New League Campaign – Same Respect

It’s two days before the start of the 2021/22 Indigo Welsh Premiership starts and we, at Pontypridd RFC feel this message from Geraint John regarding positive behaviour and conduct, is more relevant today than it’s ever been.

Positive Behaviour

It has been a month since we started our National League programme and it is important for me to thank you all for your contribution to the Game and your valued contribution towards ensuring that our Game thrives again – many thanks.

Equally, it is important to remind everyone about the importance of adhering to the published Codes of Conduct at all times. As such, I wish to raise some points with you all and ask for your support in making sure our people are enjoying our fantastic game and having fun and are safe. Please can we promote our fantastic values of friendship, sportsmanship, respect to name but a few – Positive Behaviour.

Match Officials, Touchline Behaviour and Conduct Prejudicial to the Game

We cannot allow our standards to be eroded in this area. It must be recognised that poor behaviour will have a detrimental impact on recruitment and retention of match officials, players and also could have a negative impact on people joining our great game as we seek to grow and evolve. We all have a duty and a responsibility to everyone involved in the game to provide a safe environment for all.

I would like to ask you to especially support our referees who, like many volunteers, give up their time to officiate at matches. There is a realistic prospect that poor behaviour will deter match officials from attending our Clubs and from officiating at games. Those officials must be protected and the Rugby community must understand that any abuse of officials will be met with severe sanctions both to the Clubs and players. Clubs, their members and players have a responsibility to ensure any behaviour of this sort is removed and eradicated from the game.

Please manage your touchline and please educate your coaches, officials and players at all levels of the Game.

By way of this notification, the WRU Discipline Committee are placing Clubs on notice that any behaviour and conduct prejudicial to the Game, any behaviour which is deemed detrimental to providing a safe environment for Match Officials, will be sanctioned with the utmost severity.

We urge you all to consider our values and work together to promote good sportsmanship and the values of our game.

Similarly, you all have a duty to create and sustain a safe and positive environment for all involved in the Game. Club Officials are wholly responsible for the safety of Match Officials during their time at the Club and must ensure measures are in place to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for the MO to conduct his/her duties.

I would like to close by thanking you all for your continued support. Our clubs are the lifeblood of the game in Wales and the hard work that goes into clubs the length and breadth of Wales does not go unrecognised. My appeal is that we should not let the poor behaviour of a minority jeopardise the future of our game.

Thanks again for all that you do.

Yours sincerely,

Geraint John – WRU Community Director