The Rugby Soccer Union plans to introduce non-contact rugby to varsities in England to make sure the game stays “fit for the 21st century”.
An impartial evaluate commissioned by the RFU discovered a decline within the variety of pupils taking part in rugby union attributable to issues over gamers’ welfare and really useful plans to safeguard its future.
The evaluate, led by Sir Jon Coles, chief govt officer of nationwide colleges group United Studying, additionally discovered “clear evidence of a very large untapped market in schools which don’t have a tradition of playing rugby”.
The evaluate recommends that full-contact rugby ought to nonetheless be out there for under-15s and over.
The RFU stated: “Following the recommendations of the review, the RFU has begun the rollout of T1 Rugby, the first non-contact form of the game that reflects the characteristics of rugby union, including lineouts, scrums, kicking and a breakdown, in schools across the country with a target of 5,000 schools playing T1 Rugby within the next four years.”
The governing physique stated it was investing in a nationwide community of 100 faculty rugby managers by 2027, with 40 already in place.
Coles stated: “This can be a second for change. The RFU should now take daring steps to make it possible for colleges with a powerful rugby custom need to play rugby and different colleges need to take part.
“Our proposals for the RFU to codify nationally three formats with clear competitive structures, are designed to make sure that established schools feel able to keep rugby firmly on their timetable for all pupils.
“The framework for full contact rugby for U15 upwards will give colleges a transparent technique to handle danger and responds to the proof that till this age group, harm danger is just not considerably increased than in different sports activities.
“There is enormous potential for the growth of a game which is now played and loved by players of both sexes, all skin colours, all economic backgrounds and all shapes and sizes – but historically hasn’t reached this whole population.”
