Safeguarding
Everything within safeguarding
Further Safeguarding information
Everyone shares the responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe environments in rugby union whether as a parent, coach, spectator or club official.
All should operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour to both safeguard children and protect all personnel from allegations of abuse or poor practice.
Children, who are anyone under the age of 18, must be cared for i n the correct manner, as set out in the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy.
All children and adults at risk are entitled to protection from harm and be able to take part in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment. When recruiting employees or volunteers all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure only suitable people are selected.
For more information on safer recruitment, please go to the Safer Recruitment section of the website. We would also recommend you use the Volunteer application form when recruiting for new volunteers.
The RFU is extremely proud of its dedicated network of Club Safeguarding Officers who all play a vital role in creating safe and inclusive environments for children and adults at risk in the game. To help ensure that all Club Safeguarding Officers are given the support they need from their clubs, we have written a standardised role description template for clubs to use when recruiting new Club Safeguarding Officers. By using this, clubs can ensure that both the club and the Safeguarding Officer are clear on what their role entails, their responsibilities, accountabilities, and what support is available to them.
Every club running mini/midi/youth rugby must have a Club Safeguarding Officer. To help people in your club know who your Club Safeguarding Officer is, we would strongly recommend printing the below poster and putting it up around your club.
Club Safeguarding Officers can also download and print one of the four "Know your rights" posters, to help empower children to understand what behaviour they can expect from adults at their club. We would suggest putting posters where children are likely to see them, i.e. in the toilets, changing rooms or communal areas.
More resources supporting Club Safeguarding Officers can be found in the Information for Club Safeguarding Officers section of the website.
Clubs should read our Trips, Tours, and Overnight Stays guidance when planning activities, to ensure they are following best practice and putting the safety of children above all else.
The RFU is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for everyone to play and enjoy rugby union and to safeguard the welfare of all adults involved in the game, particularly those deemed to be at risk. The policy below applies to everyone over the age of 18 involved in rugby.
RFU Safeguarding Adults in Rugby Union Policy and Procedures
