England head coach suggests changing conversion rules in women’s game

RFU Annual Report published

• Read the full report here. 

Reported revenues for the year are £97m (£167m in previous year) and profit to reserves £20.5m (loss of £27.1m in prior year).

Revenues in the year were nearly £120m less than pre-COVID forecasts with an underlying loss to reserves of £21.3m (c£30m worse than pre-COVID forecasts).      

Findings from brain study released

• New study finds worse cognitive function in players aged 75+ with a history of multiple concussions

Retired male elite rugby union players aged 50+ who suffered three or more rugby-related concussions during their career have no worse average cognitive function than those who had experienced no, one or two concussions, according to a new study in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Lydney RFC player banned for anti-doping violation

Kurt Brown of Lydney RFC has been banned from all sport for four years from 13 March 2020 until 12 March 2024.

Future competition structure

Future competition structure

RFU Council vote in favour of covid recovery plan

The COVID Recovery Plan is aimed at improving the financial stability and sustainability of professional rugby during the next three seasons while also providing benefits for England Rugby and the community game. 

The Covid Recovery Plan, with a temporary pause on relegation, follows a detailed consultation that was announced in February after the RFU Council voted in favour of no relegation from Gallagher Premiership Rugby or the Greene King IPA Championship for the 2020/21 Season. The extensive consultation included Premiership Rugby and their clubs, Championship clubs, The RPA, RFU Board and RFU Council. 

Premiership Rugby and England Rugby join forces with Stonewall to promote LGBT inclusion