WHOLE SPORT PLAN (RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION)

Simon Frear and Matt Jackson

SOCIAL INCLUSION

Social Inclusion

Social inclusion is an important part of the rugby community, engaging those

who have traditionally had little contact with the game. This can include

working with ethnic minorities, in areas of social deprivation or with people

with disabilities.

The RFU officially recognises clubs who have made an impact in

communities by presenting the Social Inclusion Award.

This award recognises clubs that have reached out to communities that

traditionally have had little contact in the game. Whether this is in areas of

urban or rural deprivation or involve people with disabilities.

RFU President’s Awards

President Bob Reeves has selected the theme of “Beyond Rugby” stating:

“Many people have talked about the capacity of rugby to change lives for the

better. This award will go to the person or people who have used rugby as the

focus of a project to transform lives and/or communities and as a vehicle for

social change.”

Grasshoppers RFC (Middlesex RFU)

• Previous Social Inclusion award winner

Established links between:

• Primary schools (Tag Rugby)

• Secondary schools (Mini Rugby)

• Schools Sports Partnerships (Free facilities)

• Special Needs schools (Volunteering, Fund Raising)

Ethnicity

•

• The RFU strives to develop and implement programmes which offers

opportunities for people of all ages from ethnic minorities to participate in rugby.

• Works closely with players, coaches ,partners and local authorities across the

country to achieve this goal.

Geographical

• Aim to engage people from challenging backgrounds.

• The Community Rugby department employs over 140 full and part-time

coaches who are deployed the length and breadth of the country

Prisoners and Youth Offenders

• RFU believes the game of rugby is an ideal vehicle for engaging with youth

offenders.

• Works with partners (national and regional), allowing the RFU to reach

individuals in prisons, pupil referral units and young people unable to attend

mainstream schools

• Using rugby to help build self esteem and confidence, and by harnessing the

values of the game, including respect, teamwork, discipline, enjoyment and

sportsmanship, the aim of the these programmes it to encourage enjoyment

playing the sport and to teach skills that have value both on and off the pitch.

Sexual Orientation

• Developing effective programmes to deliver equality across the game is central

to the RFU’s ethos.

• Providing the opportunity for gay and bisexual people to participate in the sport,

the RFU supports the development of rugby across all communities and groups.

• There are now a growing number of gay rugby teams that provide hugely

successful examples of friendly cohabitation between people of different sexual

orientation.

Disability

• Providing adaptations of rugby; tag rugby, wheelchair rugby

• Priority is for all mainstream professional clubs to have disabled teams in place

• Next plan is to move this strategy on to smaller clubs

• Long term project is to have all teams with a disabled team which competes

weekly

Gender

• The RFU are strong believers that everyone should have the opportunity to play rugby

• High profile men's teams were made to create female teams from grass-roots to elite

• After increasing amounts of female participation the RFU set up the RFUW

• They are now in charge of female participation and future development

Health

• Programmes set up for both tackling obesity and mental health issues

• Because of the many different positions and social aspect of rugby, everyone is able to

take and feel a part of the team

• Early programmes are positive, with encouraging feedback from both those taking part

and health care professionals.

• Both mental and physical ill health can be isolating and have a negative impact of

confidence and self esteem – the RFU seeks to combat this with a growing number of

programmes and partnerships in this area.

Homelessness

• Working in partnership with local homeless charities the RFU staff aim to improve

health, fitness and self-esteem with some of society’s most challenging individuals.

• The RFU believe that simply by creating a routine each week, getting the young

people active it will help with them engaging with others in a similar position as

themselves.

• The RFU hope that when they have move back into mainstream society they will make

it back into rugby.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Youth Development plans

“Most people involved in rugby union are aware of the problems relating to

decreasing numbers of players in the adult game. Many clubs are tackling the

problem by ensuring there is a strong junior section so that the future of the

game is assured.”

So what is the RFU’s programmes for tackling this issue?

The Rugby Football Unions use programmes to develop the youth within

Rugby. These include:

• Seal of Approval (Levels 1, 2 and 3)

• Wide Range of Coaching Courses

• TOP Play, BT Top Sport and Top Sport Rugby.

Seal of Approval (Levels 1,2 and 3)

The seal of approval method is a way the RFU can examine, maintain and

improve the provision in youth rugby clubs. They aim to recognize the clubs

that achieve and maintain a high level of:

1. Safety

2. Coaching

3. Development

… Of young children that participate in Rugby union.

There are certain requirements that rugby clubs for the youth need to meet and

maintain throughout the space of a three year period.

Once upon completion it will be a “indication of the quality of provision a club

offers, and its commitment to the continued development of young rugby

players”.

Wide Range of Coaching Courses

• “Coaching is one of the most crucial factors in developing, sustaining and

increasing participation in rugby union”.

• “Most people involved in rugby union are aware of the problems relating to

decreasing numbers of players in the adult game”. They plan to change this

by ensuring a strong youth system.

• The RFU is offering a wide range of coaching courses as it’s believed that the

numbers of participation is decreasing because there is not enough coaches

in order to run and develop the youth.

• The RFU wish to have more of a variety of ages playing in youth rugby.

An example of a basic coaching course available to partake:

‘Start Coaching Tag Rugby’ course –

This involves:

• An understanding of how to deliver a safe and enjoyable practical session.

• Knowledge of how to coach and improve skills through games.

• An understanding of the application of a game sense approach.

• Knowledge of the rules of tag rugby.

• The ability to apply of the rules of tag rugby (refereeing).

Mini and Youth Development Initiatives

These mini and youth development initiatives include three sub-sections:

• Top Play –

“Top play provides training and equipment to primary school teachers, and

helps everyone who is involved in teaching core skills and fun sports to

children aged 4-9 years old”

• BT Top Sport –

“BT TOP Sport is aimed at teachers introducing sports and games to children

7-11 years old, and also provides training and equipment”

• BT Top Sport Rugby –

“If you have a venue which is suitable and willing coaches, contact your local

authority or local RDO to check whether your club can become part of the

scheme. If accepted and eligible, your club could benefit from training for your

coaches, new bags of equipment and potential new mini members”.

Player Development through the RFU

ELITE PERFORMANCE

What they do?

• Employ 500 staff

• Organise Rugby Union activity in England

• Support a volunteer workforce of 60,000 that supports 2000 clubs in

England

• Secretarial, administration and clerical help

• Manage the national team and are part organising next years IRB

England World Cup 2015

• Implemented a strategic plan from 2012/2013- 2016/2017

E.R.F.U Strategic Plan

• The plan guides the game in England up to and beyond the I.R.B

Rugby World Cup 2015

• The plan has 5 strategic priorities aiming to help the union to achieve

major goals and to operate as a world class business and governing

body

Strategic Priorities

• Modern Brand, Fine Reputation, Strong Relationships

• Increased Revenue for the game

• Rugby for Everyone

• Securing Success

• An Inspiring I.R.B World Cup 2015

Strategic Plan

A Successful I.R.B Rugby World Cup 2015 will

bring• Brand Profile to England Team

• Fuel Increased Revenue for Reinvestment in the Game

• Drive up Participation at all levels

• Develop an Increased Talent Pool of Professional Players to Deliver a

Winning National Teams

• Achieve Operational Excellence and Commitment to being a Modern

Progressive National Governing Body

Enhancing Operational Success after the

I.R.B World Cup 2015

Reasons For Doing This

No Legacy after I.R.B World Cup England 1999 for

increased participation

No structure for extra officials such as coaches and

referees

Junior Clubs had no plans in place for extra demand

for children or adults to participate within the game

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