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England Rugby is introducing a major upgrade to how we support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. These changes will go live at the end of July and are designed to make learning simpler, more personalised, and easier to complete- especially on mobile devices. You can find out more about the platform here, including an overview of the learning available to support you and others in your club in performing your roles effectively. We’ll share further details in the coming weeks on how you and your members can access the platform.
GMS eLearning Courses
As part of the transition to England Rugby Learning, from 1 July the following courses will no longer be available on GMS. These courses will be available again on England Rugby Learning within three weeks:
These courses have been updated and are now incorporated into broader learning pathways on England Rugby Learning for coaches, match officials, and volunteers.
As we transition between systems, there will be a short period where these courses are not accessible. This is necessary to ensure data integrity and enable accurate reporting between GMS and England Rugby Learning. An important requirement that was highlighted by our Digital User Groups.
For CBs who view course completions to approve club registration of U17s playing adult rugby, you will now benefit from an enhanced view of each individual’s learning history. This improved reporting extends beyond the three course types listed above, offering a broader and more complete picture of learning activity. There is currently no RFU regulation linked to qualification frameworks within this process. We recognise that we are operating within a period of transition and that these courses have been unavailable for part of the off-season. As such, we ask CBs to take this into consideration when reviewing requirements during this time.
DBS Applications During the Transition
For those processing DBS checks, the need for the individual to have completed the Introduction to Safeguarding course has temporarily been removed.
This means, if you need to complete a DBS application ahead of the England Rugby Learning launch, you should do so before 1 August 2026. All those that complete a DBS application during this period will be notified once the platform goes live and asked to complete Introduction to Safeguarding on England Rugby Learning by 31 January 2027.
DBS applications after 1 August 2026 will require completion of Introduction to Safeguarding on England Rugby Learning. To maintain the link between safeguarding training and DBS applications, and following consultation with our Safeguarding team, all existing GMS records for Introduction to Safeguarding will expire from 1st August 2026 as a result.
Qualification Expiry Updates
To improve reporting within GMS following the launch of England Rugby Learning, expiry dates have been applied to courses that were not previously managed consistently. These include:
These courses will now expire three years after completion, in line with the original intent. You may already have noticed updates to your GMS profile reflecting these changes.
In addition, both Introduction to Safeguarding and Headcase will expire on 1st August 2026 to support the accuracy of the new reporting functionality.
We recognise that some volunteers may have completed these courses recently and will see them appear as due again after launch. To support a smooth transition, we recommend completing the relevant training by 31st January 2027, allowing time and flexibility to manage both the system change and previous completions.
As previously communicated in the Community Game Update, these courses will then follow a three-year renewal cycle on England Rugby Learning.
Enhanced Reporting
As part of the implementation of England Rugby Learning, CBs & Clubs will benefit from enhanced reporting on GMS.
This includes a new dashboard that provides a clear overview of key roles across your CB or Club, and tracks individuals’ progress through role-specific learning. You’ll be able to view breakdowns by role (Coach, Match Official, Volunteer, and First Aider), as well as a single view of externally recognised qualifications, including first aid.
The reporting will also show completion status, along with percentages and numbers of individuals meeting the minimum standards required for their role.
Alongside this, England Rugby Learning will take on much of the administration for you. The platform will send reminders and notifications directly to individuals, as well as recommend next steps in their learning journey. This reduces the burden on volunteers, allowing you to focus on tracking progress through the reports, confident that the system is actively supporting and guiding individuals.
Next Steps
Ahead of the launch at the end of July, you will receive further communications with details on access and the confirmed go-live date.
If you’d like to learn more about England Rugby Learning, and are not currently signed up to one of the CCC Workshops, please join one of our upcoming webinars (feel free to share with others in your club):
England Rugby Learning is designed to better support the role you play in our game, providing more personalised, relevant, and accessible learning through a modern digital platform and mobile app. By making learning easier to access, complete, and maintain, we hope to give volunteers more confidence in their roles while reducing the administrative burden on clubs and CBs.
Thank you for your support as we introduce this important change. We believe England Rugby Learning will transform how people engage with learning across the game, helping create a more connected, informed, and supported rugby community for the future.
