HQ News
Fletcher: You can’t beat the system
Simon Mills
England’s academy systems are producing more high quality young players than ever before according to Under 18 head coach John Fletcher. England completed a third successive Grand Slam and extended their winning run to 18 games since the summer of 2007 with the 41-17 victory over Ireland. Hooker Koree Britton, wing Charlie Walker, flanker Chris Walker, centre Elliot Daly, fly half George Ford and full back Ben Ransom all touched down against the Irish at Llandovery.
Their season opened with the 30-28 win against Australia at Heywood Road and England went on to beat France 33-16, Italy 28-12, Wales 43-22 and Scotland 29-9. England reshaped their age group programmes in 2006-07 to startling effect with the Under 18s and the Under 20 side that has reached the last two IRB Junior World Championship finals. Two players from that first generation of 2006-07 – Leicester Tigers scrum half Ben Youngs and Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes – have already been capped at senior level. “From a Guinness Premiership point of view and a national point of view the game at this level is very healthy,” said Fletcher. “The regional academies, the clubs and schools are doing a great job. These boys turn up to us in great shape mentally, physically, technically and tactically and what we do is create a good environment and encourage them to play with freedom, ambition and spirit.
“The regional academies identify players earlier, they’re more specifically tailoring their individual and playing programmes, and nationally through [Elite Rugby Director] Rob Andrew and [Head of National Academy] Stuart Lancaster we’ve now got a very good programme for our teams that’s pretty much the envy of the rest of the world.” Fletcher’s side exceeded a self-imposed try-scoring target of four per game by touching down 28 times in six outings. “I’m a big believer that at this level you’ve got to play a very expansive game with as many threats for the opposition as possible,” he said. “That we’ve achieved it is really pleasing.”
England U20s Ready for World Championship
Simon Mills
England’s Under 20 side proved they have firepower to mount a formidable challenge at the IRB Junior World Championship this season by finishing the Under 20 RBS 6 Nations on a high. They posted their biggest total in the three years of the Under 20 RBS 6 Nations championship in beating France 47-33 away from home in Saint Nazaire to build on earlier wins against Wales, Italy and Scotland. Their only defeat came against eventual champions Ireland, who took the title ahead of England on points difference.
In France, England ran in five tries from No.8 Jamie Gibson (London Irish), who scored twice, centre Tom Casson (Harlequins) and wings Marcus Watson (London Irish) and Sam Smith (Harlequins). London Irish full back Tom Homer added five conversions and four penalties and England’s kickers at this level - Homer, Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby) and Rory Clegg (Harlequins) - missed only one of their 29 shots at goal in the five games. “Beating France in the way we did was a fantastic win and a big building block for us,” said Mapletoft. “We’ve tried to devise the type of game which is applicable in all conditions and against France we had 90 per cent of our players available and were able to build on what we did in the 27-6 win against Scotland.
“At times we played some fantastic stuff - particularly the two tries scored by Marcus Watson and Tom Casson straight after half time. To pull all these young guys together from different clubs and circumstances and to play in that style was a real achievement and great to see. “Sure there are still things to work on. Our discipline is still poor. We’ve had one red and seven yellows in the Six Nations and we certainly can’t afford to do that in the goldfish bowl of the Junior World Championship. But it was good to put a marker down. With our full complement of players we look very difficult to beat because we know we can rattle the scoreboard.”
Unavailability due to Guinness Premiership commitments for the Italy and Ireland games and several injuries led to England using 39 players during the championship. Now a 26-man squad will be selected for this summer’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, where England face the hosts, Scotland and France in the pool stages as they aim to reach a third successive global final.
England U20 results: England 41 Wales 14,
Italy 10 England 16,
England 10 Ireland 25,
Scotland 6 England 27,
France 33 England 47
Masterlease converts RFU to sole supply fleet deal
Amanda Inkley
Masterlease, the fleet management company which manages more than 60,000 vehicles in the UK, has become the official leasing supply partner to the RFU. The new deal converts an existing relationship with the Community Department of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the National Governing body for Rugby Union in England, into a sole supplier agreement. Masterlease has long advocated the sole supplier concept because of its ability to deliver greater benefits than clients having to manage multiple supply relationships. Now the new four-year agreement means Masterlease is an exclusive leasing partner for business vehicles and ancillary services to the RFU at head office and at a community rugby level.
In winning the deal, Masterlease conducted feasibility studies and whole-life cost reviews for the RFU and was able to demonstrate that an exclusive partnership would save the business money and improve the options for drivers in terms of vehicle desirability and benefit-in-kind tax position. As part of the deal, Masterlease becomes an official box holder at Twickenham and is able to entertain its customers at all England home games. Clive Forsythe, Masterlease’s sales and marketing director, said: “Building close ties with customers really gives us a chance to get under the skin of business issues and devise options and solutions that deliver quantifiable benefits. Working with the RFU at HR, procurement and fleet levels meant all the right people were making the right decisions with the right information to hand. Winning the business was a satisfying conclusion to a process that had been cerebral and engaging. Supporting such a great sport, being part of the Twickenham experience and being able to share the joy of it with other customers is the icing on the cake.”
Paul Vaughan, Business Operations Director, RFU said: “The RFU undertook a robust review of all its car leasing options and at the end of the process selected Masterlease because it made real commercial sense to do so. The fact that we have reduced our fleet costs, made the fleet easier to manage and improved the position of our drivers means that all stakeholders are happy.”
RFU crackdown on black market tickets
Dave Barton
The Rugby Football Union has imposed sanctions on 17 clubs, constituent bodies, schools and individuals found to have contravened the 2009 Investec Internationals ticket terms and conditions for matches at Twickenham Stadium. The measures form part of the continued strategic plan objective by the RFU, the national governing body of the game in England, to reduce the number of tickets sold on the black market and brings the number of sanctions handed out in the past three years to 228, ranging from a suspended 10 per cent reduction in entitlement to a four year total ticket ban.
RFU Business Operations Director Paul Vaughan said: “The fact that we have now imposed over 220 sanctions shows our commitment to reducing the number of tickets reaching the black market. We remain determined to take action against those who breach our ticketing terms and conditions by reselling them to unauthorised operators or even advertising tickets for resale.” The sanctions, applicable from September 1, 2010, for misuse (including sale on auction websites (such as eBay, Seatwave, Viagogo, GET ME IN and to ticket touts) are decided on an individual basis and are judged against the severity of the case in terms of the number of tickets, how they got onto the black market, the steps taken by the club to prevent misuse and whether or not they have offended before.
1. Clubs/Constituent Bodies
Consett & District RFC received a loss of allocation for one year (September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011) with a 60% loss - 50% of which is suspended - for a second year (September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012).
Bodmin RFC received a 25% loss of allocation for one year.
The following clubs received a 25% loss of allocation but with 10% suspended for one year.
Beccehamian RFC
Tamar Saracens RFC
Andover RFC Ltd received a 10% loss of allocation for one year.
The following clubs received a 10% loss of allocation but suspended for one year.
Bishops Stortford RFC
Bromsgrove RFC
Chester RFC
Dover RFC
London Media RFC
Thames RFC
2. Schools
The following schools received a loss of allocation for one year
All Hallows RC School
Bradford Grammar School
Coseley School
Welling School
3. Debenture Holders
Mr R S Bertasi received a loss of allocation for one year.
Mr S Leaver received a loss of allocation for the Investec Internationals 2010 and a suspended sanction for the RBS 6 Nations 2011
Making the News
Four rugby mad youngsters from Chippenham’s Hardenhuish School: Prince Ofoe, Sam Wheeler, Adam Harford and Josh Gardner enjoyed an unforgettable day out with the England squad at their Pennyhill Park Hotel training base recently. They had been getting some extra-curricular tuition during a six week Playing for Success (PfS) course at the Bath Rugby Educational Centre, which aims to raise self-esteem and confidence in students aged between 10 and 14 years old who may be underachieving at school. Pupils attend each day after school covering key skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT.
As part of the scheme the boys were given the task of making a news feature for the BBC News School Report programme and chose to cover England’s preparations for the following weekends Calcutta Cup match against Scotland. They put all their lesson plan knowledge and materials supplied by the BBC to good effect not only filming an England training session but also asking questions at the media press conference. They also interviewed England Team Manager Martin Johnson and got some playing tips from England and Bath prop David Wilson as well as meeting Jonny Wilkinson for a chat and autograph.
As Bath Rugby Educational Centre’s project leader Chris Andrew said, “It was a super opportunity and the boys loved it. and it was good of the England team’s Media Director Richard Prescott to let us into the fold. We felt very privileged and we were the envy of many when we got back home.” Their two-and-a-half minute report was broadcast two days later on the BBC programme and can still be seen by visiting the Bath Rugby RFU website: www.bathrugby.com and going to their Community section and clicking on Playing for Success.
The PfS course is supported nationally by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and by the Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire Councils as well Bath Rugby PLC. One well-known face also behind the BBC News School Report scheme is top news presenter Huw Edwards who says, “I’m involved because I want to give young people the chance to make the news themselves, and I want to share the principles of good journalism.”
Keep it 100% me say Hodgson and Armitage
Dave Barton
ENGLAND stars Paul Hodgson and Steffon Armitage delivered the 100% me anti-doping message to the world’s largest schools rugby festival recently. The London Irish pair joined Simon Bowden - Anti-Doping Officer for the Rugby Football Union, the national governing body of the game in England - and UK Anti-Doping Staff to offer advice and resources at the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s. Hodgson said: “Anti-doping education is as important as training and conditioning. You have to know what you can or can’t put into your body and, as the programme says, you are 100% responsible. These are the adult players of the future and it’s great that they are getting the chance to learn about anti-doping.”
Armitage added: “I didn’t know much about anti-doping when I was younger but it’s really important, especially if you want to make a career in rugby. This programme helps young players know what they can or can’t do.” The Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s attracts 7,500 boys and girls aged 13 to 18 and has been a springboard for numerous internationals. And Bowden said: “This is the fifth year running that we will have been at the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s. It is an important platform for us and UK Anti-Doping to get the 100% me message across. “These young players are the future of rugby and the more we can do to educate them, their coaches and parents on anti-doping at this stage in their sporting lives the better.
“We have had a variety of resources and activities available at our Outreach Zone, including an interactive quiz. There have also been free 100% me free gifts such as water bottles, beanie hats and badges.” Joe Marshall, Education Manager at UK Anti-Doping, said “Understanding your rights and responsibilities around anti-doping is an essential part of being a professional sports person. To be effective the 100% me anti-doping education starts right at the beginning of a player’s career. The National Schools Sevens tournament provides us with an ideal platform for engaging with young people and spread the competing clean message.” “As the national anti-doping organisation, we have a responsibility to ensure that athletes are fully aware of anti-doping issues. Having a presence at tournaments such as the National Schools 7s enables us to reach the stars of the future and stress the importance of anti-doping.”
Want to Win a VIP Rugby Weekend?
Have you thought of joining the England Supporters Club but put it off? Well, the moment is now! Anyone who joins before midnight on Sunday 9th May has the chance to win – not just two tickets to Twickenham’s England v Barbarians match but also a night’s accommodation at the four star London Marriott Hotel Twickenham AND a signed England shirt.
Included in the membership are a whole host of goodies, including:
• Access to tickets to England international games at Twickenham
• Discounts on non-international games played at Twickenham
• 10% discount at The Rugby Store
• 15% discount on pre-ordered match day programmes (available online only)
• Subscription to England Rugby Magazine
• 2 for the price of 1 at the Stadium tour and World Museum of Rugby
• Discounts on travel packages with England Rugby Travel
• Exclusive competitions and prizes only available to ERSC members such as watch an England training session; meet and greet with the players; signed books and giveaways, ticket/hotel/flight prizes to selected tournaments
• Regular eZine and members-only website.
Even if you don’t scoop the top prize you’ll still be a winner because for just £39 the England Rugby Supporters Club package includes: 4 England Rugby Magazines and an England Rugby Yearbook, worth more than £25, add a 10% discount on an England Rugby shirt and waterproof jacket from the Rugby Store and you have already offset £30 and with a £14 saving on a tour of Twickenham Stadium for two you have all the rest of the package and are already £5 better off!
So what are you waiting for? To join on-line register on RFU.com (or log-in if already registered). When logged in, make your ERSC membership payment. You can pay by secure online transaction using credit or debit card, cheque or direct debit. If you choose to set up a Direct Debit or pay by FuturePay, your membership will be automatically renewed every year and you will be helping us to save £50,000 in administration costs. Your membership will start as soon as your payment is processed and your welcome pack will arrive on your doorstep between 14 and 28 days later.
If you have purchased or been given a retail pack from the Rugby Store or other retail outlet, activate your pack by calling ERSC Membership Services on 0871 663 1863 or emailing englandsupporters@rfu.com. Opening hours are 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
