COVID - 19 UPDATES
LATEST UPDATES ON THE 2021 TROPICAL 7s
The impact of the COVID pandemic continues to impact on sports across the globe including the participation in youth sports events like the Tropical 7s. We will continue to issue updates with the latest information for the event here on this page.
UPDATE -- 19 MARCH 2021
We have issued the following policy: COVID 19: POLICY FOR PARTICIPATING TEAMS. This document provides guidance to teams participating at the 2021 Tropical 7s ‘Rugby Re-Boot’ and has been put together in line with local public health mandates and USA Rugby’s Return to Play Guidelines.
UPDATE -- 12 JANUARY 2021
The Tropical 7s continues to monitor closely the evolving COVID situation and the uncertainty it is causing. At the same time, we see that return to play in the USA is happening across all sports including rugby. It is the goal of the Tropical 7s to meet the needs of the rugby community while maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
Based on the feedback from the rugby community and the requests from teams who would like to come to Orlando and experience the Tropical 7s this year, we have launched the 2021 TROPICAL 7S RUGBY RE-BOOT -- which will provide a unique opportunity for youth and U23/University teams to return to rugby in a safe environment under the warm Florida sunshine.
COVID protocols will be in place 2021 TROPICAL 7S RUGBY RE-BOOT, which must be respected at all times. The Tropical 7s is currently developing the health and safety protocols that will be in place. The Tropical 7s will be strictly enforcing COVID-related mandates issued by local, state, and national authorities, as well as any USA Rugby mandated protocols. Teams and participants will risk expulsion for any non-compliance. Full details of the event's safety protocols will be released in the near future.
UPDATE — 04 DECEMBER 2020
We remain optimistic that we will be able to host an event in April 2021. We continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on a daily basis. We understand the situation remains uncertain as to the direction of the virus and its impact on public safety and health policy, which in turn impacts the return to play for the sport of rugby. We are also aware that different countries, and even states within the USA, find themselves at different points along the return to play process.
We are currently analysing how the 2021 Tropical 7s can best meet the needs of the rugby community and considering all ways where we can be adaptive so we can host a safe and healthy environment for participants who are eager to have a positive rugby experience. We fully welcome ideas from across our rugby community that will help us understand what is possible for individual teams such that we can have an event that will meet the needs and wants of the teams. We therefore ask for feedback regarding your current situation regarding return to play, your intention to participate in the 2021 Tropical 7s, and welcome ideas on how we can adapt our event that would continue to meet your needs as rugby's return to play progresses. Please send us your feedback using the form at the bottom of this page or email your feedback to info@tropical7s.com.
GENERAL STATEMENT
We are actively reviewing the current situation that continues to change and evolve rapidly. We understand there remains much uncertainty regarding the return of play for the rugby community. As the time draws nearer to our event dates of 2-3 April for the 2021 Tropical 7s, we will be using this page to communicate and provide updates. Thank you as always for the continued support of the Tropical 7s!
USEFUL LINKS
US Centre for Disease Control - COVID 19 Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Florida Health COVID 19 Page: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov
CDC Travel Planner: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-planner/index.html
The current COVID-19 Information for Osceola County, Florida (where the event takes place): https://www.osceola.org/covid19/