We are sorry to report that following a recent RFU investigation we have been given a 10-point deduction to start for 2022/23 season for playing 17-year-olds in adult rugby without the required permissions and approvals.

There are several other sanctions listed to improve the player approval processes which you will be able view on the judgement report (link below) including a full safeguarding audit to be carried out. We have also been given a suspended relegation for two seasons until the end of season 2023/2024, relegation will only be applied in the event the club commits any further breach of Relegation 15.6.

It’s disappointing for us as a committee to report this news when so many of us volunteers give so much time and effort week in and week out and whilst so many other positive activities are being carried out.

However, we want to reassure you that as your appointed senior committee we have and will be making further changes to change to both our adult playing coaching team and the rugby committee with immediate effect. We are confident these changes will improve our internal processes both on and off the field to ensure we don’t provide any further breaches moving forward.

We appreciate this is disappointing news after a positive note at the weekend from our club chair Andy Watts, but we hope this message will provide some confidence to our members that we are dealing this with the utmost urgency and importance.

The full judgement can be read here
RFU judgement

We will provide further updates and announcements over the coming weeks as new structures and roles are developed.

Thanks in advance for your continued patience and support.

Regards,

Andy Watts

on behalf of Bradford & Bingley RFC Senior Committee