CHELTENHAM & STROUD E NEWS

APRIL/MAY 2016

In this edition; Minchinhampton RFC facility developments, NatWest RugbyForce; RFF Small Grants, RFU Courses coming

soon, Age Grade Review, GMS support for clubs, RFU Headcase Concussion awareness, Old Mutual Kids First Rugby, Young

Rugby Ambassadors, Gloucestershire RFU Annual Awards and more

‘Strengthening clubs and growing the game in the communities around them’

NatWest RugbyForce 2016 This year we’ve seen a large number of clubs across the county sign

up for RugbyForce. With a few selected for additional support. Well done to Minchinhampton,

Tetbury, Old Patesians and Painswick who all were shortlisted for the development workshops and

£500 grants towards their RugbyForce weekends. A further congratulations to Fairford RFC who

were selected for the pitch maintenance support programme. This

included a visit and follow up report by Keith Kent, Head

Groundsman at Twickenham and a £2000 grant to help

support the works to be undertaken. All clubs who’ve registered or

are yet to register before the 13th May are to be entered into a

draw for a further opportunity: For the first time ever, NatWest

RugbyForce has launched a unique competition that could see your

club win England Rugby icons Will Greenwood or Lewis Moody to

sit on your club’s board as an advisor for an entire year. From

attending AGMs, special events at your club or simply being able to

offer some advice on how to make your club a more sustainable

business, Greenwood and Moody will become fully embedded in

their chosen club. Clubs also have access to the RugbyForce

resources and templates which include a range of posters, social

media banners, videos, templates to use prior to and during their

weekends; all free to access.

Visit www.natwestrugbyforcetoolkit.com for more details

Minchinhampton RFC have been busy further developing their

clubhouse facilities, whilst still work to go photos show the progress

over the last few months. The club hope to have things all completed

ready for the next season. The club have nearly completed the

external works with just doors left to fit. Work then turns to the internal

fittings including a new kitchen & bar area, plus toilets, storage and

plant room. The whole project including site purchase & ground works

for pitches as well as the clubhouse has taken years of planning and

fund raising to get off

the ground. By the end

of the whole project

over several phases

the total costs will be

circa £700k.

For any clubs looking

to embark on a

facilities project please

speak with Morgana

Further details on anything in this issue please contact Morgana Simpson, Rugby Development Officer morganasimpson@RFU.com

Fairford RFC receiving their visit from Keith Kent, Head

Groundsman at Twickenham. In photo L-R; Morgana

Simpson RDO, Jonathan Chambers, Scott Cahoon,

George Ellis all from Fairford RFC & Keith Kent.

Game Management System (GMS)

The RFU is launching a support mechanism to help clubs perform a ‘spring clean’ of their membership information in the Game

Management System (GMS), enabling clubs to get the best from the system.

All clubs updating their data in GMS from now until 30 June will automatically be entered into a draw to win an incredible top

prize of catered hospitality for 10 at Twickenham for the Old Mutual Wealth Series, England v Argentina on 26th November.

There’s also five great ‘money can’t buy’ packages to win, which include kit, equipment, resources and England Rugby 2016

Grand Slam merchandise.

What do clubs need to do?

Watch this video and then follow a simple step-by-step approach, making all your changes through a simple spreadsheet

downloaded from GMS.

There are FAQs, video guides and online training available to help you along the way via englandrugby.com/GMS.

Benefits for clubs:

Cleaning up your membership information will help you create robust rugby data in GMS and communicate more clearly with

your people. This will help with playing numbers, volunteers, revenues and admin! It also places your club in a great position to

receive support and resources from the RFU.

Cleaning up a spreadsheet of contacts might feel like a challenge at first, but you will soon crack it and your club can start to

enjoy the great long term benefits.

Get started by visiting englandrugby.com/GMS. There you will find FAQs, video guides and how to book an online training

session. For any further questions on the Spring Clean please email springclean@first-sports.com or contact Morgana

The RFU is delighted to support Table

Tennis England’s “Loop” project to bring

table tennis to our clubhouses. Loop is an

initiative designed to increase the number

of people playing social table tennis, while

at the same time increasing clubhouse

usage, helping to increase revenue across

the bar and providing fun for everyone in

the club.

It has been designed for use in other

sports clubhouses – hence the

strapline ‘everyone’s 2nd favourite sport’ –

in the knowledge that no one can walk past

a table tennis table without wanting to pick

up a bat and play! Take a look at the offers

available on the website here and bring a

great addition to your rugby club activity.

Rugby Football Foundation (RFF) Small Grants are available for clubs to apply

for through the season & split into two grant options. The 'Helping Hand Grant'

provides a mechanism for clubs to apply for a small grant of between £500 -

£1,500 for eligible Capital Projects (for example a new set of rugby posts,

redecorating the changing rooms etc.) with the club matching the grant on a £ for £

basis. Further details click here this includes guidance on what can be funded.

The “Groundmatch Scheme” provides easy-to-access grant funding for capital

projects which contribute to the recruitment and retention of community rugby

players. Clubs at level 5 and below can apply for between £1,500 and £5,000 on

a matched £ for £ basis. Further details click here

Completed applications for both grants are considered on a rolling basis

throughout the year. Clubs may only apply for one grant per project and are

eligible for only £5,000 in a 24 month period. The RFF aspires to turnaround

grants in eight weeks from receipt of a complete application.

Further details please contact Morgana

Calling all Mini & Youth sections - don’t

forget to check our the Age Grade

changes coming September 2016.

GRFU Annual Awards. This annual award will be given to those who have been

recognised as giving outstanding service to the game in Gloucestershire as a volunteer.

Criteria:

long service to one or more member clubs or associations in a playing, coaching,

administrative or refereeing capacity

long service to one or more sectors of Gloucestershire rugby

long service to one or more of the Gloucestershire Rugby Combinations

One or more of the above plus:

Be well known in relevant local rugby circle

Full details of how the nominee meets the criteria must be given on the form for it to be

considered by the Panel. Nominations may come from Clubs, Combinations, Associations

or the GRFU Management Board. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS WITH THE NOMINEE OR

CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED. Once completed, please email the form

[attached] to GRFU County Office by 13 May 2016 when they will go before the Panel for

consideration. These Awards will be presented at the GRFU Annual General Meeting on the

evening of Wednesday 13 July 2016.

Don’t forget to check out the online education for players, coaches, parents & guardians, match officials and teachers - click on the image to head to the website and to learn more.

Old Mutual Wealth Kids First is the RFUs new approach

to rugby at U7 - U13 within clubs and schools across the

country. It’s all about helping children develop and learn the

game at their own pace, and making sure they have plenty

of fun while playing. We’re asking rugby centres to take a

pledge to commit to a range of high quality standards and in

exchange are offering free resources – balls, coaching

cards and loads more. Watch this short video to

understand more about Old Mutual Wealth Kids First, why it

has been introduced and what benefits it can bring to the

development of your young players. We are asking clubs

and schools across the country to take a pledge –

a commitment to our mantra of developing children through

rugby. Sign up here.

Further details about Kids First can be found online here.

England Rugby Referees Association (ERRA)

The England Rugby Referees Association aims to

engage and communicate with the individuals who play

such a pivotal role in our sport.

Members will receive e-newsletters with news and

training hints and tips, including exclusive training and

development videos in the “Whistle-Stop” series. As the

Association develops, it will sit within My Rugby

Academy and allow access to even more training

materials.

With effect from 1st May, anyone attending one of our

Level One/Level Two Refereeing courses will be

automatically enrolled. Anyone who already holds a

Level One/Level Two Referee course, or an Entry Level

Referees Award/National Foundation course, can

sign-up via the website. For details and to watch the

launch video click here

Young Rugby

Ambassadors Don’t

forget to signpost any

people aged 14 - 25

year old supporting your

club to the RFU Young

Rugby Ambassadors

programme. To see how

their time and efforts can

turn into more. Click on

the image to find out

more or speak with

Morgana For those who

are active YRAs already,

don’t forget to sign up to

the celebration event at

Twickenham - limited

spaces available!

Fairford RFC are looking for fixtures for the U17s in 2016/17

season and ask ay clubs who will have this age group to

please feel free to make contact to help plan ahead with

some fixtures. Please contact Kenny Robins directly to

discuss. Thank you.

National Rugby Awards 2016

Message from event ambassador Chris Robshaw:

“I am honoured to be a part of an event that recognises the, often

unheralded, work and achievements of those involved in rugby

around the country. With the National Rugby Awards now in its

second year it makes me very proud that this is has become a

permanent fixture in the sporting calendar. I look forward to

meeting all the finalists in September.”

There are 13 nomination categories, including:

• School of the Year

• Men’s Team of the Year

• Facility Development

• Female Team of the Year

• Youth & Mini Section of the Year

Entries are now open at www.nationalrugbyawards.co.uk, for the

chance to have the achievements of your club, school or special

individual to be recognised at a national level and to celebrate at

the Home of English Rugby on Thursday 1st September 2016.

All entries will need to be submitted by 5th June. Good Luck!

Courses coming soon…All bookable online

www.englandrugby.com/courses

Rugby Ready 20th May 6pm at Hucclecote RFC

Level 1 coaching children rugby union Sat 21, Sun 22 May & Sat

4 Jun 2016 at Marling School, Stroud. 9-5pm each date.

Level 2 coaching 15 a side game Sun 8, 22 May & Sun 12 Jun

2016 At Hereford College 9-5pm each date.

New courses will be coming soon for 2016/17 season, so keep an

eye out for these new dates and venues. As always GRFU offer

all clubs subsidies towards the cost of any RFU course - speak to

Morgana for details.