Cover Stories
RugbyFirst Reaches Another Level
This summer sees the biggest upgrade of RugbyFirst, the RFU’s whole game online administration system, since its launch in October 2006, with changes to both the database and applications helping to support rugby in England at all levels. A total database rebuild improves efficiency and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Welfare administration system has been redesigned. A new administration system for all RFU employees enables them to give more support at grass roots level and there is now the ability to link clubs and universities to more than one CB. Email logging has been improved and an awards section added to display coaching, refereeing, first aid or volunteering awards attained. Over the months there have been consistent improvements to RugbyFirst, which began as a tool for competitions and player registrations. Clubs can now register their own players without having to go through regional registrars, list their officers and use the team builder facility to select players for matches and contact them via email. More graphics are available so that clubs can give their sites an individual look, with headers, rolling banners and pictures. This means a unique look can be created without the need to pay an outside company or link in a way that drives outside advertising. Says Project Manager Paul Chorley, “Through RugbyFirst, clubs can have their own distinctive site, easily check which members have coaching or refereeing qualifications and, importantly, easily see who is CRB cleared. All clubs are on the system and that is linked to such important requirements as funding and international ticket allocation. “Feedback suggests that satisfaction levels are at an all time high, which is pleasing. The RFU is very much committed to this facility and it does have a high priority, with both the RFU Chief Executive and Finance Director on the 20-member RugbyFirst Project Board. If you have any questions please contact The RugbyFirst Helpdesk at rugbyfirstsupport@therfu.com between 11 am and 7.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday RugbyFirst home page: www.rfu.com/clubs
Scrum on Down to the Beach with O2
Simon Mills, Community Rugby Media Manager
O2 Scrum on the Beach is back this summer and everyone is invited to come and join the party. Paul Sackey and team mates are touring the country with eight events taking place starting on the sand at Clacton on Saturday July 4. The others are at Great Yarmouth (July 11), Bournemouth (July 25), Weymouth (August 1), Newcastle (August 8), Skegness (August 15) and Newquay (August 28-30). You can take part in the tag rugby competitions, try out the game in pitch up and play sessions, test your skills the interactive Play Zone, chill out, collect autographs and chat to the players in the O2 Blueroom area, or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere on the beach. At each event Sackey and team mates will select teams with the best rugby style on and off the pitch and the eight teams, judged on style of play, look and attitude, will compete in a tag tournament in September at Twickenham’s Home of England Rugby. Says Sackey, “We are looking for some seriously stylish teams, with the most impressive getting to play at Twickenham.” O2 Scrum on the Beach was a huge hit last year, when 300 teams and 5000 players took part in the games at five different venues which attracted a total audience of 66,500. The England team entered into the spirit of the event with Sackey and James Haskell showing their skills on the pitch and on surfboards at Newquay. Danny Cipriani wowed the crowds in Trafalgar squad and Jamie Noon and his Newcastle Falcons team mates led the way at Tynemouth. The summer rugby events are part of the RFU's groundbreaking Play On campaign which is sponsored by O2 with the support of the National Sports Foundation. Play On aims to keep more young people connected with the game by creating a network of more than 1300 O2 Pathfinders to make sure players aged from 16-24 are connected to new playing opportunities when they move from school into higher education and into the world of work. Play On has created hundreds more playing opportunities, including a summer of superb rugby events topped by the eight O2 Scrum on the Beach festivals. It also promotes rugby directly to 400,000 sixth formers and 200,000 more heading for higher education each year.
After 100 Years – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Twickenham Stadium celebrates its centenary season in 2009/10 and on Monday 2nd November in the South Stand Rose Suite an England Rugby star-studded Centenary Dinner will see Champagne corks popping. The first rugby match held at the stadium took place on October 2nd 1909. Much has changed since then and, with the South Stand bowl completed, Twickenham became the biggest rugby stadium in the world, its 82,000 capacity overtaking the Stade de France, Paris, and Telstra, Sydney, both at 80,000. The iconic South Stand complex, with its flagship Rugby Store, the four-star London Marriott Hotel Twickenham, Virgin Active Classic Health Club, state of the art conference and banqueting facilities and performance space and the RFU’s new headquarter offices, will see the last touches complete during the centenary season. The Centenary Dinner menu designed by the world famous Albert Roux OBE will be based on fare from the early 1900s. Dancing through the decades will feature ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ personalities and there will be the chance to dance the night away yourself with live music until late. For further information or to book individual places or tables please call 020 8334 7870 or email centenary@therfu.com
All the England players are getting involved in kicking off Twickenham Stadium's centenary celebrations and inviting the public to a Twickenham training day on Wednesday 12th August. There will be family fun from 11am – 5pm, with activities, inflatable games and coaches on hand to teach skills. The England senior and Saxons squads will train on the pitch from 2-3.30pm, followed by a signing session until 5pm when children will have priority. More information and updates from rfu.com/centenary.
