For Immediate Release
College Rugby
Poughkeepsie, NY
Monday March 1st, 2021
Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference Defers to Member Schools
Following a Zoom meeting last night, Sunday February 28th, 2021, of the Tri-State Rugby Conference membership the Conference decided not to sanction any championship events this spring on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each school representative briefly outlined their situation with regard to participation and practicing and it was clear that any kind of competitive season was not viable.
The majority of the teams are practicing with varying conditions applied (masks, social distancing and sanitation of equipment) and in most instances the hope is that intra-squad games can be played.
Importantly, the Conference did state that it would review this decision at the end of the month and if the situation allows for games to be played, i.e. lower infection rates, more vaccination coverage and accepted protocols employed by member institutions, then member schools could work with their Club Sport Directors and school administrations and set up games.
It could be that an in-state schools with similar protocols might be willing to allow the students to play a game. The risk of infection seems to be more likely as a result of gatherings of people in confined spaces for periods of time and not through the playing of rugby itself.
A recent study, admittedly of Rugby League not Union, addresses this issue – see link
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/10/bjsports-2020-103714
The Tri-State Conference will publish the Fall 2021 Schedules in the next 10 days and is very optimistic that by September 2021 championship play will resume.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Tony Brown
(845) 380-9052
Tri-State Rugby Conference, Inc.
Director
http://www.tristaterugby.com