Women & Girls

Clubs across Ulster return to action this weekend

5th September 2020
Ulster Rugby CEO, Jonny Petrie recently spoke about about the activity we will be undertaking in the weeks ahead to support respect in the domestic game.
As clubs across Ulster prepare to return to rugby this weekend, Ulster Rugby CEO, Jonny Petrie took the opportunity to thank clubs for their community support throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, and ask that they continue to protect players, coaches, referees, volunteers and members from the virus as they make their return. “I know it has been a difficult period over the past six months or so, but it’s brilliant to begin to see activity returning in earnest in our domestic clubs across the Province”, he says. “It’s a really good juncture for us to recognise the work that’s gone on in our clubs to get to this point, because there are so many protocols and aspects of planning that we have needed to look at as well as the clubs on a volunteer basis. It’s the right time to acknowledge that work and look forward to the beginning of the road to recovery for the domestic game here in Ulster. “We’ve worked very closely with the IRFU and our staff at Ulster Rugby, who have sought to put an arm around the clubs and provide some really clear guidance. That guidance is largely based around the Public Health Agency and what we’re getting from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish government. “Although we’re working very closely with the IRFU and internally, there is an ongoing dialogue with the Executive and with the Irish government around those public health guidelines which change on a regular basis. “I know from messages that I’ve got and from speaking to the Rugby Development team who have been working really closely with the clubs that it’s been incredibly tough, particularly on a financial basis where clubs – much as we ourselves – haven’t been able to generate income since March. We understood that very clearly in the first place, and it was great for us to be able to work with the NI Executive and the Irish government to put in place some funding opportunities for clubs to safeguard themselves on the financial perspective. “It’s tremendously encouraging that we’re now starting to see rugby get back up and running. First and foremost, we want people to enjoy themselves, but alongside that, the priority has got to be about the health and well-being of people playing the game and members around our clubs, so it’s really important that we are cautious in our approach; that we take care to look at those public health guidelines that have been worked on and put in place for us and for clubs; that we listen to how those evolve over a period of time and that we get back slowly.”