So, we are off and running for the 2024/25 rugby season and, on behalf of the Club Executive, I wish all players, coaches, managers, parents and supporters a very enjoyable and (hopefully) successful 7/8 months ahead. Here’s hoping everyone achieves their goals set out in the summer months but, above all, enjoys playing this great sport of ours!
The start of the season is also the time when the club must remind all participants of the need to act in a fair and responsible manner at all times while representing Harlow RUFC, whether on the pitch or off it. Both the Club and the RFU have guidelines and values which are expected to be upheld by everyone.
The RFU values specifically relate to TREDS – Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship and these should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when representing the Club – further information on this is available at here. The Club expects all participants to actively follow these values and put them into practice whether it be during matches, in training, travelling to matches etc. Harlow RUFC fully endorses and supports these values and they are interwoven into everything we do or try to do.
Essex RFU, in conjunction with the RFU, has recently written to all member clubs setting out its stated response to any future disciplinary actions they need to consider and you can read more
here. The Club has worked very hard in recent years to improve its disciplinary history and we fully intend to continue to do this, where necessary.
In particular, we do not condone
1) verbal or physical abuse of towards match officials
2) unauthorised persons (team squad/management or spectators) entering the field of play without the referee’s express permission
and
3) racial or homophobic and other forms of similar abuse.
Where appropriate, the Club will consider additional, unlimited but appropriate, sanctions beyond those set down by the RFU in order to deal with serious issues. The potential sanctions set out by the RFU and endorsed by Essex RFU can be extremely severe so we ask for everyone’s cooperation to maintain our individual and collective discipline at all times. Of course, we play to win but we must achieve this by playing hard but fair with due respect to all. Good luck to all
