Category: 2020

Halloween Training raises £300 for Youth Charity.

Our Union & O2 Touch Squads unite to raise money at Halloween training sessions.

Manchester Village Spartans’ Union and O2 Touch squads joined forces on Saturday to raise funds for Mermaids, an incredible charity that has been supporting trans and gender-diverse children, young people and their families since 1995.

Whilst maintaining strict Covid-19 training rules, the multiple squads combined their training session times and used the Saturday morning run-out as an opportunity to put on some Halloween Fancy Dress, donate to the charity on arrival at our Sale Sports Club training pitches and managed to create a visual feast for the eye up and down the field.

Speaking of why the club decided to use the Halloween date as an opportunity to raise money for the charity, Gareth Longley, Chair of #MVSRUFC said, “Spartans have a quite a reputation across the IGR community for their Monday Fancy Dress tradition on tours such as the Union Cup and Bingham and with all the negativity around the World Rugby laws impacting the transgender community, the impact of covid on those tours and on our players, we thought we should try and bring back some fun, put our money where our mouths are, and do some good for a charity that does such an amazing job supporting young people and their families.”

Noah Donnelly, one of the most recent members to join the Spartans shared his important message at the session. 

“I’ve loved rugby since I was a child  but have avoided joining a club for all of my adult life due to fear of how I would be treated if anyone found out that I was transgender. Now at 29, I decided to join the Spartans because of the message of inclusivity and the support for trans players that was shown on social media. Since beginning training I’ve never been treated differently and the Halloween fancy dress event to raise money for Mermaids empowered me in a way that all transgender people should be empowered. Never underestimate the importance of being treated as an equal after becoming used to being treated as an outsider.”  

Noah added, “The Spartans have taken away all of that fear and worry. With each session it becomes clearer and clearer that the club understands that trans men are men and trans women are women and that all people deserve to play the sport they love.”   

With money still coming in, the treasurer of the club (and 2XV Union Coach) has already confirmed that over £300 has been raised so far, which shall be sent to Mermaids at the earliest opportunity.  

Check out our video and some of the photos from the session below.

You can read Stonewall’s Trans Report as part of their LGBT in Britain insights here.

WINNERS 

Thanks to our friends at Bar Pop, the following players have won £25 tabs to share behind the bar for their incredible outfits.

1XV – Chris and AJ for their Game of Thrones hommage.

2XV – Morgan for his Wario 

02 Touch – Dan and Peter for their Mario and Luigi

Newbies – Bobby J for his Lifeguard

If you’d like to make a small donation to Mermaids, you can do so quickly and easily, via PayPal at https://paypal.me/villagespartans or by scanning the QR code below and we’ll add it to the funds we’ll be sending over to them.

Covid-19 means that many outdoor activities are prohibited (unlike our Stage-D rugby training) but you can raise funds for Mermaids with virtual fundraisers – more info here.

Covid-19 Club Update

Updated Friday 23rd October

Information for players attending Rugby Union Practice / O2 Touch Rugby training during Tier 3.

We remain at Stage D on the Roadmap.

RFU guidance as well as Government Coronavirus (Covid-19) Guidelines and our local authority instructions are all being monitored. Where local lockdown restrictions are in place, specific local authority guidelines can overide RFU rules.  We will inform you of any changes to how training should take place, as a matter of priority, upon learning of any new changes to training.

Whilst we are still allowed to play as per previous weeks, it might be worth remembering that not all members of the public may be aware that we ARE carefully following all the rules and so, may misinterpret what they may happen to see at our training sessions – especially Saturday morning sessions.

To maintain your own health and safety and that of your fellow Spartans, please remember to:

  • Maintain (1-2m) between your fellow players during breaks in play
  • Space out your kit and bags to help maintain social distancing at the end of sessions
  • Bring your own drink and not share one with others
  • Avoid lift sharing with people not in a bubble with you
  • Consider wearing a mask (even outdoors) when arriving and departing 
  • Wash or sanitise your hands throughout the training session – you will be reminded to do so
  • Ensure that you’ve completed the Spartans’ online Covid Self-Assesment form BEFORE arrival.
  • Make sure you are registered upon arrival and have your temperature checked, by one of the coaches

For your reference, it’s worth noting that in the event a player, coach or volunteer tests positive for Covid-19, including retrospective cases, the case needs to be registered via a Positive Test Notification Form.

This info is needed to allow the RFU to monitor the number of confirmed positive Covid-19 tests occurring in clubs and ensure clubs have the appropriate support.  

The form need ONLY be completed if the player attended training in the 48 hours prior to the date of onset of symptoms or of the date the positive test was taken, and/or if the player had symptoms any time up to 10 days after their last attendance.

If you test positive for Covid-19, we would ask that you inform the club Medical Officer by email, in confidence, here.  We’re also here to help players on and off the pitch.  #MORETHANRUGBY

Please also remember that you can email us to discuss any concerns or raise any questions confidentially with the Rugby Return and Welfare Support Team at the club.

Thanks for everyone’s adherence to all these rules and regs – it’s really helping us to keep training together.

#ILBAS 

Steve Grainger, Rugby Development Director at the RFU, provides an update on the RFU’s continuing plans to get rugby returned. 

ON SALE LATER THIS WEK

You will soon be able to buy your choice of Spartan Face Mask from our online store. Details will be provided on Facebook.
NEW

Club Statement about Trans* Exclusion

The Spartans fully support the statement issued by IGR International Gay Rugby in response to the alarming policy decision that was announced by World Rugby last night regarding the exclusion of Transgender Players.

We stand in solidarity with our Trans* and gender diverse players at this difficult time.

As Spartans, we are proud of our history of being an inclusive place for many players to experience rugby. We will continue to do what we can to fight against prejudice and we will never stop working to make rugby an inviting game for all.This is a game played by people of all shapes and sizes.

In this decision, the world governing body has signalled that this is not a game for all. We oppose this in the strongest possible terms.

We will also continue to work with our friends throughout Rugby including those at England Rugby and our Trans* and gender diverse team mates and supporters to challenge this decision.

Ends.

For more information please contact pr@villagespartans.co.uk

APPLY TODAY

We’re looking to recruit a passionate First-team Rugby Union Coach to work with our Director of Rugby and train our 1XV Union Squad who compete at Level 11 in the NWIL Division 4 East.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

An experienced RFU Level 2 (or above) coach of any gender

Used to delivering Player-Centred Coaching, with a focus on

  • CARDS Skills
  • Learning through Games
  • The Principles of Play

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Prepare & deliver Rugby Union coaching sessions to a club training plan across the season

Primarily coaching the 1st team with occassional 2nds & Development Squad oversight

 

COMMITMENT

1x Wednesday practice session per week 

  • 7.15pm at Sale (Aug-Oct & Mar-Apr)
  • 8pm at MEA Wythenshawe on 4G in the winter

The 1st Team Coach is NOT required to accompany the team on match days, although they are always welcome along.

 

To apply email dor@villagespartans.co.uk or Message us via our Facebook Page

Download and share our PDF here if you know someone who may be suitable for this fulfilling role at one of the world’s best known Inclusive Rugby Clubs.

 

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