Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire
Rugby Football Union Limited
CB/RDO Office at 24 Cartergate, Newark, Notts, NG24 1UB
Tel: 01636 640800 Email: nldrfu@therfu.com
Registered in England Company No. 4256407: VAT Registration Number 804 667 717
Registered Office: Maythorn House, High Street, Stapleford, Lincolnshire LN6 9LB
PRESIDENT R (Bob) Smallwood

20 December 2009

Dear Secretary

Club Code of Conduct

It with regret that I find myself having to send you this letter on behalf of the Management Committee and Board of Directors of our Constituent Body but it is something that needs to be done before matters become out of hand.

During the first part of this season the Management Committee have had to deal in one way or another, sometimes through the Disciplinary Committee, with more issues of abuse both on and off the pitch than many of us can remember. This includes both verbal and physical abuse of officials, players and spectators and seems to have increased at an alarming rate. The number of complaints we receive about the foul language used by players on the pitch and more so by spectators and coaches on the sidelines is going up at a rate that cannot and will not be tolerated for the good of our game. This is not limited to any particular clubs or age groups but spread right across the board.

Rugby has a set of core values which does set it apart from other sports despite the very physical nature of the game. These values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship should mean that everyone who attends a game whether to play, coach, officiate or watch can do so in safety without fear of assault or having to put up with foul and abusive comments. Good humoured banter is one thing and has been part of the game since it began, outright abuse is something that we don’t really want or need. Having a drink together before, during and after a match is part of the game that many of us enjoy; suffering physical or verbal abuse from someone the worse for drink is not.

Going into 2010 please remember that every club MUST have a Code of Conduct that covers its players, coaches and spectators at all matches and tournaments and that Clubs are responsible for the actions of all connected with them. Please ensure that your Code of Conduct is clearly displayed at the club together with the consequences of transgressing this code for if a club fails to take action to control those associated with it, the Management Committee may have to and the outcome could then have an effect on the whole club, not just those who perpetrate the misdemeanours.

Many thanks in anticipation of your co-operation.

Yours faithfully

Mike Waplington

Mike Waplington
Honorary Secretary
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire
Rugby Football Union Limited