CMS is not ready for use by USAR’s Senior Club Council Competitions Committee due to issues with the import of Sportslomo player data. The projected date is mid-September.

We will announce via Facebook, Twitter, and this site once the system is open for use.

Effective August 1 for 15s and August 16 for 7s. S

USA memo (PDF).

In areas where play is allowed, clubs may schedule their own matches (“friendlies”) but there will be no league matches or schedules. MAC 15s scheduling work is planned to resume in mid-May for the Fall. The MAC 7s Committee will be looking at the options as we approach summer.

About a month or two ago, we indicated that if we couldn’t play by 09/15/2020 the MAC season would be officially postponed…and it is. This isn’t a surprise to anyone, though.

As soon as we can begin a return to full contact practice and play WITH approval from Capital and the EPRU, the MAC reps will re-configure the schedules for – we hope – Spring 2021.

[Most of the leagues are specific to one GU, with the exception of D1M and D1W. However, there are also inter-state and intra-state issues that must considered before Capital and the EPRU can allow play.]

This is ONLY applicable for MAC play and NOT for friendlies (regional 15s, 7s, Touch):

• Any play/practice (MAC or friendly) is pending GU sanctioning a return to play
• MAC league play is postponed until further notice
  • No league matches in September
• MAC, Capital, and EPRU will reevaluate on September 15 for October play
• Registration is not required until practices begin
• If play is opened up, we will have a three-week buffer for practices before games begin
• If a decision cannot be made on September 15, the Fall Season will be cancelled
• Conferences MAY cancel now and postpone until March

We are still under a suspension of play status. Both the Capital Rugby Union and the EPRU are not allowing game play – based on the various state guidelines – under further notice.

The coordinators are preparing schedules to begin play at some point. However, keep in mind that there will need to be a 3-week period of practice before games start.

USAR statement saying that the 2020 National 7s Championship will be cancelled (link).

The MAC 7s Committee is under discussion about a possible event or events. It is still too soon to see what clubs across the region (VA, DC, MD, PA) may be able to do. There may be other non-MAC events, but those are under the purview of the GUs or other groups.

However, USAR added (in their draft) the following: “Moving forward, as the sevens rugby season gets underway, teams and clubs are permitted to engage in local sevens activities in line with permission of local health officials and guided by the USA Rugby Return To Play Guidelines. While potential versions of play might be acceptable through the summer, no sanctioned national championship will occur.”

The key here is “…teams and clubs are permitted to engage in local sevens activities in line with permission of local health officials and guided by the USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines.” Therefore, you must comply with both local guidelines and the specifics of USAR’s Return to Play. There are a lot of things to do in the latter, so read it.

Additionally, keep in mind that local health officials will follow their governor’s orders and others. Additionally, local parks and recs folks may opt for tighter restrictions and reservations may not be possible.

As an example: Virginia will be mostly moving to Phase 2 on Friday (with the notable exception of Richmond and Northern Virginia who will remain in Phase 1 for a bit longer). This will now allow gatherings of up to 50. BUT… that does not clear you from following USAR’s Return to Play Guidelines (as well as getting field permits).

Therefore, let’s be clear: As mentioned at some point in the last month, we are NOT going to tell you not to practice or play. However, you must comply with the above (as stated by USAR) AND can show proof of compliance (forms, etc.), you don’t have USAR liability coverage. No coverage. Zero.

The bottom line: if you choose to go practice and play, assign responsible people in your club to track all of the needed items (like player verifications).

The MAC Committee met tand discussed both 7s and 15s.

7s

As most of you know, USAR will announce something around June 1. IF we get an “all clear” by USAR, we still have a number of other bodies that must do similarly: the states, the localities, and local Parks and Rec (to re-open fields to contact sports). Assuming 7s can start, there will likely be a compressed schedule of 1 or 2 MAC events (and there might be other local events, of course).

15s

Teams will be contacted over the next week about Fall scheduling.

The draft schedules should be completed by your coordinator by June 15, checked with that division’s teams, and set by June 30.

Although we will use the tacit assumption of starting as normal, we STILL may have the re-opening issue that we have with 7s. We need to allow for maximum flexibility if (a) we can’t start on time OR (b) play gets held up AFTER we’ve started because of a second (or third) virus wave. Flexibility means sliding weekends if suspension of play happens. We also must consider a few (2-3) weeks of pre-season practice. Thus, we will ask that no “bye” weekends be requested unless there is no option; each division may reserve a weekend or two for everyone in that division (as both a bye weekend and a makeup slot).

We WILL plan on MAC Championships – for the divisions that play semis and a final – on May 1, 2021.

We do NOT know about USAR Championships yet; the new USAR bylaws and structure were just approved last weekend (Sat, May 9) and the new USAR Senior Club Community group will be reforming the Competitions Committee. There are other discussions going on to try to get playoff rounds closer (regionally) but all of this will take a while to work out… as well as a change in the Competitions software for rosters and match reporting. This will be a busy summer.