What is RugbyConnect?

28th July 2020 By The Editor

New IRFU administration system - Rugby Connect INPHO/Tommy Dickson

RugbyConnect is the IRFU’s sole game and competition management system for the domestic game.

It will provide:

Self-Serve player registration for all clubs
Online SMART cards for all youth players
Safeguarding records for all volunteers who require vetting
eTeamsheets will be submitted through it
Membership payments and a membership database will be available for clubs
Provinces and the IRFU will manage competitions through RugbyConnect; including fixtures, results, referee assignments, league standings, cup draws etc.
School Game player registrations and competitions will also be managed here

What is the new RugbyConnect System replacing?

RugbyConnect will now be the sole system for all aspects of game and competition management.

Team sheets, results and fixture management will remain virtually the same, however the Clubhouse system will no longer be in use for the 2020/21 season. Clubhouse (a previous system used by the IRFU) housed player registration, safeguarding and club member / membership modules.

These will all now reside in RugbyConnect, meaning all rugby administration needs are provided by one system.

How will the new player registration module work?

The new RugbyConnect system will allow the players (or their parents / guardians) to log into their club portal in RugbyConnect and enter their details themselves. The registrar in the club will then be able to validate their registration online, saving huge amounts of data entry.

From the 2020/21 season onwards, all players in a club will have to self-register. For youth players, parents and guardians will be guided through how to upload any relevant documentation such as proof-of-age and photographs. Branch approval of youth documentation will take place within the system.

The move to self-serve will significantly decrease the volume of administration at the start of the season. It will also help to ensure we have accurate data and allow members to have access to their own personal data at any time, as per GDPR regulations.

What functionality does RugbyConnect have for COVID-19 risk mitigation?

RugbyConnect’s paperless functionality helps with COVID-19 risk mitigation by default, but it does have a number of features designed specifically to help clubs with their COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan.

An online version of the IRFU’s Pre-Return To Rugby Personal Assessment Declaration Form is included, as well as player tracking. It will be available to all clubs who wish to use it. Players will need to already be registered in RugbyConnect make use of these options.

Is the safeguarding process included in the new system?

Yes, the safeguarding module will be moving to Sportlomo. We will be making direct contact with the Club Welfare Officers in the coming weeks regarding these changes.

Is there anything else changing?

Another significant change we are making is the transition from printing youth cards, to operating a SMART card system. Youth cards will now be available online in a SMART format that will be accessible by the player (parents / guardians), coaches and officials as required in the system.

Again, this will see a reduction in administration time and costs and also allow for the cards to have the most accurate data on them (i.e. up to date photographs).

More functionality can be added season upon season as required.

Will there be training on the new system? And when?

Yes, training will be provided on a per module basis. The training format will be online, in online classrooms, and one-on-one online assistance if there is a specific issue a club is dealing with. There will also be video tutorials for people to follow online in their own time.

The training dates will be determined once the date for the start of the 2020/21 season has been announced. We will allow ample time for clubs to get up and running on RugbyConnect. We understand this represents a change for many clubs, and the IRFU is committed to supporting clubs during this transition.

Is there anything that clubs can do to get ready for RugbyConnect?

As the current Eteamsheets system will become the system of record, clubs can start going through players in the panels in Sportlomo and identifying players who are duplicates, or whose names are spelled wrong.

These can be passed on to your Club Support Officer who can get Sportlomo to make the recommended edits. Documentation should be issued to the Club Support Officer in a single batch, rather than for each individual player.

There will be none of the usual paper forms required to capture data for player registration at the start of the season, so there is no need to get these ready. Once the online forms are ready for training, these will be shared with clubs.