KCRFU COVID-19 BULLETIN FRIDAY 3RD APRIL 2020.
1. PROGRESS WITH THE RFU/KENT COUNTY RFU RELIEF FUND.
The KCRFU Relief Fund Sub-Group met by conference call on the 31st March. As a result, we have agreed on the total size of the relief fund pot contributed to by the RFU and from Kent reserves. We are currently drafting the guidance notes and the application form and have set ourselves the following timetable:
- Documents to Clubs in Kent by the Thursday before Easter.
- Clubs to complete and return the application by end of April.
- Successful applications to be notified and funding to club bank accounts by mid-May.
2.EARLY PAYMENT OF RFU INTERNATIONAL TICKET SUPPLEMENTAL POT FOR 2019/20 SEASON.
Clubs will have received notification from the RFU that the pot this year is £560.50 this season. This is less than in 2018/19 because there were no Autumn Internationals due to the World Cup 2019 in Japan and because there were only two Home Internationals.
However, as part of COVID-19 financial relief, this pot is being paid out by the RFU two months early and funds should reach Club bank accounts by the end of this week to aid funds and cash flow.
3. RFU AND KENT RFU STAFF TAKE GOVERNMENT WAGE FURLOUGH SCHEME FOR APRIL AND MAY.
As of the 1st April, our Kent RDO’s, Mike Hollis and Gareth Jackson and our 4 CRC’s (Mark Finnis, James Bloxham, David Cheng, and Harry Sievewright) have been furloughed under the new Government scheme for 2 months and will not now be available to us until June 1st. A skeleton team to provide advice to Kent and its clubs on financial, commercial and facilities issues has been formed and for us, in Kent, our RDO for this purpose will be Annie Coulson who we will share with Essex. Annie Coulson, 07563 554130, anniecoulson@rfu.com and Area 3 Facilities Manager Rick Bruin 07738 029211 Rickbruin@rfu.com. We look forward in the meantime to the return of our team in June and welcome Annie, Rick and in time, our new Area Manager Kirsty Goldie-Brammer.
4. 2019/20 END OF SEASON RFU LEAGUES CLUB POSITIONS.
The RFU Council voted on recommendations from a Competitions Sub-Group and the RFU Governance Committee on Wednesday. This will see promotion and relegation being predicted based on the same criteria from the Championship through to levels 10 and 11. The final positions and the clubs promoted and relegated will be published on the RFU website by 6:00 pm tonight – Friday 3rd April.
5. RFU GRANT AVAILABILITY.
Clubs have already received details on the setting up of an RFU loan system specifically for those who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and the premature ending of this season. These loans will be applied for ‘online’ and further details on how to apply should be available from the RFU in the next few days. The system is currently being tested.
6. GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID FOR ADDITIONAL COVID 19 COSTS.
Just to remind you that a very useful summary of these with links was sent to clubs as part of a recent RFU Community update which was sent out on 31 March. A link to this Community update is included HERE!
If you have any concerns or questions regarding any of the content of this bulletin or any other issues at this difficult time, please contact:
Roger Clarke. – Chairman Kent County Executive Committee. RFU Council Member for Kent.
David Clent- Chairman Game Development Committee.
Kevin Cope- Chairman Club Development Committee.
(Contact details can be found HERE)
Best Regards
Roger Clarke.
