HQ News
Bideford & Wellington among fortunate 44
By Simon Mills, Community Rugby Media Manager
Bideford RFC
Bideford RFC are benefiting from funds enabling them to expand their club and offer members a much improved sporting facility. The Devon club were awarded a Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) grant award of £100,000 and a Rugby Football Foundation (RFF) loan of £75,000 to build a new changing room block to house four en-suite changing rooms, two officials changing rooms, a disabled WC, store room, plant room and a treatment room. The Town Council also invested in the club to the tune of £37,000 while Bideford themselves raised £100,000 towards the project. The funds come as a huge boost as Bideford already have over 100 adult players, male and female, and a thriving mini and youth section. Previously they all had to operate out of inadequate changing room facilities, whereas now the needs of existing members will be met and the club’s recruitment and retention policies will also benefit. The club officially unveiled their new look in August with RFU’s Junior Vice President Willie Wildash and RFF Chair LeRoy Angel opening the facilities. Bideford Vice Chairman Matthew Retter said: “Bideford RFC have been working on this project for four years and are now thrilled that we now have a first class facility which we can all be very proud of. We have carefully managed our cash-flow in preparation and have raised somewhere in the region of £100,000 ourselves to get the project off the ground. “The RFU and the RFF have played a massive part in making this project a reality and without the help of RFU Funding & Facilities Manager, Dave Stubley, it simply would not have happened. Bideford Town Council and Bideford Bridge Trust have been the other significant contributors.” Wellington RFC have been awarded a Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) grant award of £75,000 and an RFF loan and grant totalling £31,000 to build and fit out four new en-suite changing rooms, an entrance lobby, two officials’ changing rooms, a disabled toilet, store room, drying room, treatment room and plant room. The club have also invested over £87,000 themselves. For a club like Wellington, the funds come as a welcome boost as they already have over 80 adult players and over 200 mini and juniors. With the club continually trying to recruit more players as well as retain existing members this will certainly help their cause. RFU President John Owen and RFF Chair LeRoy Angel officially unveiled Wellington’s new changing room facilities on September 6th with a grand opening at the club. Forty four clubs shared £421,121 in grants and loans in awards made by the RFF this summer. Among the beneficiaries are Dorset club Wimborne, who received a £6,000 grant and a £49,000 loan for new changing rooms at Leigh Park, Olney have been given a £39,000 loan and grant for £6,000 to purchase additional land at their East Street headquarters in Buckinghamshire, and Selby’s £100,000 loan will help them create six new changing rooms at Sandhill Lane in North Yorkshire. The Rugby Football Foundation is a major funding source for clubs in England that has invested more than £12.5million in the community game over the last six years. The charitable trust established by the Rugby Football Union in 2003 has now awarded £12,586,403 in 915 projects to develop amateur rugby clubs. A total of 182 projects have received interest free loans worth £9,021,874 while 733 Ground Match grants have been made to the value of £3,564,529. In all the awards have stimulated investment in projects with a total value of £38,960,003. The Foundation is responsible for a substantial community rugby programme which includes the provision of rugby development officers, the training and development of referees and the production of coaching and technical material. It also administers a Capital Fund financing capital projects aimed at improving facilities which lead to the recruitment and retention of rugby players. The RFF has two capital funding streams for projects which contribute to the retention and recruitment of community rugby players: Groundmatch Grant Scheme and an Interest Free Loan Scheme. The former is for clubs at level 5 and below who can apply for between £1,500 and £6,000 on a matched 50:50 basis for capital works projects. The Interest Free Loan scheme provides up to £100,000 for capital works to clubs at level 4 and below.
May awards Trentham: £6,000 grant for renovation of two pitches Brackley: £5,925 grant for kitchen refurbishment and pitch drainage Stourport: £6,000 grant for temporary changing room, showers and toilets Stratford upon Avon: £6,000 grant for tractor, mower and vertidrainer Wiveliscombe: £6,000 grant for changing room improvement Lytchett Minster: £2,754 grant for additional pitch Droitwich: £2,165 grant for renovation of training pitch Clacton: £6,000 grant for kitchen refurbishment and storage area Hullensians: £6,000 grant for installation of land drains Towcestians: £5,869 grant for repair and renewal of shower systems Okehampton: £5,785 grant for pitch improvements Otliensiens: £6,000 grant for pitch levelling and car park extension July awards Olney: £6,000 grant and £39,000 loan for land purchase Selby: £100,000 loan for six new changing rooms Wimborne: £6,000 grant and £49,000 loan for new changing rooms Teignmouth: £6,000 grant for pitch maintenance store High Wycombe: £6,000 grant for hot Water heating system and showers Northampton Mens Own: £4,500 grant for pitch improvements Upper Eden: £6,000 grant for pitch improvements to new training area Huddersfield: £6,000 grant for installation of drainage Moortown: £6,000 grant for new training/junior pitch Egremont: £4,412 grant for drainage, fencing and thermal installation Bromsgrove: £6,000 grant for boiler system and shower replacement Old Reigatian: £6,000 grant for pitch levelling and drainage Uckfield: £1,875 grant for drainage works St Mary’s Old Boys: £6,000 grant for pitch improvements and changing rooms Longlevens: £6,000 grant for disabled access Minehead Barbarians: £6,000 grant for toilet refurbishment Weymouth: £4,252 grant for pitch improvements Norwich: £1,508 grant for repairs to boilers, loft tank and floodlights North Walsham: £6,000 grant for drainage to training pitch East Grinstead: £2,950 grant for pitch improvements, sprinkler system and goalposts Camberley: £6,000 grant for refurbishment of training floodlights Maidstone: £6,000 grant for training floodlights Cranleigh: £5,500 grant for changing room and shower refurbishment Enfield Ignatians: £6,000 grant for training floodlights York RI: £6,000 grant for electrical upgrade to clubhouse and changing rooms Keswick: £6,000 grant for new drainage system and new maintenance equipment Stanley Rodillians: £5,635 grant for refurbishment of toilets and clubhouse ceiling Castleford: £6,000 grant for boiler replacement Roundhegians: £6,000 grant for boiler replacement and shower refurbishment Keighley: £6,000 grant for installation of drainage system Prenton: £6,000 grant for fencing and pitch improvements Richmondshire: £6,000 grant for lease purchase
New look for the RFU Online
By Kate Saunders, Digital Media Manager
It’s all change for the RFU’s website, rfu.com. And if you are a regular visitor you should find improvements that will make life a great deal easier. Following feedback from many online followers and rugby supporters, rfu.com has been redesigned to offer: • Greater ease of use, based on tests on participants within the game • Improved functionality • Faster publication of Results • Improved content • Improved accessibility to content through mobile devices • Greater accessibility for people with disabilities • A better online shop front for rugby, to encourage new participants in the game and broader supporter audiences • Improved club finder to encourage those new to the game to get involved All online content has had a thorough spring clean and all your favourite facts, documents and advice will be accessible on the new site. We thought it might help to provide you with the answers to a few frequently asked questions, to assist in navigating the new rfu.com: The website design has changed a lot. Why has this happened and where do I go to find content? We have had a lot of feedback from our website users that content has been very difficult to find on the old website. By working with users and frequently testing the new site during development, we have come up with a design that makes sense to the most users and makes browsing for information easier and more logical. We have also improved our search capabilities. I bookmarked a page I visit regularly and now can’t see it – why? Whilst we are ensuring that frequently used shortcuts like rfu.com/coach will still work and redirect to an appropriate page on the new website, if you have saved a particular page, some bookmarks might not work on the new site. If you use the search functionality with the topic you are looking for you should find the information you need. What happened to the Community Rugby Website? One frequent criticism of the RFU’s web presence has been that it has been disjointed and lacked comprehensiveness and clarity. By bringing together all of the streams of RFU activity into a single website and by labelling categories based on the way our online test users have used the site, we have been able to make a single, clear location for all information about rugby union in England. The new site also separates content relating to direct personal participation in rugby and club and CB management. It might take a little getting used to but we are confident that the new design will help you find the content you need faster. Who can I contact with feedback or questions about the new website? The site launch will be a busy time for our Digital Media team. For the fastest possible response, please send any questions or feedback to webmaster@therfu.com
Core Values
The campaign to promote and protect the Core Values of rugby union builds on the work of the RFU’s Core Values Task Group. After an extensive dialogue with the entire game rugby’s Core Values were identified as: Teamwork Teamwork is essential to our sport. • We play selflessly: working for the team, not for ourselves alone, both on and off the field. • We speak out if our team or sport is threatened by inappropriate words or actions. • We take pride in our team, rely on one another and understand that each player has a part to play. • We welcome all new team members and include all because working as a team enriches our lives.
Respect Respect forms the basis of our sport. • We hold in high esteem our sport, its values and traditions and earn the respect of others by the way we behave. • We respect our match officials and accept their decisions. • We respect opposition players and supporters. • We value our coaches and those who run our clubs and treat clubhouses with consideration. Enjoyment Enjoyment is the reason we play and support rugby union. • We encourage players to enjoy training and playing. • We use our sport to adopt a healthy lifestyle and build life skills. • We safeguard our young players and help them have fun. • We enjoy being part of a team and part of the rugby family because it enhances confidence and self esteem.
Discipline Strong discipline underpins our sport. • We ensure that our sport is one of controlled physical endeavour and that we are honest and fair. • We obey the ’Laws of the Game’ which ensure an inclusive and exciting global game. • We support our disciplinary system, which protects our sport and upholds its values. • We observe the sport’s Laws and regulations and report serious breaches. Sportsmanship Sportsmanship is the foundation rugby union is built upon • We uphold the rugby tradition of camaraderie with team mates and opposition. • We observe fair play both on and off the pitch and are generous in victory and dignified in defeat. • We play to win but not at all costs and recognise both endeavour and achievement. • We ensure that the wellbeing and development of individual players is central to all rugby activity.
Promotional activity will reach all the RFU’s 2000 member clubs using: • Z Cards – sent out with Touchline and also supplied to clubs • DVD – defining the five values with examples from the Elite and Community game • Viral – online concepts are being developed to explain what the values mean • Workshop – for delivering to clubs, players, supporters, parents and volunteers This activity is being supported by Premier Rugby Limited and the Professional Rugby Players Association in a ’whole game’ approach.
Maximum Impact
Maximum Impact Maximum Rugby a new online community supported by England sponsor O2 is a site aiming to help those who play, coach and run the game at all levels – encouraging online interaction and social networking.
If you’re part of a club, Maximum will let you: • announce team selections • organise social eventS • send free text updates to anyone at your club • announce fixtures and publish match reports
If you’re a supporter, you can use Maximum to: • share news and views about your team • share photos and videos • get insider knowledge from the England camp • win exclusive England Rugby prizes and check match results countrywide
O2 are are providing great England Rugby offers and competitions offering training days, signed England kit, Twickenham tickets and more. The initiative is also part of O2’s support for the Play On campaign. Already, Folkestone Rugby Club have benefitted from a training session with the England Squad. For your chance to play on the pitch at Twickenham, sign up now, go to www.maximumrugby.com
England v Argentina Twickenham Decider
By Jessica Chambers, RFU Press Officer
England tamed the Pumas 37-15 at Old Trafford in June but a week later on home soil Argentina turned the tables with a 24 – 22 victory. Now in a forerunner of England’s first match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup there is everything to play for in the Investec Challenge Series at Twickenham on November 14 (kick off 2.30pm). England’s second match of the series, between clashes with the Wallabies and the All Blacks, England v Argentina will certainly be one to watch, especially with the Pumas placed third in the 2007 World Cup. Tickets for the Investec Challenge, England v Argentina game are available now priced at £45 and £65 for adults and £10 for under 16s via www.rfu.com/tickets or by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 8472492
Fan tastic!
By Jessica Chambers
More than 4,500 England fans descended on Twickenham Stadium last month to watch their heroes train. The family fun day which kicked off the stadium’s centenary celebrations saw fans enjoy a day of rugby activity, the highlight being an open training and signing session with the England team. Originally billed to finish at 5.00pm, the signing session ran well over the allotted time with a number of players staying on to ensure that every fan had at least one item signed. Jonny Wilkinson was the last to finish signing as he made his way up and down the stadium chatting and having his picture taken with fans until 6.15pm. The family day started at 11.00am with thousands of families joining in with the free rugby activities including coaching clinics run by the Rugby Football Union’s community rugby coaches along with members of the England Women’s squad and fun inflatables to practice their skills. The west car park was a hive of activity with O2 hosting their blueroom where fans won prizes on the bucking rugby ball, took on the England team’s scores at Batak Duel and grabbed refreshments. The fans also showed their appreciation for our injured service men and women when a number from Headley Court were introduced to the crowd prior to the open training session starting. England Team Manager Johnson said, “It was great to see so many fans there, more than last year which shows how much of a success these sessions are. It’s something we will aim to do again next year. Having the fans there adds to the intensity of the session because they make a lot of noise and the players really enjoyed the atmosphere they created.”
Global stars for Barbarians v All Blacks
The Barbarians have already confirmed a host of world-class players and a highly regarded coaching team for their big clash against the All Blacks at Twickenham on 5 December (ko 2.30pm). Among the first batch of stars to accept invitations to play for the world-famous club are Wallabies Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock and Springboks Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield while adding spice to the mouthwatering fixture will be Pumas’ points machine, Juan Martin Hernandez. Mortlock, Matfield and Hernandez will be making their Baa-Baas’ debuts but several others on both sides will be no strangers to the unique atmosphere and challenge of a Barbarians v touring team encounter. Giteau was a member of the team that defeated the Springboks at Twickenham two years ago while Habana was in another star-studded line-up that took on Australia in the London Olympic celebration match at Wembley last December. Taking charge of the squad’s preparation will be Italy’s national coach Nick Mallett, assisted by Alan Solomons. Barbarian president Micky Steele-Bodger said, “Though they will be on the opposing side next December, the likes of Richie McCaw, Joe Rokocoko, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Luke McAlister have all accepted invitations to play for the Barbarians in the last couple of years. “The quality of the All Blacks speaks for itself but we are confident that we will complete the recruitment of an outstanding squad. We are delighted that Nick Mallett, a former Barbarian in his own right in his playing days, and Alan Solomons, who has coached with us very successfully, have also accepted invitations for the match.” This year’s pre-Christmas extravaganza is the latest in a series of ten fixtures between the two squads that stretches back to 1954. It will be the fifth time they have met at Twickenham and the first since 2004. Tickets are now on sale via www.rfu.com/tickets or by calling Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2492 Prices range from £35 to £65 for adults, £17.50 to £32.50 for juniors (under-16) and special family tickets (two adults, two juniors) at £31.25
ENGLAND U18s COMPLETE UNBEATEN SEASON
By Richard Prescott, England Teams Media Director
England U18 started their August summer tour to South Africa unbeaten in the 2008/09 season and that’s how they finished it after scoring a total of 26 tries in their three games against Bolan, Western Province and South Africa Schools. Led by Head Coach John Fletcher throughout the season England had won all their games in the Spring 6 Nations festival and went to South Africa knowing that they faced three potentially difficult games in just six days but a talented set of players came through the test with flying colours. John Fletcher said “The benefit of touring for these young players is there for all to see. They gelled together well all season and enjoyed the experience of touring one of the toughest and most competitive rugby nations in the world game. I was delighted with the performances of all the players and it made my selection for the final game against South Africa Schools all the more difficult as everyone had played their part in the previous two games.” England started their three match programme against schools side Boland on Saturday, August 1 with Sam Edgerley (London Irish/Wellington College) grabbing all the headlines with four tries but John Fletcher knew that his side would have to improve in the next game against Western Province and iron out some discipline problems which gave Boland a number of kickable penalties. “I was pleased with certain parts of the game,” Fletcher said after the game “but we put ourselves under pressure by giving away too many penalties.” Next up was Western Province on Tuesday, August 4 and although they were missing a number of players to the South Africa Schools squad they were still expected to give Fletcher’s side captained by Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons/Barnard Castle) a tough test. In torrential rain England produced a superb performance with fifteen tries and a 95-0 score line that left no-one in any doubt that here was a group of very talented players. George Ford (Leicester Tigers/Rishworth School) added thirty points with his boot and England were set up nicely for the big game against South Africa Schools to be played just three days later. Captain Alex Gray said “The first game against Boland was tough but we always said we’d score more tries when our game clicked and it did today.” The game against South Africa Schools was as expected the toughest of the three games especially in the first half when England went into the break just 13-10 ahead. From the re-start England took control with a brace of tries each from Andy Short (Worcester Warriors/Worcester 6th Form College) and Christian Wade (London Wasps/RGS High Wycombe) and George Ford adding another twenty points with penalties and conversions to give England a 45-13 win. Reflecting on the tour and the South Africa Schools result John Fletcher said “This is a good group of lads who have all got on well with each other and I hope that a number of them will be in contention for the RWC 2015.”
Injured Players Foundation Out & About
The RFU Injured Players Foundation have been getting out and about over the summer with a presence at both the England training day and Middlesex 7s. IPF staff carried out a bucket shake on both days raising almost £500 and spoke to around 300 people about the charity by tempting them with a prize draw for a rugby ball signed by the England Senior squad. The Foundation hosted a lunch at the Middlesex 7s for injured players and representatives from spinal charities which was very popular and provided a respite from the crowds who had turned up to watch the Premiership and invitational sides battle it out on the pitch. In the west car park many supporters learned more about how the IPF helps injured players and aims to reduce the likelihood of injuries happening in future. The day was rounded off with a game of touch rugby on the Twickenham pitch against representatives from the PRA Benevolent Fund. The event was meant to raise awareness of the two charities rather than being a competitive fixture. If you are thinking about raising money for a worthy cause or would like more information on what we do and how you can get involved, give us a call or have a look at our website: www.rfuipf.org.uk
