Safeguarding continues to be an important governance responsibility for all rugby clubs and is supported by the County through the CB Safeguarding Manager (CBSM) and Club Safeguarding Managers (CSM) working with the RFU Safeguarding Unit.
We are delighted to confirm that all clubs with youth sections have access the formal RFU Play It Safe and In-Touch courses
Compliance with the RFU regulations are a required element of the Club Accreditation Scheme and for providing comfort to parents that their children are attending sessions where clubs and coaches are aware and employ the highest elements of best practice.
Up to date details can be found at www.englandrugby.com
Berkshire Safeguarding Team
- Constituent Body Safeguarding Manager (CBSM) – Laura Lewis
- GSM support, Inclusion & Audits –
Safeguarding in Berkshire’s Rugby Clubs
Berkshire RFU acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in rugby at our member clubs, and confirms that it adheres to all the RFU’s Safeguarding Policies and procedures, recommended practices and guidelines and furthermore endorse and adopt the statements contained in those documents
These can be viewed at:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding
Under Child Protection laws and RFU policy, a “child” is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity.
The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:
- The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations
- All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, size, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm and should be able to enjoy their rugby in a positive, safe and enjoyable environment
- All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm, discrimination and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately
- Everyone involved in the sport will work in partnership to promote the welfare, health and development of children
Berkshire RFU Equality Statement
Berkshire RFU aims to ensure that all members irrespective of their age, gender, ability, race, religion, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, social status or sexual orientation have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate in rugby. This aim covers all players, coaches, administrative staff, match officials or spectators.
It is the aim of Berkshire RFU and its member clubs not to disadvantage any individual by imposing any conditions or requirements which cannot be justified.
Anti-Bullying
Berkshire RFU and its member clubs aim to create a safe and secure learning environment where individuals treat each other with respect and understanding. Bullying will not be tolerated at all in our any of our Clubs. Bullying will be taken seriously, responded to promptly, and procedures followed to deal with the situation. It is the responsibility of every adult working in rugby union whether professional or volunteer, to ensure that all young people can enjoy the sport in a safe enjoyable environment. Bullying is deliberately hurtful behaviour which results in the victim feeling distressed. Bullying occurs when this behaviour is exercised through the use of power rather than an exchange between equals.
Establishing a positive club ethos
The most important aspect of our strategy to combat bullying is the creation of a positive and inclusive ethos in all our member clubs. This begins with how adults in clubs treat each other, parents, and players: with respect and understanding, even in difficult situations. Concerns expressed by players and parents are always listened to carefully and taken seriously.
We promote and follow the RFU Core Values
Everyone involved in rugby in England, whether as a player, coach, referee, administrator, parent or spectator is expected to uphold the Core Values of our sport:
Teamwork – Respect – Enjoyment – Discipline – Sportsmanship
- Play to win – but not at all cost
- Win with dignity, lose with grace
- Observe the Laws and regulations of the game
- Respect opponents, referees and all participants
- Reject cheating, racism, violence and drugs
- Value volunteers and paid officials alike
- Enjoy the game
We aim to be constantly promoting and reinforcing positive behaviour and developing all children’s self-esteem through celebration of achievement. In this way, by aiming to ‘include’ everyone in the rugby community, it is much less likely either those children will become a focus for bullying, or that others may resort to bullying
We encourage children, parents and club personnel to report any suspected instances of bullying to a member of the coaching staff or to the Club’s Safeguarding Officer.
All rugby coaches, coaching assistants, first aiders and team managers must:
- respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person with whom they work with and treat them equally within the context of rugby union
- undertake an enhanced DBS clearance with the RFU if working in a regulated activity (involving unsupervised access to children)
- place the physical and emotional well being of all young players above all other considerations, including the development of performance.
- understand that the relationship that develops with the players with whom they work must be based on mutual trust and respect
- ensure that all activities undertaken are appropriate to the age, maturity, experience and ability of the young players
- encourage young players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance
- be aware of good safeguarding practices so that any poor practices will be addressed immediately
It is EVERYONE’S responsibility at a rugby club to report concerns.
Berkshire RFU is committed to working in partnership with parents/carers and statutory agencies in order to safeguard the young people at our clubs.
Please ensure that your club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by at least two adults (DBS checked) of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Also ensure that all your club’s coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children. Clear signage can really help with this:
“NO UNAUTHORISED ADULTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN THE PLAYERS CORRIDOR, CHANGING ROOMS OR SHOWERS.”
We strongly recommend that club coaches DO NOT participate in communication with children on social networking sites or by personal or frequent text messaging. Contact with players should always be via (or copied to) their parent or carer. All social network groups should be CLOSED and participation should be ADULTS ONLY or PLAYERS ONLY by invitation. Player groups should be administered by a DBS cleared adult/s who is made known to all parents of participating players. The administrator should only act in a monitoring capacity to ensure no inappropriate content or bullying and should not be participating in the conversations of the group.
Managing Touchline Behaviour
We do not tolerate poor touchline behaviour at any of our member clubs, it will be addressed at every level. Spectators and coaches alike MUST NOT enter the field of play without the referees permission whilst a game of rugby is in progress unless there are exceptional circumstances. Poor behaviour on the touchline is no more acceptable than poor behaviour on the pitch.
15.5 – A 17 year old playing adult rugby.
This two-step process has been introduced by the RFU as a result of clarification by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) on safeguarding requirements when underage players play in adult sport. 17 year olds are still considered to be children and this process helps our clubs to react to this change and support the appropriate transition to adult rugby. Attached are a number of documents to support Berkshire Clubs.
1. CB Guide – This provides guidance and what a CB should expect on a club and player approval form.
2. Club Guide – This details the rationale, will support clubs with their submission and help CBs to further understand their role.
3. Regulation 15.5 Playing Adult Rugby – This shows the two-step process to play adult rugby which ensures clubs have a Safeguarding Officer and CB approval to play-up 17 year olds and then, that each individual player has also undergone a club assessment approved by the CB.
4. Playing Adult Rugby Club Approval Form. The document which clubs will complete and submit to CBs for approval.
5. Playing Adult Rugby Player Approval Form. The document that approved clubs will need to complete for any 17 year old they wish to play adult rugby. This form will need to be sent and approved by the CB.
Useful Downloads and Links
Playing Out of Age Grade Permission form.
Further details on England Rugby, Regulations:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/rules-and-regulations/regulations
Safeguarding Toolkit:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding
(Age Grade Rugby) Regulation 15
(Safeguarding) Regulation 21:
Links to safeguarding courses:
https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/coaching/booking-a-course
Click the link “online course booking system”,
Select “Safeguarding” from the first drop-down menu, then select the course you want from the next box: apply the date of the course you are looking for or your postcode to find your nearest course.
Updated 23 May 2025
