CHINNOR RFC Thame welcomes last night's announcement from the Rugby Football Union with regards to how the community game can resume from March 29.

The Return To Community Rugby Roadmap for age grade and adult rugby has been revised with a six-stage process created as the game moves from Ready4Rugby, O2 Touch and limited contact training to full contact matches.

The new RFU roadmap is subject to each step on the government roadmap being met, but details the following:

• From March 29 – Contact training (excluding scrum & maul) and Ready4Rugby, O2 Touch & Tag matches against other clubs
• From April 26 – Contract training (excluding scrum & maul) and adult and age grade matches with adapted laws (no scrum and maul)
• At Step 3 of Government Roadmap (no earlier than May 17) – Full contact training (including scrum & maul)
• Two weeks later – Adult full contact matches, but some off field restrictions likely to still apply
• At Step 4 of Government Roadmap (no earlier than June 21) – All restrictions lifted

Please click HERE to read the Return To Community Rugby Roadmap in full.

We will continue to provide further updates, including Club guidelines, in due course. We are also awaiting more information from the RFU with regards to detailed stage-by-stage guidance ensuring the return to rugby is as safe as possible.

We thank you for your continued patience and please stay safe.