| <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>IRFUclub competitions for the 2020/21 season have been modified for theforthcoming season to focus on player welfare and COVID-19 riskmitigation.</span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Theseason will be split into two stages – stage 1 will keep allfriendlies and competitive matches localised between September andDecember 2020 and Stage 2 will see a reformatted EnergiaAll-Ireland League commence inJanuary.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span lang='EN-GB' style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>The EnergiaAll-Ireland League element has a start date of January 9th,2021. It will consist of a nine-game league season withsemi-finals and finals in all men’s and women’sdivisions. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>Thesize and make-up of each 10-team division remains unchanged fromthe finishing positions of 2019-20.</span></span></span><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>As it is atruncated format, no promotion or relegation will takeplace.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Toensure competitive rugby in Stage 1 all AIL clubs will compete inthe Energia Community Series run across newly formed localisedconferences.</span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Successin these conferences will bring with them both silverware and thechance to qualify for knockout rugby at an All-Ireland level inStage 2 of theseason.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Detailin full, including player welfare principles and COVID-19 Ordinanceis available in the</span></span></span></span> <b style='outline:none; text-decoration:inherit'>IRFU Club CompetitionsSeason Outline 2020/2021</b> <span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>document which can be accessedat: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><b><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>https://bit.ly/ClubReturnToRugby</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Introducing the document, IRFU RugbyCommittee Chair <b style='outline:none'>Greg Barrett</b>said: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>"OurReturn To Rugby Guidelines For Clubs mapped out a ‘safetyfirst’ approach for clubs and we continue to be guided bythis and the work of IRFU Medical Director Rod McLoughlin as webuild towards a resumption of competitive rugby in2020.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>"Whilethere are many factors which helped shape this season outline, youwill see that player welfare and COVID-19 risk mitigation are byfar the biggestconsideration.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>"We arealso hopeful that a focus on keeping rugby at a localised level inthe first stage of the season brings with it an opportunity forclubs to re-energise theirmembership."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>GaryRyan</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>,</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>ManagingDirector, Energia Customer Solutions</span></span></span><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>said: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>"We areonce again proud to be the power behind the Energia All-IrelandLeague and its constituent cup competitions for the 2020/21season.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Energiasupports any competition which places player welfare at the heartof its format and we are fully behind the IRFU in their need to puta modified season in place as we all look forward to a return torugby.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Wewelcome the inclusion of the Energia Community Series in Stage 1 ofthe season and understand the need for clubs to focus on their rolein the community in the continued reopening of oursociety.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:11pt'><span style='text-justify:inter-ideograph'><span style='font-family:Calibri,sans-serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span lang='EN-US'style='font-size:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>When thetime comes, we also eagerly await the return of the EnergiaAll-Ireland league in January 2021 and the 30th anniversary of thecompetition."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span> |
