This weekend sees the return of competitive rugby for Finsbury Park RFC in conjunction with Middlesex RFU. The matches will be played under new rules to ensure safety is paramount throughout.

The Fins open their league games against Old Grammarians this weekend. If you want to play you should ensure that you have a profile set up on Pitchero and have joined Finsbury Park RFC, then make yourself available for selection on the Pitchero app. Teams will be published towards the end of the week as normal along with directions and details of meet times on the WhatsApp group. Match fees for participating players are TBC.

The full rules of the game can be read here.

Middlesex RFU have, after the opening weekend, made a few tweaks to ensure a more standardised game.

1. After the 2nd touch the ball carrier is to place the ball on the ground and backheel/Chicken Scratch to scrum half position who will immediately pass and not carry. This replaces the overhead throw procedure.
2. Penalty offence committed by defending team will reset the phase count to zero for the attacking team.
3. A try will be awarded to the ball carrier if touched in the act of scoring.
4. A one-touched player cannot score or pass the try line but must wait in play for next receiver. If one-touched player receives a second touch then step 1 comes into action.
5. Team numbers must have 5 forwards and 5 backs to commence as per existing guideline. Existing replacements may now reduce to 3 if 5 are unavailable.

New replacement guidelines
3 replacements = 2 x front five fowards, 1 x back
4 replacements = 2 x front five forwards, 2 x backs
5 replacements = 2 x front five forwards, 1 x back row, 2 x backs

Hope you're all looking forward to getting back to it!