Enhanced Covid protocols for National Touch Series

This weekend marks our first National Touch Series events of the season, and the first nationally organised tournament since early March 2020.

Anyone coming to Banbury as a referee – whether for the Elite NTS on Saturday or the Development NTS on Sunday – then please note that enhanced Covid-19 protocols will be in place.

In addition to a health questionnaire, we are strongly recommending that all participants (including team coaches and managers) complete a lateral flow Covid-19 test no later than 24 hours before arrival at Banbury RFC.

The England Touch events management team believes that this is the best practice needed to be adopted in response to the rising Covid-19 infection rates and the delaying of the next stage of the national roadmap out of lockdown. One third of all infected people show no symptoms, and with several hundred people coming to Banbury from all parts of the country we did want to put anyone at any undue risk.

Once you have completed your lateral flow test you can submit the results via the form which is linked to in the document(s) linked to below. Please note there are separate forms for the Elite NTS and Development NTS events. If you are coming to both events then you can do one lateral flow test but you will still need to complete both forms (hope this all makes sense!)

CLICK HERE for the Elite NTS document

CLICK HERE for the Development NTS document 

Lateral flow tests can be ordered for free from https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests or collect from pharmacies.

Attendees should also take some time to remind yourselves of the England Touch Covid-19 code of conduct at https://englandtouch.org.uk/media/1866/england-touch-return-to-play-covid-19-code-of-conduct.pdf

This recommendation for lateral flow testing is only for the National Touch Series, not regular training or local leagues.

We thank everyone for their understanding, and if anyone has any specific questions please ask your club’s Covid-19 officer as the first point of contact.

Finally, please note that Banbury RFC are not allowing any pets to come on site this weekend.