Bridgnorth RFC

Statement on start of competitive community rugby season 2026-27

Sat 15 Aug 2026 09:44

Summary - what this means for our rugby.

League Season will be delayed 2 weeks
No competitive matches in RFU Men’s leagues at Regional 1 and below or RFU Women’s Leagues below PWR level will take place before 21 September.
3rd Team - Merit leagues are governed by Constituent Bodies (CB). Fixtures due to take place before 21 September are subject to any CB decision, considering any RFU guidance at the time.
Colts - Age grade matches in RFU competitions due to take place before 21 September have been postponed with details below of alternative dates.

Friendly matches, where possible due to local conditions, player readiness and safety, may go ahead in order to help prepare players for the competitive season.

Training can continue but it is important pitch safety is assessed before every session and RFU guidance is followed on modifying contact activity on hard grounds.

Mini & Juniors will start on Sunday 6th September - Modified training for hard ground.

All rugby activity, including that taking place outside of RFU league matches is subject to continual review and the RFU expects to issue further guidance to clubs, in the coming weeks or when new information is available.

This decision has been made on three grounds:

Player welfare - hard, dry pitches increase the risk of injury, particularly in the opening weeks of the season when players are returning to full contact. We recognise that many clubs have had to limit contact training in pre-season training due to the pitch conditions. We want players to return to competition safely and adequately prepared.

Competition integrity - starting the season on pitches that aren't fit for purpose risks uneven conditions and disruption across fixtures as well as offering advantages for those clubs able to prepare players during pre-season using Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP) - undermining fair competition from the outset.

Planning - a clear, decisive two-week delay gives clubs, schools, colleges and universities the certainty needed to plan training, fixtures, travel and logistics with confidence.