After a lot of conversations with UKRDA and other interested parties, we’ve made the difficult decision to not host a 2021 season in the traditional format.
Under government guidelines, it will not be possible for teams to properly train until spring of next year, at the earliest. This won’t give teams enough time to be ready for competitive play.
Rather than try to rush a season that may not even happen, we believe it would be better to make use of the time and focus on helping leagues return to play in a sustainable way.
Return To Play
We will work with UKRDA, WFTDA, MRDA (Men’s Roller Derby Association), JRDA (Junior Roller Derby Association) and other National Governing Bodies to look at how we can integrate national championships into regional and global play so that derby can return stronger than ever.
We are also going to set up a Five Nations Return to Derby group. All leagues in the United Kingdom and Ireland, regardless of whether they participate in the tournament, will be welcome to join. This will be a space for arranging local games when teams are ready, and supporting teams to find new ways of working and coaching as we work through the returning to play.
We will also set up officiating communities for learning and networking, in particular to support officials that cannot return to training until scrimmage is happening. We will support affiliated and independent officials to find leagues so they can be part of a safe return to play.
2020 Season wrap-up
All teams who signed up for 2020 will be contacted via email in the coming weeks with details about a full refund.
And finally, for patch collectors, we will be selling a special edition 2020 patch. Profits will go to charities who are on the COVID-19 frontlines.
You can purchase the patch now through our online shop.
Rebranding
And that brings us to the good news! We’re rebranding! Thank you to everyone who got involved and shared your thoughts.
From 2021, we will be known as the Five Nations Roller Derby Championships.
We believe this clarifies and makes explicit the nations able to participate in the championships – England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
We’re also removing language and imagery that could be seen as exclusionary or unclear across the brand.
We are in the process of rebranding now, and expect to have everything in place by 2021. If you have the skills and time to help us out, or have any feedback or thoughts, please get in touch with us.
