Match Day
In addition to your responsibilities as Team Manager, it is likely you will be managing the replacements so ensuring that everyone is clear on their roles and responsibilities is key, including those of the non-playing players and your Liaison Officer. You may also be part of an advance party responsible for setting up the changing room. You will need to agree with the management team what this should look like and where equipment and supplies should be placed.
Your day will be meticulously planned from breakfast to departure and may include an extra pre match meal. World Rugby Passport - Nutrition
Ensure that all the equipment required for the day is accounted for and you have all the documentation that might be necessary for anti-doping, citing or medical reasons including copies of passports and medical insurance. You will need to bring a physical copy of your team declaration.
Once you have arrived at the stadium, the Match Commissioner will ask for your team declaration which is final confirmation of your starting team. It is important this is done in a timely manner and is absolutely accurate, including indicating who is Captain and the various front row positions a player may be trained to play in. The final team sheet will be copied or scanned and issued to statistics managers, medical personnel, match officials, anti-doping, broadcast graphics, commentators, sports presentation including on screen graphics and PA to name but a few.
Your management colleagues will set about their own tasks which you will have previously discussed and agreed and will include player taping, setting up the field of play for warm up, setting up analysts positions etc. Keep a sharp eye on timings for boot and equipment checks by the referee, coin toss and medical meetings.
The match management team will give you a clear indication of when you are drawing close to the end of warm up period and must return to the dressing room. Ensure any unnecessary equipment goes back into the changing room with you.
You can return to the changing room before the appointed time, so make sure your Team has enough time to complete all pre match preparation before being called out of the changing room for anthems and kick off.
Reminders to your Team for match day:
- The mobile phone policy (as part of the Integrity Policy) will come into effect 60 minutes before kick off Anti corruption | World Rugby
- A match officials communication policy may be in effect which will prohibit communication between team members (save for players on the field of play) communicating with the match officials at any time on match day
- Ensure you and your medical team are clear on HIA/Blood/Yellow card/FPRO timings, red cards and medical evacuation protocols:
- HIA Protocol | World Rugby
- Regulations | World Rugby (Blood timing)
- Regulations | World Rugby (Yellow and red card)
- Discipline | World Rugby (FPRO)
- Impact on match delivery and results in event of adverse weather which will be outlined in the Terms of Participation (TOP):