Dry weather delays England community rugby season, RFU says

Aug 14 : The Rugby Football Union has delayed the start of the competitive community season across England until September 21 because of concerns over player welfare and pitch conditions following prolonged dry weather, the governing body said on Friday.After consulting representatives from across the country and reviewing options with competition committees, the RFU said no competitive matches in men's leagues from Regional 1 and below, or in women's leagues below Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) level, will be played before September 21.The governing body said unusually dry conditions with no forecast of lengthy spells of rain had left many pitches hard and unsuitable for safe full-contact rugby, increasing the risk of injuries to players."We know this decision will be disappointing for c