Rank #45
Back1. Introduction to ERL
England Rugby has introduced a major upgrade in how they support coaches, match officials and volunteers to complete essential training, access resources, and continually refresh their knowledge and skills. These changes went live at the start of August 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.
GMS eLearning Courses
As part of the transition to England Rugby Learning (ELR), the following courses have been updated and incorporated into broader learning pathways on England Rugby Learning for coaches, match officials, and volunteers.
• Headcase
• Introduction to Safeguarding
• TackleSafe
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:
• Play it Safe
• Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union
• In Touch
These courses will now expire three years after completion, in line with the original intent.
Previously current Introduction to Safeguarding and Headcase were expired as of 1st August 2026. This was done to support the accuracy of the new reporting functionality in GMS. I will be necessary for some to retake the online course again as a result of the change in the expiry date.
Enhanced Reporting
As part of the implementation of ERL, 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.
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.
ERL 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.