the game next
season.
The RFU believes that some of the ELVs could fundamentally
change the nature of the game as it is currently known and
that all those potentially affected by their introduction
should be consulted.
The RFU is therefore launching a special consultation
website
www.rfusurvey.co.uk to enable all parts of the
game to express their views on the ELVs and whether they
should be trialled in the manner proposed.
The survey is scheduled to go live tomorrow evening
(Thursday) and is open to players, coaches, referees and
supporters and gives people chance to compare and vote on
the existing law and its associated ELV before the
Union formally responds to the IRB.
RFU Chief Executive Francis Baron said: "We have a number
of concerns about the ELVs and the proposed process that is
being followed regarding their introduction.
“As these Experimental Law Variations could potentially
result in major changes to the Laws of the Game, the RFU
believes it is important to consult those involved in the
game at every level and give them an opportunity to express
their views.
"In order to discover what participants in rugby union in
England actually feel and to assist us in formulating the
RFU’s response to the proposed changes, the Union has
compiled an online questionnaire.
“I would urge everyone with an interest in the future of our
game to go to
www.rfusurvey.co.uk and spend ten minutes completing the
questionnaire so we can paint as accurate a picture as
possible of people's views in England when the matter comes
up for debate at the IRB in May."
I thank you in advance for your cooperation with this, and
in general for excellent work that you are doing
Regards
Gary
Gary Townsend
l Coaching Development Manager l Rugby
Football Union I Rugby House I Rugby Road I Twickenham
I TW1 1DS I Mobile: 07738029111 I garytownsend@rfu.com I
www.rfu.com
Rugby Football Development LTD I Rugby House, Rugby Road
I Twickenham I TW1 1DS
Delivering the programmes of the Rugby Football
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