Hot Topic: Blue Cards

Following very successful trials in 2017, the Rugby Australia’s National Safety Committee has approved the recommendation for mandatory use of Blue Cards in all club, school and domestic representative rugby beginning in matches from 1 March 2018.

In matches of U13 and older, when a player leaves the field due to signs and symptoms of concussion or suspected concussion, the referee will show the player a Blue Card. This card is a visual cue for team support staff, it must be recorded by team officials, and triggers an off- field medical process to begin.

This off-field process (which applies to all rugby, not just U13s and older) is detailed in Rugby Australia’s Concussion Procedure 2018. Rugby Australia has included the following Law change ‘a tactically replaced player may return to play to replace a player who has been shown a Blue Card.’

For more info about Concussion Management Procedure visit the Rugby AU website:

www.rugbyaustralia.com.au/runningrugby/PolicyRegister/ConcussionProcedureManagement

Bullettes Briefing

Souths record-holding women’s team came 5th in week one and took out third spot in week two of the SA Women’s 7s Series – Australia’s newest rugby tournament that was held on recent consecutive Saturdays. Congratulations ladies!

Photos by AJWalwyn Photography (including this one!) can be seen on the University of Adelaide’s Roma’s Facebook page.
Recent weeks have also seen a growing number of women turning out for training on Thursday nights – a great sign for the year ahead. Any women out there who have their game face on, are welcome to come and give rugby union a ‘try’ on Thursday night at AA Bailey Reserve – 6.30pm. Any questions email: info@southsrugby.com.au

Unfortunately, another recent result (the Labor loss of the state election) means the women will have wait a little longer for the revamp of their changerooms (funding for which was a local Labor election promise). But Souths wish all the best to the the newly elected member for Badcoe, Jane Stintson and look forward to seeing you again at the clubrooms soon.

Season 2018 Registrations Open

It’s just a few weeks until the 2018 Rugby season gets underway. Round One of the pre-season competition is taking place at Souths on 7 April, and Round Two a week later at Burnside, plus the Junior Gala Day taking place at Adelaide University’s Waite Oval on 8 April. Importantly, to take part, and be covered by the Rugby Australia National Insurance Scheme, each player needs to be registered before playing. This year, Australia-wide, players have to complete online self-registration and payment.

Registrations must be completed online or via the Rugby AU mobile app, with a credit or debit card required for payment. Souths Registrar will be at the clubrooms on Thursday evenings to assist
anyone who has questions about player registration or social membership.

This year’s registration fees include Souths shorts and socks!

Registration links via the Rugby AU Portal – https://rugbylink.resultsvault.com (under ‘Registrations’, Find Your Club, then Seniors, Womens or Juniors), rr via the Rugby AU mobile app:

Download the Rugby AU mobile app
Search for Southern Suburbs
Choose Senior Men, Women or Juniors
Click on Registration and follow the prompts

If you have a MyRugbyID, you will need this to register, or can recover it via your email and *reset password option. If new, use ‘Create a New Account’

Pre-Season to commence

Happy New Year everyone!
Rugby pre-season training will start on Tuesday 30 January at 6.30pm at AA Bailey Reserve, Clarence Gardens and will take place every Tuesday and Thursday after that.

Hopefully everyone’s been keeping fit over summer so please share this information with those who are keen to play in 2018 and let’s get into it.
PS: Bring running shoes as the grounds will be hard.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Souths

Southern Suburbs Rugby Union would like to wish all its supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

In particular we want to acknowledge the support and assistance this year of the City of Mitcham. This year has seen the council upgrade the facilities at AA Bailey Recreation Grounds, with a new kitchen, carpets and refurbishment of change rooms 1 & 4. In the new year we are expecting to see new pitch lighting installed as the club goes from strength-to-strength.

So as we look forward to a prosperous, successful, happy New Year we wish the council, our sponsors – particularly Lead Estate Agents, Avoca Hotel, Croplands Equipment, Dazzler Signs and Ultra Tune (Melrose Park) – our local community and all of the South’s family a safe Christmas and wonderful 2018.