WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR: 
We know that the NZ Government moved the entire country into the “RED” traffic light setting of the Covid Protection Framework. While there are some documents that give guidelines under the red setting, Sport NZ and New Zealand Rugby are still working hard in the background to finalise the detail on how the “RED” setting will impact all of our formats (Rugby 7’s, 10’s, 15’s RIPPA/RIP). Once known, these will be distributed to all our stakeholders. In the meantime, this document is designed to inform you of what we currently know: 

TERM 1 AFTER SCHOOL PRIMARY/INTERMEDIATE/SECONDARY SCHOOL RIPPA/RIP RUGBY: 
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has decided to deliver RIPPA/RIP Rugby modules as “My Vaccine Pass Required” gatherings. This means that gathering limits are 100 people or less. If we delivered these modules without a MVP being required, then the gathering limit under the red setting is 25 or less, which would have made it unmanageable on game day. 

The three sub union based term 1 RIPPA/RIP Rugby modules will go ahead under the RED setting with the following restrictions: 

1. Any player that turns 12 yrs and 3 months and over during the term 1 module will be required to possess a My Vaccine Pass (MVP) to register and play for their school team. 

1. The NZ Govt has opened up access of the vaccine to children aged 6-11 yrs but it’s not mandated so it’s not a requirement for children in this age group to be vaccinated to register and play.  They can do so if their parents choose to. 

1. All registered coaches, team managers and referees (aged 12 yrs and 3 months) of RIPPA/RIP Rugby teams will be required to possess a MVP in order to fulfil their volunteer duties. 

1. All venues will have a number of “My Vaccine Pass Designated Areas” (MVPDA).  They will include a RIPPA or RIP Rugby field and it’s immediate surrounds.  It will not include the carparking area.  All personnel located within a MVPDA will be required to posess a MVP.  (Unvaccinated children aged 6-11 are permitted in a MVPA) 

1. Each MYPDA will have a maximum gathering limit of 100 people.  Children aged 6-11 are counted in this number.   

TERM 1 EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS 
Under the “RED” setting, the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union envisages that tournaments and events like 7’s and 10’s tournaments most likely will need to be postponed or cancelled.  Stay tuned as we await clarification from New Zealand Rugby, School Sport New Zealand and Sport New Zealand. 

SENIOR CLUB AND SECONDARY SCHOOL RUGBY: 
New Zealand Rugby has mandated all 15-a-side rugby competitions will be played in My Vaccine Pass gatherings meaning all players, coaches, team managers and referees are required to possess a MVP to participate in any 15-a-side competition in 2022.  This enables two teams, their coaching staff and the match officials to comfortably be captured inside a gathering of 100 or less on a rugby field.  Host clubs and schools will be able to establish as many separate gatherings of 100 as they can logistically manage on game day. 

New Zealand Rugby have just released the new set of guidelines around assembling teams for pre-season training.  These will be sent directly to all clubs and schools shortly. 

MANAGEMENT OF MY VACCINE PASSES AT REGISTRATION 

1. When all players, coaches, referees and team managers register for each season, they are required to complete an online registration form through their club or school’s online registration Sporty page.  

1. Sporty have included a new functionality where participants will be able to upload their MVP as part of the registration process and their pass will be verified in the background by the NZ Pass Verifier Appconnected to sporty.  The only record stored in the registration system is that you possess a MVP, NOT the personal details attached to that document. 

1. Clubs and schools are advised to not request copies of MVP’s be provided, instead have your people upload their passes to the various sporty registration forms.  This avoids having copies of your members private information on MVP’s being stored. 

1. All club administrators, school sport TIC’s & Sports Co-Ordinators of our clubs and schools are responsible for ensuring their players, coaches and team managers are registered and that those people who are mandated to possess a MVP upload this at registration.  The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union will administer the registration of all match officials and ensure they all have a  MVP. 

MY VACCINE PASS DESIGNATED AREAS: 

1. Competition Organisers and Venue Host will need to clearly display signs all around the venue so that attendees can identify when they are entering into a My Vaccine Pass Designated Area. 

1. Competition Organisers and Venue Hosts will need to communicate in a timely manner  their individual RED SETTING plans including site plans, roles and responsibilities to all of their stakeholders to ensure that everyone has a good understanding of their individual responsibilities.  This includes but is not limited to displaying on web sites, posted to social media channels and direct communication with stakeholders. 

1. It is envisaged that so long as community sport competition organisers and venue hosts have completed points 1 and 2 above, there will be no need for them to conduct MVP checks and scans or any form of match day enforcement of MVP. 

2. If a competition organiser or venue host discovers, during the course of a match day operation,  any situation where public disorder could be the end result, such as a bunch of anti-vaxxers turning up at a game publicly displaying complete disregard for the requirement to have a MVP, the best course of action would be to to avoid confrontation at all costs and either call the police, or report a breach at a later date online https://forms.police.govt.nz/forms/covid19-breach  

UPCOMING SMALLBLACKS AND RUGBYSMART AND MANAGERSMART COURSES 
Given all coaches, team managers and referees must possess a MVP to coach, manage a team and referee this year, all attendees of face to face versions of these courses will be required to possess a MVP to attend.  The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is exploring online alternatives as well as delivering the face to face versions outdoors. 

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET: 
Here’s what we don’t know.  We don’t know: 

1. When the Government plans to review the current “RED” setting. 

1. How the Government’s three phase strategy to deal with the Omicron outbreak will effect community rugby in the Bay of Plenty. 

1. The exact detail around how clubs and schools will manage: 

• Changing rooms, club rooms and match day operations 

• Junior musters and weigh-ins 

1. If the current “RED” settings will remain as written or whether the Govt will make any changes. 

Article added: Thursday 27 January 2022