Threat Management Group Update – 29 May 2020

29 May 2020

This week the TMG and the supporting workstreams have made excellent progress in planning the safest strategies to return to rugby.

Each subgroup has adopted learnings from other sports, unions and clubs around the world and are meticulously assessing all possible options at hand; completing thorough risk assessments and producing fully comprehensive guidance documents detailing their preferred recommendation.

Following the First Minister’s announcement on Thursday 21 May unveiling a four-phase “route map” to restarting society, we are confident we will be able to soon secure Government approval to begin our phased resumption of elements of our sport. The Govt focus remains on the Elite side but we are working hard to seek clarity and guidance for Grassroots. We are doing this in collaboration with the SFA and the Scottish Government and presented to the Minister for Sport Joe FitzPatrick today, Friday 29 May.

TMG Subgroups:

The work of the various workstreams continues;


  • The Return to Training workstream continues to work on the operations manual with Phase 1 now nearing completion.
  • The Return to Play workstream again is making progress and is considering areas for future matchdays including;
    • Various ticketing models looking at social distancing restrictions to calculate approximate capacities
    • Access protocols to maximise the available space
    • Socially distanced hospitality layouts / serviice
  • The Return to Community Rugby workstream led by Sheila Begbie and her team is developing a roadmap for what resuming grassroots rugby could look like. Focus for this group is;
    • Supporting our community game and ensuring an understanding of what the Government phases mean for our sport at grassroots level.
    • Consideration for timelines to restarting competitive rugby.
    • Providing advice to clubs on how to maintain their facilities during the lockdown period.
    • It is anticipated that guidance for Grassroots sport will come from UK / Scottish Government which could support this group.
  • The Return to Scottish Rugby Hospitality workstream is considering
    • Changes to methods of service
    • Possible capacities for hospitality and conferences
    • Use of IT and technology
    • PPE
  • The Return to Office workstream continues to progress the following topics. The main area for consideration is as we transition out of COVID-19 is what, collectively, we want the workplace to look like. It is important that we adapt to the changing needs of our People and our Business.

Community Rugby

  • Club Hardship Fund – Anticipation clubs will be notified w/c 8 June with payments made by the end of June.

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