Paragraph 12.3.1 of the Policies and Procedures for the Welfare of Young People in Rugby Union (as ratified by the RFU Council in 2003) provides that any person who has regular supervisory contact with young people, eg. professional staff; all coaches/assistant coaches; heads of mini/midi rugby sections, heads of youth rugby sections; team managers; all referees who manage mini/midi and youth games; welfare officers and physiotherapists should undertake CRB disclosure. To date 17,000 volunteers have gone through this process.
As a result of a review of current procedures the decision has been made to tighten up CRB requirements in order to ensure that all young people in the game are protected and to also avert the risk of legal action based on allegations that the RFU has not exercised a proper duty of care.
With effect from 1st January 2007 any person who has regular supervisory contact with young people MUST hold an enhanced RFU CRB disclosure. Failure to comply with this instruction may lead to disciplinary action being taken against the club. In addition when a new volunteer joins the club he/she will be permitted to help in a coaching capacity provided they do not have sole adult contact with young people, for up to eight weeks, by which time they must be in receipt of a disclosure certificate. The above decision has given clubs eleven months to ensure the necessary checks are undertaken and the RFU will support all member clubs in every way possible to achieve this objective. It can take over two months for a CRB check to come through.It is therefore advisable to complete application forms as soon as possible ready for the start of next season.
CRB disclosure checks are free for volunteers. If you are unaware as to how to obtain CRB disclosures through the RFU or have any queries please contact Chris Rawlings, CRB Administrator on 0208 831 7454, chrisrawlings@rfu.com .and Ann Hutchins, Child Protection Officer on 0208 831 7479, annhutchins@rfu.com
