CHIPPENHAM RFC
POLICIES
And
PROCEDURES
Playing Kit and Dress Code
Document Issue Date : March 2014
Document Author(s) : Steve Whitehead
Rod Turvey
Sarah Bentley
Document Review Date : March 2015
Document Owner : CRFC Chairman
CRFC Playing Kit and Dress Code
It is important that consistency throughout the Club with respect to playing kit and pre- and postmatch attire is maintained, particularly in Junior and Senior teams, in order to help promote the
fact that all players of all ages belong to and represent a single Club. In order to achieve this
and maintain conformity with the Club’s elected choice of playing strip, conformity with RFU
regulations and records, and fairness to sponsors, it is essential that the procurement and
marking of kit worn by CRFC teams at all levels is effectively co-ordinated. This policy has been
compiled so that there should be no reason for any team not to understand the Club’s
requirements in this respect.
Playing Kit Policy
The Club Kit Policy, which applies to all playing sections, encompasses the procurement of kit
and any related sponsorship, the colour, quality and style of the kit including any markings
(logos, numbers etc.), and the care of the kit. It is the responsibility of all team managers,
coaches and players to ensure that the Club Kit Policy is observed.
All sets of team shirts must be purchased through the CRFC Club Kit Shop in order to reduce
the risk of non-conformable kit being obtained as a result of buying kit elsewhere. Team
coaches/managers should also endeavour to ensure that as much other kit as possible is
purchased by their players through the Kit Shop - such purchases are of value to the club as a
source of much needed additional revenue.
Junior and Senior team managers/coaches are responsible for the care and maintenance of
Club kit issued to them, including particularly washing and drying of team shirts after use.
Likewise, all team coaches/managers are responsible for returning any accessory training kit
(e.g. tackle bags, tackle shields etc.) to the Club kit storage site. Any damage to such
accessory kit should be reported to the Playing Management Committee as soon as possible
such that remedial action can be taken before the kit is used again and the damage increased
beyond repair. Coaches and/or team managers are also responsible for the safe storage of their
training and match rugby balls, training cones etc. during each playing season. Note that all
such training kit is to be returned to the Club at the end of each season for storage and re-issue
at the commencement of the following season’s training schedule.
Finally, when their team is playing at home each coach/manager is responsible for ensuring that
post protectors and all required flag-posts are in place before the match, and are returned to the
Club kit storage site upon completion of the match, except when another match is due to be
played subsequently on the same pitch later that day.
Playing Kit
The Club Kit Policy applies to all elements of the playing kit that are visible when playing rugby
i.e. shirts, shorts, socks, training tops.
The standard kit for all CRFC teams, Seniors including the Development Squad, Juniors and
Minis, should be as follows :
Shirts



Shorts
Stockings
Replacements’ suits
black with irregular white hoops, change strip shirt red with
irregular black hoops (as recorded by the RFU)
black
black with white tops
black
Shirts for other teams (e.g. Vets XV) may be varied from the club standard as above whilst
remaining in the club colours (black/white or red/black), provided always that any shirt design
must first be approved by the Playing Management Committee and, if appropriate, the Club
Management Committee.
Kit is provided by the following means:
Shirts
Seniors,
Development
Squad
Club Issue
Socks/shorts
Player
Juniors
U13 - U16
Minis
Fund raising by
Player*
parents/teams and/or
sponsorship
Player
Player
Replacements’ Club issue 1st XV, Player
Player
thermal suits
otherwise player
Note:* Check suitability with CRFC Chairman if Sponsorship is to be sought
Protective Equipment and Boots
All players should wear an approved gumshield for playing and training. In particular, Minis and
Junior players should not be allowed to play in a match or take part in any training activity,
unless they are wearing a gumshield. Any other protective kit such as headgear and/or body
armour/padding worn must be International Rugby Board (IRB) approved and carry the IRB
approval label (note : a list of current IRB approved equipment should always be posted on the
Club noticeboard). In addition, a referee will be within his rights to insist that non-IRB
conformable kit is to be removed and/or that a player carrying same is unable to play - in such
cases the Club will uphold his decision.
Each individual player is responsible for ensuring that his boots carry IRB approved studs or
such other soles as may be approved by the IRB from time to time. Team coaches/managers
should check that all players are suitably equipped in this respect before matches. The Club
recognises that a referee will be within his rights to insist that non-IRB conformable boots are to
be removed and/or that a player carrying same is unable to play - in such cases the Club will
uphold his decision.
Sponsorship/Fund Raising
The CRFC Management Committee will co-ordinate all activities in relationship to the securing
of sponsors and procurement of playing kit, and is responsible for the procurement of sets of
shirts and marking of kit, taking account of Club norms and finances where applicable, relevant
RFU regulations and any sponsorship considerations. This policy is not designed to discourage
the involvement of members in the raising of additional funds, by whatever means. Indeed, for
Junior age groups (Under 13 to Under 16 inclusive), it is expected and has been a tradition that
those involved in their management should actively raise funds to help finance new shirts when
needed. It is, however, important that fund raising activities are co-ordinated through the CRFC
Management Committee to ensure that sources of finance are not frustrated (or worse !!) as a
result of multiple uncoordinated approaches from various members of the Club.
The Club has the objective that all costs which it incurs relating to kit will be funded through
sponsorship or other forms of fundraising, which are also co-ordinated by the CRFC
Management Committee. To this end, where individual teams wish to approach potential
sponsors, this should be done only with the knowledge and involvement of the CRFC
Management Committee. This applies to all potential sponsors including other club members.
Note, however, that kit (generally shirts) acquired by any team through sponsorship will remain
the property of the Club. This is particularly applicable to Junior teams since they are likely to
cease using a set of shirts once they reach the end of their Under 16 season, at which time their
set of shirts should become generally available for use by the Club.
The CRFC Management Committee will prioritise spending on Club kit, according to guidelines
set by the Management Committee, and in consultation with the Rugby Playing Committee.
Dress Code Policy
While it is clearly unreasonable for any Club to dictate to its members, playing or otherwise,
what clothing they should wear at any given time, it is worthwhile providing guidelines for
players and others associated with teams for how they might dress to best represent
Chippenham RFC on match occasions. This is of particular (but not exclusive) importance to
Junior teams as the wearing of similar clothing before, during and after a match helps to
promote the team ethic, as much a part of their rugby education as learning basic skills etc.
Equally, such an approach helps alleviate any potential problem within a squad of discrimination
between the “have’s” and “have not’s” and so should help all members of the squad integrate on
equal terms.
It is also important that all Junior and Senior squads should see each other in similar attire,
especially post-match, such that players are aware that they all belong to the one Club. Senior
players should note that Juniors do look up to them, and so they might consider themselves as
setting an example for the younger players, who will of course become the next generation of
Senior players.
Each Team Coach and/or Manager should endeavour to have, as many of his squad as
possible, adhere to the Dress Code, whenever possible and unless extenuating circumstances
make doing so impractical. The objective of all the guidelines is to ensure that whenever a
group of players/Club members represent Chippenham RFC, they do so in a way that reflects
well on the Club.
Pre-Match Attire
For home matches, players and squad officials can arrive at the Club in either their post-match
attire or, more likely, suitable clothing in which they might carry out their pre-match warming up
(e.g. track suit, jogging bottoms, drill tops etc).
For games away from home, players and squad officials should travel smartly dressed in a
collared shirt and Club tie with proper trousers and shoes (i.e. not trainers). A jacket or Club
blazer may also be worn. This dress code may be waived in the event that a long journey is
involved or at the discretion of a team coach/manager. Note that squads should always arrive
at tour match venues smartly dressed as above in order to represent Chippenham RFC and the
town of Chippenham properly. Tour managers may however decide to equip the squad with
“tour tops” (e.g. drill tops etc.) – these should be designed to look smart such that they may be
worn as alternative pre-match dress.
Club members engaged in entertaining visiting team officials should also be dressed
appropriately, i.e. shirt & club tie, jacket etc.
Post-Match Attire
Post match dress should be consistent whether playing at home or away or on tour, and should
comprise a collared shirt and Club tie, proper trousers and shoes (i.e. not trainers). A jacket or
Club blazer may also be worn.
Note that it is a CRFC Clubhouse policy that players who have not showered and/or changed
into clean clothing after playing or training may be refused entry to the clubhouse or service at
the bar.