Covid-19 will impact if not outright cancel rugby competitions during the first half of 2021, and TRB will track those developments as they’re announced. The Midwest Rugby Union, the largest Competitive Region in the country, has canceled all of its senior club competitions and championships. However, LAUs or local leagues are not prohibited from playing provided they abide Covid-19 regulations. The following (lightly edited) update originally featured on the Midwest Rugby Union’s Facebook:
The Midwest Rugby Union is anticipating a formal cancellation of the national XVs championships to be issued by USA Rugby in the coming weeks. In response to this impending announcement, the remaining portion of the competitive cycle for 2021 is canceled and no league/qualifying matches will be scheduled by the Midwest this spring.
Discussions are underway regarding the fate of summer 7s on the national and Midwest levels for summer 2021. We will provide an update prior to the Midwest 2021 Annual General Meeting in February, or sooner if information becomes available. Midwest Selects are also under discussion by committee and updates will follow a similar timetable.
To reiterate, your club’s participation in these formal competitions will be ultimately determined by state and local health guidelines. Clubs able to participate under these guidelines must do so under the strict adherence of the Midwest COVID regulations implemented earlier this year. Failure to do so will result in punitive actions.
We look forward to working with our membership in 2021. Happy holidays and stay healthy!
Midwest Rugby Union President Al Lucas reiterated that the union is supporting Return-to-Play in any and all LAUs, where health department policies allow it.
“In the fall we had to two states where we were able to have matches played,” Lucas wrote in an e-mail. “This spring we expect that more will be able to play. These matches will be ‘friendlies’. So there will be some competition, just not ‘league’ competitions.”
The Midwest Rugby Union oversees adult competitions, while colleges report to NCR and CRAA, and high schools follow separate state rugby organizations. Follow #Covid2021 for more updates on spring 2021 competitions.