The following policy is for matches, trainings, and union events within the Florida Rugby Union with regard to Covid-19. This has been adopted by the Executive Board and is effective March 12, 2020. We are interested in athlete, referee, and spectator welfare and will continue to monitor and revise this policy as necessary.

If you are experiencing respiratory illness or fever, however, we urge you stay home and not compete in matches or team activities. If you are experiencing such symptoms, the CDC suggests to call your doctor if you

• Develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or

• Have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19. 

League play for the weekend of March 14:

--Colleges will follow the policy of their respective collegiate administrations. In the case of two schools differing, the more strict travel policy will be respected.

--Senior Clubs - If two clubs with a scheduled match wish to still compete and their respective referee wants to call the game, they may do so at their own risk. The result of the match will stand. We encourage teams to be safe and teams can play at their own risk until USAR gives further guidance. If a team does not want to play and their opponent still wishes to do so, this match will be moved to the rain weekend.

League play March 15 until further notice:

League play will be suspended for all clubs from March 15 until March 29 at which time an update to the season and this policy will be provided.

Training and Events - Clubs may train and host functions at the discretion of their respective administrations, however, these activities are discouraged until more information is available. We encourage teams to be safe and teams can train at their own risk until USAR gives further guidance

If any governing body to which the Florida Rugby Union belongs or follows the regulations of, n amely USA Rugby and World Rugby, issues a more stringent policy than outlined above, the

more stringent policy will be adopted and supersede what is written herein.

Players are reminded of the following safety guidelines:

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment;

• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash their hands).

• Preferably avoid handshakes when greeting players and opponents;

• Use individual water bottles; do not share them;

• Towels, uniforms and training bibs should not be shared, if possible. Frequent laundry of these items is suggested;

• Training equipment should be cleaned following each session.

 Any club with more than 250 people in attendance at their matches should discourage fan participation at this time.