The suggestion from these clubs is that this maximum benefit should be raised to £1million. Presently, a player can increase his own cover to this amount by paying an additional £100 per year. However, the take up has been very low. Unfortunately, in order to minimise premium levels all clubs would have to agree to a change in the compulsory insurance cover. Raising the benefit to £1million would require a premium payment for each team of approximately £450. Clearly, some clubs would find such increased costs a burden.

The Community Rugby and Operations Department is seeking to consult clubs as to their true wishes on this important subject. A working party, chaired by John Brine, Council member for Buckinghamshire, has been set up to review insurance matters, with a view to reporting back to Council next March. It would greatly assist for member clubs to make their views known. This can be done by e-mailing davetyler@rfu.com under the heading insurance.

In the meantime Touchline is here publishing details of insurance policies available through Marsh Sports Group, the RFU’s risk and insurance services provider.

Sporting injuries fall into two categories, permanent and short term, and the necessary insurance protection for these types of injury are very different.

Permanent Total Disability
The RFU ensures that all affiliated clubs, and therefore all players, are insured against permanent disabilities and, in particular, the inability to work and generate an income. The most important feature of this insurance is that if you suffer a permanent disability whilst playing or training which results in you being unable to ever work again, you will receive a tax-free payment of £375,000(subject to policy terms). This payment will go some way towards covering the costs arising from the lifestyle changes necessary to enable you to cope with disability but players and their clubs need to consider whether this is adequate cover for their possible needs.

The RFU, in conjunction with Marsh, have developed an extension to the present compulsory cover which enables players and officials to personally increase the maximum possible payment under this policy from £375,000 to £1m. This cover is available at a premium of £8.25 per month for each player, a total of £100 per year. Leaflets detailing this ‘Top Up’ have already been sent to club secretaries and hopefully players will have received a copy. Marsh strongly recommends that players read the leaflet and seriously consider purchasing this extra cover. Anyone requiring a leaflet can contact Marsh who will be more than happy to send one and discuss appropriate cover.

Short Term Injuries
Even a minor injury could render someone unable to work, and in many cases this could mean a loss of income. In addition the NHS may not provide physiotherapy or treatment as quickly as a player might like. Consequently, many players are looking to obtain some form of protection against loss of income or medical treatment costs. Marsh (together with Pinnacle Insurance) has developed a policy with very wide-ranging cover for all amateur rugby players, providing up to £500 per month of income replacement (for up to a maximum of six months) as well as lump sum benefits for particular injuries, and assistance with physiotherapy and dental costs. As an extra benefit, this policy will also provide cover for your participation in other sports, although not those designated as being hazardous such as winter sports, bungee jumping, potholing and mountaineering etc.

All clubs received a poster recently outlining Marsh’s sports injury policy and giving details of how to apply for the cover ‘on-line’ at www.marshrugby.co.uk. If any club has not received one please get in touch with Marsh.

Liability Cover
All rugby clubs, through their daily operations and participation in the game are exposing themselves to events that could cause loss or damage. At your club accidents will occasionally happen whereby somebody may be injured or suffer a loss. In turn the club may be deemed to be liable for the incident. It is becoming more prevalent for victims of accidents to seek financial recompense when they suffer a loss, and therefore it is vital that your club has adequate Public Liability Insurance.

One of the major features of the Marsh Public Liability Insurance is the inclusion of cover for player to player incidents. Many standard public liability policies will not include cover for claims arising from on-field activities. The Marsh policy does, however, with cover up to £2,000,000 during any one policy period.

If your club employs either part time or full time staff you are by law required to arrange Employer’s Liability Insurance. This cover provides you with protection for losses suffered by your staff whilst working for your club for which you are held liable. Marsh is able to offer two different levels of Public Liability Insurance at competitive premiums under their Rugby Club Insurance Policy, and employer’s liability can also be included if required.

Property Cover and Others
If you take out a Public Liability Policy with Marsh you can also arrange buildings cover for your clubhouse and any other outbuildings your club might own. This cover will also automatically include cover for your playing surfaces as well as cover for any building works that might be undertaken.

Your club will possess property, whether training equipment, furniture or bar stock, and it is vital that comprehensive insurance protects you against the loss of property you may not otherwise be able to replace. The following additional sections of cover can also be added to a Marsh Rugby Club policy:

Business Interruption - Provides Loss of Revenue cover if unforeseen events prevent a club from generating its usual income.

Book Debts - If an event, leading to a claim under the Business Interruption Cover, prevents a club establishing a customer debit balance, losses are covered.

Loss of Money - Cover for any money at a clubhouse or in transit to your bank.

Personal Accident - Cover for injuries occurring for both club members and committee members.

Fidelity Guarantee - Covering any losses as a result of staff dishonesty.

Loss of Licence - This cover will indemnify the club against having its Licence or Club Registration Certificate suspended or withdrawn.

Engineering - Cover for unforeseen and sudden damage to heating, ventilation and refrigeration plant.

Commercial Legal Expenses - Providing cover for legal expenses arising from any other claim under your club’s Marsh Rugby Club Insurance Policy.
Rugby Club Tour Insurance
If your club is planning a tour it is vital that you arrange adequate insurance. In fact, if you are planning to tour overseas the RFU will insist that you arrange insurance which takes into account the rugby playing activities in which you will be participating. As a word of warning, many ‘holiday’ type travel policies do not provide cover for some or all sports.

The Rugby Club Tour Insurance cover falls under 8 sections as follows: - Personal Accident; Medical Expenses; Personal Baggage; Personal Money; Playing and Training Equipment; Cancellation, Curtailment and Change of Itinerary; Travel Delay; Personal Liability. The cover and premium for this policy is extremely competitive and the policy is very easy to arrange by contacting Marsh.

Club Officials Indemnity Insurance
Whilst acting on behalf of your club your personal legal and financial liability is unlimited.

The financial risks and liabilities of your actions as a committee member, even when they are carried out in good faith are huge. There has been a marked increase in the number of legal actions against Club Committees and an escalation in the sums awarded against them.

The Marsh Club Officials Indemnity cover will provide indemnity for you and your committee for a minimum of £100,000 up to a maximum level of cover for events arising from mistakes made by your committee whilst carrying out their duties. Essentially the cover provides protection from claims arising from ‘wrongful acts’. Legally a committee member can commit a ‘wrongful act’ in a number of ways. These include: Negligent acts, errors and omissions; Libel and slander; Misstatements or misleading statement; Loss of documents; Neglect or breach of warranty; Unintentional breach of Copyright; Breach of duty; Unintentional breach of Confidentiality; Actual or alleged breach of trust; Wrongful Trading.

The policy covers losses, settlement costs, charges and expenses incurred by a group committee member or members as a result of a successful claim being made against them. Secondly the policy covers costs, fees or expenses incurred by any member of a club committee in defence of a claim being made against them by a third party - whether the claim is successful or not.
 
If players or clubs are interested in any of the insurance products which Marsh offer, please contact the RFU Helpline on 01892 553120.