With clubs traditionally gearing up for pre-season summer training in the coming weeks the message to all clubs and players is to not presume the phased relaxing of lockdown measures is a greenlight for normal rugby activity to begin.

The roadmap towards easing lockdown measures was announced by the First Minister yesterday, with Thursday 28 May identified as the start of Phase 1 in that process.

In Phase 1 there will be more opportunity to exercise outdoors and other sports, with easier social distancing elements, such as golf and tennis are able to resume.

Restrictions have not lifted in relation to groups training together and there is still no ability to resume contact sport/rugby at this time.

Social distancing measures remain in place along with the general public health advice of staying at home and regularly washing hands.

Scottish Rugby continues to advise all its member clubs, players and officials to follow public health and Scottish Government guidelines.

As a governing body Scottish Rugby is in regular dialogue with sportscotland and Scottish Government to represent the sport and its challenges so health officials can make informed decisions when considering how rugby might safely resume alongside other public activities.

Scottish Rugby is currently preparing proposals outlining a phased return to training and will present this at the next meeting with Minister for Sport & Public Health, Joe Fitzpatrick.

Scottish Rugby’s Threat Management Group continues to look at possible ways in which we can restart rugby and specific workstreams have been formed to provide focus on key areas, including Community Rugby.

Scottish Rugby’s own support to clubs continues:

– Work is reaching completion on the assessment of applications to the Club Hardship Fund, with awards scheduled for confirmation by week commencing 8 June

– Guidance on maintaining and managing clubhouse facilities post-lockdown is being developed and will be communicated shortly

– Weekly updates from the Threat Management Group are shared to all clubs via the Club Comms e-zine

– Any updates to public health guidance from Scottish Government are shared on Scottish Rugby website and added to Club Comms ezine.

– Guidance around maintaining physical and mental health shared to clubs in advisory Club Comms from Dr James Robson

– Club Support Award payments were brought forward from May to April and paid in advance to help clubs with cashflow and costs