Guidance For Dealing with Minors Updated
The RFU has updated guidance to assist agents when dealing with minors and age-group players. The guidance document (added to the knowledge centre of the ARA site) has been approved by the Agents Review Board (ARB) in consultation with the Association of Rugby Agents (ARA). There are general safeguarding measures that are applicable to all adults coming into contact with children in rugby and specific guidance for agents.
Registered agents should be aware that anyone under the age of 18 years of age is regarded as a child, even if the player is on the elite pathway. Agents are advised not to contact players under the age of 18 without going via the parents/guardians.
RFU Regulation 8.8.4 which states that “registered agents must not make any offer of contract, provide any letter of intent or offer any inducement to any player under the age of 18 or to any parent, guardian, trustee or other person of such player, except in the case of players aged 16 or more where a contract is offered under which the only material consideration provided to the player is in the form of a non-refundable financial grant to be applied only for the purposes of the player’s academic and/or vocational training for a period of 12 months or longer”.
Agents cannot receive direct benefits either. The guidance warns that contracting with a child also has many legal implications and may be voidable if not done correctly.
The guidance has been added to the ARA knowledge centre (available to ARA members):
http://aragents.co.uk/knowledge-centre/guidance-for-agents-when-dealing-with-children/
RFU safeguarding regulations:
http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/Governance/Safeguarding/01/30/34/50
