USA Rugby suspends sanctioned competition and activities for 30 days; Spring College Championships (XV & 7s) canceled

UPDATE: Rocky Mountain Rugby has extended its period of suspension through April 12 to mirror USA Rugby's suspension period.

via USA Rugby

LAFAYETTE, CO – USA Rugby today announced the decision to suspend sanctioned rugby competition and activities for a 30-day period effective immediately. With the threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19) escalating day by day, the need for suspended activities was a complicated but necessary resolution. The 2020 USA Rugby Spring College Championships and College 7s National Championship have also been canceled due to precautionary measures within the union and a growing number of colleges and universities.

USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young: “It’s been an extraordinary period of time around the globe, whereby the rugby community is of course affected. While we evaluated as best we could to keep competitions intact, the situation has risen to a point where precautionary measures take precedent and is in the best interest of not only our members, but the general public.”

Effective immediately, USA Rugby adamantly encourages all members to suspend competition and rugby activities for the next 30 days to ensure the health and safety of themselves and those around them. The USA Rugby Medical Committee will continue to monitor the condition of COVID-19 and provide further instruction before the end of this period on April 12, 2020. Playoffs, qualifiers and eventual championship events for USA Rugby Spring College XVs and 7s will not occur in 2020.

While regional and national Senior Club competition is included in the immediate suspension, the 2020 Club XV and Club 7s Championships will remain under review. With a differing competition calendar to the scholastic game, the state of those events will be determined at the end of the 30-day period.
Through the provisional period, members are encouraged to stay tuned with USA Rugby communication channels and social media for live updates and information on the situation.