TOUCHLINE The Official Newspaper of The RFU February 2017 Issue 198

FIRST RFU ARTIFICIAL GRASS RFU PARTNERS PITCHES LAUNCHED WITH THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has become the ’s military charity partner for 2017. Remembering all the rugby players who died in the First World War between 2014 and 2018, the RFU’s programme of Great War GEMMA COBB commemorations focuses on remembering, educating and fundraising. Preston Grasshoppers, Aylesbury and Hornets RFCs hope that the flexibility and enhanced opportunities they Said RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie: “Partnering with the Commonwealth recently opened the first three RFU Rugby 365 floodlit provide across the regions will open up the sport for a War Graves Commission will build on those themes, drawing on artificial grass pitches (AGPs) as part of the RFU’s wider audience to enjoy the benefits of rugby.” the Commission’s work in their centenary year as they celebrate the 2015 legacy of delivering over £47m RFU President Peter Baines opened the artificial grass work of their staff around the world and commemorate the 1.7 million investment over four years into the development of 100 pitch at Hornets RFC in between the Hornets Colts v Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in the two world wars. AGPs across . Weston Super Mare and Hornettes v Cullompton Ladies “We are grateful to the Commission for their help in producing our The new AGPs will provide their communities with matches, illustrating the variety of games already taking Rose and Poppy Films and hope to grow support for the Commission and year-round rugby through the durability of the all- place on the pitches. encourage the RFU’s member schools and clubs nationwide to remember weather surface, which will enable additional training Eddie Jones was in Lancashire to launch Preston those who left rugby fields for battlefields never to return.” sessions and more flexibility in playing times thanks Grasshoppers’ pitch with a training session for 40 young CWGC Vice Chairman, Sir Tim Laurence said: “Huge thanks go to the to the floodlights. The pitches are expected to increase players from clubs across the community, in front of a RFU for supporting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in our rugby participation across clubs and community groups, 700-strong crowd. centenary year. Together, we will remember them”. further growing the sport. Said Eddie Jones: “It’s been great to see the whole CWGC Director General, Mrs Victoria Wallace, added: “We hope rugby fans RFU CEO Ian Ritchie opened Aylesbury RFC’s pitch as community come out in force to celebrate the launch and around the world will be inspired to learn more of past players who made the the club took on local rivals Beaconsfield RFC. He said: “It I hope to see clubs, schools and organisations all using ultimate sacrifice for their countries in the two world wars, and to pay their is expected that each AGP pitch will create between 1,500 and benefitting from this great facility.” respects at any of our 23,000 cemeteries and memorials in 150 countries. and 2,000 hours of additional access to play a year and we Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 1 Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 FIRST RFU ARTIFICIAL GRASS RFU PARTNERS WITH THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION PITCHES LAUNCHED “The CWGC made a commitment in 1917 that the names of Roses and Poppy films: click here and the First World War As part of the official launches the RFU has introduced a these heroes would live for ever and we are grateful to the RFU Exhibition in the World Rugby Museum click here Pitch for a Pound promotion, giving the local communities for helping us pass on the torch of remembrance to another the chance to book an hour on the pitch for just £1 (+ VAT), for generation in 2017.” January and February, with half a pitch only 5op (+VAT). To book time on the Buckinghamshire, Lancashire or Somerset pitch, go to englandrugby.com The RFU has invested £47m into the Rugby 365 artificial grass pitch programme, with a commitment to build 60 artificial grass pitches on rugby club sites across England over four years. Feasibility has started on phase two sites across the country, with construction due to start on 17 more pitches this summer. There will be further partnership investment to part-fund 40 pitches on community sites, with a guaranteed number of hours’ rugby use, with three university sites currently in development. For more information on Artificial Grass Pitches, and to book a pitch near you, go to englandrugby.com

Sometimes you just want to jump for joy! Six-year-old Darcey Fryer-Bovil, a junior member of the England Rugby Club had the time of her life when she was a mascot for England when they took on in the RBS 6 Nations at Twickenham. Membership is £10 a year at englandrugby.com/club SPORT ENGLAND INVESTS IN RUGBY GEMMA COBB Sport England’s investment of over £100 million of National Lottery and Government funding for 25 national governing bodies of sport, to get more people playing sport regularly and keeping that healthy habit, included £12.6m investment in rugby for the Rugby Football Union. Sport England said that the RFU’s plan to convert school rugby players into committed club members via their successful CBRE All Schools programme, which will by 2019 have worked with 750 state schools without a tradition of playing rugby and in areas with highly-diverse communities, helped players “to move into well-organised and supportive community clubs with good coaching and plenty of playing opportunities. They added that for those that like rugby but not the full contact version, the RFU will create more opportunities to play informal, social and non-contact touch rugby, adding “They’ll also create more chances to play rugby sevens around the country. “With female players currently playing on average fewer than 10 matches a season but 50 per cent wanting to play more, women’s and girls’ rugby is also in for a boost. More ‘pitch up and play’ opportunities will be created. “Around 13,000 university students currently play rugby. The RFU will use its Sport England funding to increase that number, and support graduates to continue playing when they move to the next big phase in their lives. “Finally, they will continue to support young up and coming female players as they progress through the England talent system.” Steve Grainger, the RFU’s Rugby Development Director, said: “We are delighted to secure a significant partnership with Sport England over the next four years. Since the staging of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England we have seen substantial interest in our sport. This renewed partnership will support us in sustaining current rugby participation across England while helping grow the game, providing even more opportunities for people to play all variants of our game.”

2 TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 2015-16 PROFESSIONAL RUGBY

INJURY REPORT GARETH MILLS

The Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project (PRISP) report for the 2015-16 season was • There were again no clear differences in the incidence, severity or overall injury burden of published last month (January). The project is the most comprehensive and longest-running time-loss injuries between matches played on artificial turf and natural grass. injury surveillance study in professional rugby and has monitored the injury risk of Premiership • 10 players retired as a result of injury and one retired as a result of illness last season. Rugby players in , European and national competition as well as training for • There has been an increase in the incidence of match injuries in the England Senior side the past 13 seasons. last season compared to the previous season. With a greater number of games played in a The key findings from the 2015-16 season include: World Cup year, more match injuries were reported but the average severity of match injuries decreased. With this increased incidence but decreased average severity, the overall risk of • The incidence of match injuries in the Premiership was lower in 2015-16 than reported in any match injury was seen to remain relatively stable. previous season. Data collection during the 2016-17 season will help clarify whether this is the start of a trend towards a lower overall injury incidence or an atypical year. The PRISP report also provides an update on key research projects around concussion • The average time taken to return to play following a match injury in the 2015-16 season was 29 prevention, artificial turf injury risk and how best to manage athletes on artificial turf, training load days, which falls within the expected limits of variation. and injury risk and the utility of the King-Devick assessment in identifying concussed players. • Concussion for the fifth consecutive season was the most commonly reported Premiership Simon Kemp, RFU Chief Medical Officer, said: “The continued rise in the number of reported Rugby match injury constituting approximately 25% of all match injuries. It is the consensus concussions in the professional game continues to be an area of priority focus for everyone view that the continued focus on improving concussion awareness and promoting behavioural involved in the game. Medical staff are all working extremely hard to ensure that we are change, the formal independent post-match video review of all head injury events as well as identifying and managing this complex injury well. While we continue to ‘recognise and remove’, a more inclusive and specific identification criteria within the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) our focus must now be on concussion prevention.” process have all contributed to this continued rise in concussion incidents. Corin Palmer, Head of Rugby Operations at Premiership Rugby, said: “The focus on concussion • The mean severity of reported match concussions was 13 days. Compliance with mandatory from everyone in the game shows the cultural change resulting from Premiership Rugby’s return to play protocols after concussion were fully adhered to. work with the RFU and the RPA to increase awareness and education about the seriousness of • The risk of all other (non-concussion) match contact injuries in the Premiership has not concussion it has come into effect in every area of the professional game. This is reflected in the increased, suggesting that changes to the nature of the professional game are unlikely to be increase in reported concussions and the excellent compliance with the concussion return to factors underpinning this increase in concussion incidence. Concussion prevention remains a play guidelines from all of our clubs. Premiership Rugby and the 12 Premiership Rugby clubs are priority for the game at all levels. committed to continuing to work with the RFU and the RPA to ensure that we are at the forefront • 45% of all match injuries were sustained in the tackle. Concussion now comprises 20% of all of research into the best tools to recognise concussion and to protect our players.” injuries to the ball carrier and 47% of all injuries to the tackler. Richard Bryan, the Rugby Director for the Rugby Players’ Association, added: “Clearly, the rise in • The profile of the five most common and highest-risk match injuries has remained similar reported concussions continues to be a top priority for all stakeholders to address, although this throughout the study period with the exception of concussion. As a result of its significant does also indicate that education on the issue is having an effect. increase in incidence, concussion is now both the most common and highest risk match injury. “While the overall incidence of injury is lower than that reported in any previous season, single- • The incidence of training injuries fell for the second consecutive season, but the average season results need to be treated with caution, particularly given injury severity remained high. severity remained high at 30 days. The overall risk of training injury decreased for the third Our members accept that injury is an inevitable part of the game, however, they also expect consecutive year, as a consequence of the fall in incidence. 40% of all injuries were sustained appropriate welfare provisions to be in place for them and the game must continue to focus on during training. mitigating risk through research, education and the appropriate management of injuries.” MORE THAN 1,000 WOMEN MEET THEIR INNER WARRIORS

GEMMA COBB At the beginning of the year England Rugby launched a Chloe, a new rugby recruit, said “If you want to get into treat, serving up 36 new players for the session in addition to 14 nationwide campaign, ‘Meet Your Inner Warrior’, aimed at fitness, while doing something social at the same time, I would existing players, with all made to feel completely welcome. The encouraging more women and girls to take up contact rugby recommend you give rugby a go. Not only are you getting active day culminated in a raffle raising £1,000 for the club. within their communities. but you are with a load of girls who are happy to get muddy and Hartlepool Rovers RFC also had a successful Warrior Camp, with Launched with an inspirational video, the campaign calls to the have a laugh. It’s honestly so much fun!” 13 new players attending, all with an infectious enthusiasm and inner toughness that inhabits all women. Bath RFC had one of the highest number of attendees, with desire to give rugby a try. As part of the campaign, 100 Warrior Camps took place in rugby around 80 women braving the elements to reveal their Inner The next set of Warrior Camps will take place in May 2017. To clubs across the country from January 19 – 29, seeing over 1,000 Warriors, while Driffield RUFC saw 28 girls and women attend their stay tuned on news and upcoming Warrior Camp dates, register participants take part in fun rugby taster sessions. Personal trainer Warrior Camp, including seven new U13s and six new women. your details here. and Inner Warrior Chloe Madeley attended the Warrior Camp at Bury RFC mixed playing with some social fun, hosting Cream Rushden and Higham RUFC. Teas and Prosecco following their Warrior Camp. This worked a

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 3 REAL RUGBY STORIES Featuring regularly on englandrugby.com, as well as in Touchline, our Real Rugby Stories celebrate the achievements of those involved in the grassroots game. Whether it’s supportive mums or medics, chairmen taking clubs places, or children with inspirational stories, let us know about your remarkable people by emailing: [email protected] ENGLAND COUNTIES PLAYER DEFIES CANCER TO MAKE RUGBY RETURN

“I remember when they told me it was Jones went through six months of cancer. It changed everything and treatment, supported by his girlfriend, sometimes I do think about how much family and the club, before being given I’ve gone through recently.” Sam Jones the all clear two days before Christmas. is remarkably calm considering the “Everyone was amazing throughout. year he has had. My teammates didn’t treat me any Last April Jones made his debut differently and the club were fantastic, for England Counties U18s having particularly the coaches Anthony Posa captained the North of England earlier and Tyson Lewis. All I wanted to do was in the year. get back on the pitch and they helped The flanker then joined the me do that.” academy with Just six months after his diagnosis aims of progressing through to their Jones was fit to play again, making his Championship side but just a few weeks debut for the academy against Leeds into pre-season he was diagnosed with Trinity University last week and scoring Hodgkin lymphoma. a hat-trick in the process. “A few of my friends had glandular “I missed the first tackle and then got fever so I thought it was that,” says smashed when I carried the ball but it Jones. “My family convinced me to see got a bit better after that,” says Jones. a doctor and once I was told what I had I “Running out onto the pitch again was was straight into chemotherapy.” a special feeling. It is all I had wanted Hodgkin Lymphoma mainly during the six months when I couldn’t affects young adults and Jones’ play, so it meant a lot.” treatment involved chemotherapy Jones was playing again for Doncaster every other week. against Sheffield Hallam university as “It took a lot out of me. It took me Touchline went to press and his long term about five days to recover every time I goal is to become a professional player. had chemo and so I struggled to keep Considering the strength and up my training. I was frustrated. resilience Jones has shown in the past I wanted to keep fit but it takes six months alone, you wouldn’t bet all your energy.” against him achieving it.

REBIRTH OF ENGLAND’S MOST REMOTE CLUB

Drive 50 miles north from Newcastle into the “The lack of players meant we had to switch from wilderness of Kielder Forest Park and you will come a competitive team that played on Saturdays to a across the most remote, and one of the most special, more fun, social approach using players from the rugby clubs in England. surrounding areas and playing games on Friday nights When the sun goes down Kielder is officially the darkest or Sundays.” place in the country, the village school currently has 12 The committee was supported in its efforts by local pupils – having only had two at one stage. And since 1961 Rugby Development Officer Dave Reed as well as the the secluded community has also been home to a rugby Northumberland . club formed by a group of foresters and hill farmers. “There is no way we wanted to lose the club,” For 55 years the club survived despite a dwindling said Andy Thomson, Chairman of rugby for supply of players as a change of industry led forest Northumberland. “So we all worked together to find workers to re-locate. ways of supporting Border Park including developing “Last year I thought it was all over,” says 72-year-old Tom links with other clubs who helped as well.” Richards who played his first game of rugby for Border In November the revamped club held its first friendly Park aged 38 and only stopped four years ago. hosted at the home of , Kingston “It got to the point where there were only three of us Park, on a Friday night. left. I would mark the pitch in the morning, get everything “We had players from nine different clubs representing ready for the match and then go out and play. It wasn’t the Border Park. They had travelled from all over the north same anymore. and south Tyne valleys just to play for us,” says Dixon. “I don’t mind admitting that I shed a few tears. My wife “Over 200 spectators then turned up for our next fixture used to say I should accept things had changed and move against Ponteland RFC so the support is definitely on. But I refused to accept that. This club has been the love there. The way people want to play sport is changing up of my life, I couldn’t let it die.” here and we are trying to capitalise on that while also Luckily Richards wasn’t the only person who was protecting Border Park’s identity.” desperate to keep the club going. During a dinner put on For Richards, the feeling of seeing Border Park RFC for his services to rugby in Northumbria, a group of young thriving once again is hard to put into words – “It players from the Tyne Valley stood up and pledged to meant everything, absolutely everything to me.” revitalise Border Park. Despite being on the brink of extinction, it is easy to “Border Park is special to a lot of people but we knew see how Border Park survived. The passion and love it would have to change in order to survive,” says Richie of the club shown by Richards, the new generation Gledson, who along with David Batey, Jamie Dixon and of players, as well as crucial local sport has meant Joe Northwood, forms part of Border Park’s new committee England’s most remote club will thrive for many years with Richards remaining as President. to come.

4 TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 TWICKENHAM’S HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS FINALE This season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will conclude at Twickenham on Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 May 2017. Twickenham will once again offer a Feast of Rugby experience, combining world-class rugby with international gourmet street food. Due to the high demand for tickets last year, and the success of the new and improved finale event, the number of tickets available for this year has been increased from 35,000 per day to 50,000, giving avid rugby enthusiasts and newcomer crowds the chance to enjoy the ‘Feast-ival’ experience. Day passes are available from £30 while weekend passes are available from £40 and children under 16 can get tickets for £5. Click here to buy tickets. Fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the gastronomy of the competing nations, enjoy vintage- themed fairground rides and bask in the atmosphere of live music, all while watching world-class athletes in action. The new-look weekend has been epitomised in detailed illustrations by UK artist, Steve Simpson. There will also be in-bowl pop-up dining and a kids club. For tickets: englandrugby.com/tickets ENGLAND DEAF COACH PRAISES DISPLAY DESPITE WALES DEFEAT WALES DEAF 23-12 ENGLAND DEAF England Deaf Head Coach Sean Fletcher praised his side’s performance after they were narrowly beaten by Wales in Pontypridd. The result means Wales Deaf retain the Broadstreet Cup for the seventh successive year but Fletcher said England’s performance showed how far the team has come. “All credit to Wales who deserved to win but I think our players can be incredibly proud of how they played,” said Fletcher. “We brought in a number of new players and they all stepped up in what was a very physical match against notoriously tough opposition. We are obviously disappointed with the result because we felt we were in control at key moments.” England started well and came close to scoring in the opening 10 minutes through Craig Orrick but were denied by resolute Welsh defence. The hosts nudged ahead with two penalties from Richard Lewis before their full back Gareth John took advantage of an overlap to score just before half time, making it 11-0 to Wales. In the second half, full back Max Thorne sprinted over to reduce Wales’ lead to six points and the match remained close for the remainder of the second half until a frantic final six minutes when Wales scored two tries, putting the game beyond reach for England. A last minute try from England’s Barney Reed, converted by Jack Haddock, narrowed Wales’ lead with the match finishing 23-12. With England set to play a three match series against in the autumn, Fletcher believes they are developing at the right pace. “England Deaf has come on in leaps and bounds. Our representative sides are continuously improving and at the community level we are doing a great deal to promote the game, especially working with Premiership clubs to develop their outreach work. This year will be a big step forward.” Find out more about the team here

Young referees from the East Midlands were centre “It was great to see the lads on the pitch at officer, added: “This is a great example of YOUNG stage at Franklin’s Gardens when nine teenagers Franklin’s Gardens and get a good reception from collaborative working between from the Northampton Saints Developing Player the crowd,” said Saints Academy coach Jon Curry. as a professional rugby club, the East Midlands REFEREES Programme received their referee shirts during the “They’ve all worked really hard to get their refereeing Referees’ Society, Constituent Body and RFU local half-time break of the Saints’ Aviva Premiership qualifications, which the youngsters have told us have delivery team supporting the holistic development APPLAUDED game against Bristol. also had a positive impact on how they play the game. of young people, providing the local community with The group are some of the 30 players who will be “Without match officials we don’t have a game, the next generation of match officials. AT PACKED trained up as referees as part of a special partnership which is why we have been working with the RFU “It was the first time that a group of Young Match between the Saints, the RFU Young Official and East Midlands Referees’ Society to encourage Officials have had this level of acknowledgement and FRANKLIN’S Developing Programme and the East Midlands youngsters to get their refereeing qualifications as demonstrates the importance that Jon Curry and the Referee Society, with funding from the Area 4 RFU well as developing their own playing.” team at Northampton place on developing match GARDENS Legacy Fund. John Widdowson, RFU match official development officiating among young people.”

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 5 DEAL’S GREAT DAY FOR CBRE ENGLAND RUGBY ALL SCHOOLS GIRLS AND COMIC RELIEF LAUNCH NEW TRY FOR CHANGE FUND In partnership with Comic Relief, England Rugby launched its first funding initiative through the Try for Change fund this month. In 2016, England Rugby joined forces with Comic Relief to launch the Try for Change Fund. The fund will use rugby union and the rugby union community to deliver social change in England and across the world. Bringing together rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship it will work to tackle a number of social challenges around education attainment, social inclusion, unemployment, mental and physical wellbeing, personal development and community cohesion. Sport can play an important role in improving the lives of millions of people across the world, bringing people together to play, learn, improve their health and benefit from shared experiences. Try for Change works to promote, support and grow rugby as a tool for social good. It aims to help people reach their goals and fulfil their potential, as well as deliver long-term benefits to the wider community. The first initiative launched under the Try for Change Fund is a small grants programme aimed at supporting smaller charities, community The first fixture played by Goodwin Academy year 11 school. “They have really enjoyed becoming part of a team, groups, and local community rugby clubs in England. Organisations girls, against Dover Grammar School girls at Deal and working for each other, and seeing them playing was great.” can apply for between £2,500 and £10,000, for up to 12 months. We Betteshanger RFC, was a positive step towards growing The CBRE All Schools programme is firming up links will be prioritising applications which target the most vulnerable and club rugby for girls in East Kent. between the academy and Deal and Betteshanger RFC. marginalised groups, for example young people who are NEET (Not in Community Rugby Coach Danny Vaughan and the Kent Says Danny: “We are now running after school training Education, Employment, or Training), local refugees, or young offenders. coaching team began delivering curriculum sessions to girls for boys and girls at the club and the numbers of students If you are interested in learning more about the Try for Change Fund, and boys at the academy last September as part of CBRE All attending have been high. Lots of students have joined the England Rugby – in partnership with Comic Relief – are hosting a Schools. The school had just joined the programme which club and the next plan for us and Deal and Betteshanger Seminar at on Friday 17th February from 12pm has introduced and embedded rugby in 500 additional state RFC is to start a girls’ section at the club to provide club until 2.30pm. For more information please contact Tim Wainwright at secondary schools – impacting some 450,000 children’s lives. rugby for local schools like Goodwin Academy and Dover [email protected] Jo Cyman, Head of PE at Goodwin Academy, was Grammar School.” For more details and to apply for funding from the Try for Change delighted to see the girls playing a match against another Fund, please check the Comic Relief grants page from 6th February 2017. GEORGE CHUTER JOINS HINCKLEY RUGBY George Chuter is succeeding Paul Walsh as Hinckley RFC’s Director of Rugby from the end of this season as Walsh moves to live in France. Having been part of the team choosing his successor, Walsh said “I’m very happy that the club, which has been a massive part of my life for the past 10 years, has found someone of George’s calibre. I’ll hopefully be leaving the club in a really good position and he will take things to the next level.” Chuter, who played for Saracens, and England, and was inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014, added: “I’m really excited to join what is now my local club as I have been living in Hinckley for the past 11 years. It will be a fantastic challenge and will be great to be involved in a club that has made some great strides forward both on and off the field. The club has an aim and I feel as though it fits with what I want to achieve myself.” Chairman John Tilley said: “Paul Walsh has been a fantastic servant and replacing him could have proved impossible. However, we feel we have a got a person with the personality, experience and talent to grasp the baton and make his own mark in the history of Hinckley Rugby Club.” Hinckley, Manu Tuilagi's formative club, is a real centre of the community and an RFU Accredited club, with teams at every level from U7s to the First 15. Their fantastic new clubhouse, with funding supported by the RFU, was opened last season by England Head Coach Eddie Jones. The upgrade now sees some 300 people lunching in the clubhouse before every home game.

6 TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 January closed with a door opening for Lancashire girls wanting to play rugby as Rochdale RUFC’s girls section hosted their first ever matches at Under 13 and Under 15. GIRLS LOVING RUGBY The crowd was almost double that at a first 15 match at the club as they lined up against Leigh and Dukinfield and 47 girls had a great afternoon, all eager for more rugby opportunities. IN ROCHDALE The proof of the great experience for the players came when three girls watching from the touchline asked if they could join the action as it looked such fun. Organiser and coach Oliver Howard said: “The girls clearly enjoyed themselves and the level they played in matches was as good as our boys club players. They were all winners today and the game of rugby union was the biggest winner of all.” Said player Sofia Kelly: “I felt our team came together and played to their full ability in what was our first competitive outing, it was just fantastic!” Skye Whitton agreed: “I was really nervous at the start and before the game, but, once that whistle went, a new reality hit home and I loved it.” England Rugby Community Rugby Coach Aaron Howorth said: “It was great to see so many people up at the club on a Sunday afternoon to support the girls after many months of hard work from dedicated volunteers, parents and the girls themselves.” Rochdale’s girls’ squad has 32 regular players and three more girls joined the club on the day. LOUGHBOROUGH COOK UP COMMUNITY HELP Loughborough University rugby players decided when setting club goals for the Students Rugby Club to think broader than their performance targets and include the aim of helping the wider community, which has seen them involved in the One Love charity in Leicester. Said Isaac Miller, 1st XV Captain: “It is a fantastic charity, who help out every week with feeding and clothing the homeless. Our team got together and cooked up some vegetarian meals which we then transported through to Leicester and served out to around 60 homeless people. We then had some food ourselves and sat down for a chat with the people that had come in to receive food. It was great to get a good number of boys down, along with our coaches. The boys seemed to really enjoy the experience and it definitely made us feel very grateful for how lucky we are. We hope to go back and lend a hand to One Love again.” MICK GEORGE COMMUNITY FUND HELPS CLUBHOUSE REDEVELOPMENT

Cambridge Rugby Club’s ambitious plans “This external validation gives us increased launched women’s and girls’ rugby at Volac Park physiotherapy suites, gym, laundry and an office. to construct new changing rooms and confidence and commitment that the progress and has clear and meaningful expansion plans Subject to completion of the internal ancillary facilities at their Grantchester Road we are making with the club’s development and for broader community access from across the fundraising, the Club expects work to start at the headquarters has received a major £50,000 expansion is on the right tracks.” region to their incredible outdoor facilities.” end of the current rugby season in April and be boost with a grant award from the Mick George Jon Stump, Finance Director at Mick George The rugby club has, in principle, already completed in time for the start of the new season Community Fund. Ltd said: “There is a clear, real and urgent need secured funding commitments from Cambridge in September. “We’re thrilled that the Mick George to update the rugby club’s existing changing City Council, the Rugby Football Union and The “Fundraising is well advanced towards the Community Fund recognised the importance rooms and associated facilities to reflect the Rugby Football Federation. Further fundraising overall required target” added Bowller. “The of the project to allocate this level of financial progress the senior rugby side has made is ongoing amongst the club’s members and Mick George monies will hopefully be the support. The clubhouse extension will bring competing again in the third tier of English sponsors to make up the balance to reach the catalyst for our members and supporters to make massive benefits for both the rugby club and the rugby, as well as the thriving Mini and Youth £500,000 overall cost of the project, which will the final push to get us over the line.” broader sports community across Cambridge,” sections. We are also delighted to provide a see six state of the art unisex changing rooms, said Steve Bowller, President at CRUFC. funding commitment just as the rugby club has officials and disabled changing facilities,

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 7 CUMBRIA CBRE ALL SCHOOLS GIRLS PLAY ON TWICKENHAM PITCH

There was a great deal of excitement as girls from two Cumbria the opportunity to be here with the girls I help to coach. We are schools travelled down to Twickenham Stadium to play a very proud of them.” curtain raiser on the hallowed turf and form the guard of honour One of the players Madison Bickerdike said: “Being here at before England took on France in the RBS 6 Nations. Twickenham is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we are all Both teams were new to rugby, having become part of the very grateful to be asked to play.” RFU’s CBRE All Schools programme. CBRE All Schools has Ulverston Victoria High School, in the South Cumbria market established rugby in an additional 500 state secondary schools, town with a population of just over 11,500, has 1,272 pupils, many impacting some 450,000 children’s lives by making school life having enjoyed rugby since they joined CBRE All Schools in the happier and healthier, reducing anti-social behaviour, enhancing 2015/16 academic year. learning and increasing students’ self-esteem. Overseen by Head of PE, Kirsty Hayton, the school has Millom School, based on the west coast of Cumbria in a town delivered many curricular and extra-curricular sessions to with a population of just over 6,000, is a community hub in a develop their playing base and taken part in CB Development relatively isolated community with the nearest main towns of Festivals. The school has no local rugby club but strong links Barrow and Egremont 30 minutes away. with Kendal, Furness and Hawcoat Park rugby clubs, all within The school has seen their 487 students enjoying both curricular 25 minutes drive. Two of these clubs are now looking to develop and extra-curricular coaching from both the school, under the their own girls’ sections to support Cumbria becoming an RFU guidance of Head of PE Steven Olliver and his team, and coaches Focus Area for Women’s & Girls Rugby. from their local Millom rugby club. This has seen pupils join The school has a strong sporting tradition, well supported by Millom RUFC and the club start both U15 and U15 girls’ teams their head teacher Denis Fay, and players attending the Cumbria and now providing coaching for U13 girls. Development Days as part of the Women’s & Girls Focus Area Many players from the school have been selected to represent are developing very well, leading to some representing the Cumbria at both U15 & U18 level, with a few selected for talent CB. Kirsty and her team have also hosted a Rugby Union in development squads. One such player and young leader Bethany Secondary Schools Course to embed rugby in the school and Pattinson, was at Twickenham assisting with the U12 team. contribute towards the ongoing sustainability of the sport. Millom club has been very supportive of their young players, Teacher and coach Chris Reid said: “When asked ‘Sir, are you often hiring a minibus to transport them to CB games and coming with us to Twickenham on Saturday ?…I’m soooo excited’ Development Days. I replied “you’re not the only one… ! The experience was a big Said Young Leader Bethany: “I am very honoured to be given inspiration to all of us.” RFU AND PRL SIGN COACH DEVELOPMENT

AGREEMENT JAMIE HOPKINS The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and to join the club’s academy coaching staff. Alongside Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) have signed a his commitments to Quins, Williams is also the head new agreement that will add significant benefit coach of National Division One side Esher. to the current coach development programme Former Northampton Saints scrum-half Vass, who in England. The restructure will see three is currently a coach at Championship side Bedford talented club coaches join the England Under alongside his role with the Premiership champions, 20 Management team every season alongside a will be a familiar face for the five Saracens players in performance coach, who will act as a facilitator the England U20 EPS. Vass has played a big role in for the programme. the development of Saracens’ young players, most Dean Ryan, Head of International Player recently mentoring England U20 fly half Max Malins. Development at the RFU, said: “This is a 36 year-old Deacon, who joined Birmingham landmark agreement and one that offers a Moseley Rugby Club as a specialist line-out coach brilliant opportunity for coaches at Premiership before progressing to the role of forwards coach, is clubs to gain experience in an international familiar with the environment having been involved environment. The strong partnership between in the last two England U20 training camps. England Rugby and Premiership Rugby made “We are delighted to see these three young coaches this possible and we are focused on providing a get their chance with what is an extremely talented fantastic platform for these coaches to grow and group of young players, who have prospered in our develop their skills.” club Academies, which we run in partnership with This year will see former England second- England Rugby” said Phil Winstanley, the Rugby row Louis Deacon, Harlequins’ Tom Williams Director at Premiership Rugby. and Saracens Academy coach Ian Vass form “The way Tom and Ian have moved into an part of the England U20 coaching staff for the England Under 20 role alongside their club upcoming 2017 Six Nations and World Rugby commitments is another example of the way U20 Championship in Georgia this summer. Premiership Rugby are supporting England teams After making his debut for Harlequins in at all levels, and shows the powerful partnership 2004, winger Williams scored 65 tries in 214 between us and the RFU.” appearances for the club. He retired from the The RFU are currently recruiting for an England professional game at the end of the 2015 season U20 performance coach to facilitate the programme.

8 TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 PAYING MORE THINK Wayne Barnes THAN YOU HEART THIS NEED TO FOR VALENTINE’S ENERGY? DAY GET ENGLAND WIN A DEFIBRILLATOR RUGBY DEALS FOR YOUR CLUB For some, energy bills can be rather like black hole. Often Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the biggest killers in Britain, and clubs can end up paying higher rates than necessary, it can happen to anyone at any time and at any age. left with confusing bills, which end up being both time The potential for saving a life is dependent on time; the faster consuming and frustrating. medical help is administered, the better the chance of survival. Did You Know? This chance of survival can be significantly increased when The RFU has an Energy Purchasing Partnership in place an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used rather than with the aim of bringing RFU clubs together as a single CPR alone. entity. This method increases the energy buying power With this in mind, and as part of the RugbySafe scheme, the and gives direct access to prices created specifically for the RFU have linked with the Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT) to framework. Contracts tendered will typically contain lower increase awareness of the use of defibrillators and how having one prices than those that are provided directly from a supplier. in your club could potentially be a life saver. Farnborough RUFC is one example of the many clubs who “When you read the stats about how important a defibrillator have been visited by EnglandRugbyDeals this year. As part can be, you realise that every club in the country should consider of their visit they participated in a savings analysis exercise. having one” says Wayne Barnes Ambassador of the RFU-CHT One of the key areas of spend to be highlighted was Defib scheme. energy. By using the RFU Energy Purchasing Partnership, The CHT will provide support and guidance to clubs and delivered by energy experts Zero Trace Procurement (ZTP), schools on the selection and maintenance of defibrillators, as Farnborough RUFC will save 21% on their energy bill. This is well as ensuring that they are appropriately registered with local equal to £1228, which can now be used elsewhere in the club. ambulance services, and make sure your device is registered onto In addition to their saving, they will also be able to the WebNos Governance system. track their energy consumption and bills through ZTPs More information on the RugbySafe AED scheme can be found unique online portal, Trace. Trace also allows your account on here and here manager to validate your utility bills, ensuring you are never overpaying for your energy. Ian Grahams, Treasurer from Farnborough RUFC, was ‘very happy’ with the service he received. EnglandRugbyDeals can help your club save money. Our expert buyers have carefully negotiated fantastic discounts WIN A DEFIBRILLATOR on many areas of spend, such as: washroom services, fixed Could your club benefit from having a defibrillator available? If, so here is an opportunity to get one! line telecoms, janitorial, print, club facilities, pitch and site The RFU have six Lifeline View defibrillators up for grabs. These prestigious devices were used for the Rugby World Cup and maintenance. Our flexible approach and understanding of junior World Cup. Any club can enter by completing the online entry form and providing a brief submission on how your club the time constraints of volunteers, who give up their free would benefit from having a defibrillator. To enter, please go to here time to help run rugby clubs, is a real benefit for clubs. Entries will be accepted until Sunday 19th March, with the winners announced at the end of March. Providing a helping hand which will save you time. Each winning club will receive the defibrillator, a storage unit and an AED awareness session delivered by the CHT. Please note Don’t let your club miss out, arrange a visit from the winning clubs will be required to register the defibrillator with the the WebNos Governance system through the CHT. EnglandRugbyDeals and participate in a like for like pricing If your club already has a defibrillator – is it registered with the local ambulance service and maintained properly? The CHT analysis on your club spend. can support you in making sure your club’s defibrillator is in good working order and make sure it is registered onto the WebNos Get in Touch: Email support@englandrugbydeals Governance system. Please contact [email protected] or ring 01283 711551 or click here

FRIDAY NIGHTS ARE VETS AND CASUALS

Vets and Casuals Friday night festivals have been a real success on Merseyside, with 11 clubs involved and everyone having a great time. This has helped clubs bring players back into the game of the reasons so many clubs have been able to create 10 local clubs involved in an enjoyable night’s rugby but has also seen people making their debut even at the new teams within the clubs. The Friday night festivals organised by Rugby Development Officer George age of 60! Those taking part have come from Wirral, are running until April and the season is ending with Glenn, in conjunction with community team Caldy, Prenton, Oldershaw, New Brighton, Wallasey, all the teams going on a joint tour to play against other and delivered by the CRCs. Waterloo, Crosby St Marys, Liverpool Tritons and St Casual and Vets teams.” Sale provided discounted tickets, pie and pint deal Edwards Old Boys. Manchester has been embracing this type of event (which the local delivery team covered so that the Said Rugby Development Officer Andrew Soutar: too. In December a Friday Night festival was held on players got all of that free!). “Playing Friday nights allows the players to have the two pitches outside AJ Bell before the Sale v Exeter If Merseyside clubs would like to join the local weekends to themselves and their families, which is one premiership fixture. There were 200 players from festivals please contact [email protected]

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 9 LANCASHIRE CBRE ALL SCHOOLS PLAY AT VALE

Playing a curtain raiser before Vale of Lune took on Birkenhead Park on Sponsors Day were 30 players from CBRE All Schools Carnforth High School, Central Lancaster High School and Heysham High School, encouraged by parents, teachers and five of the club coaches. The boys then formed a guard of honour for the competing senior teams. Recruiting for their U14 and U15 teams, Vale hosted the players, giving them lunch and a flavour of club rugby, together with information packs, with several of the young players subsequently turning up to training. WHOLE NEW BALL GAME FOR ZAK

Taking rugby to a new group of school pupils can have an impact right across their school lives. Introducing one young man to the sport, and in particular to refereeing it, has seen a whole new ball game. Zak is a year 8 pupil at IES Breckland in Brandon, Suffolk, which last September became a Broadening Reach Secondary School, which is designed to support delivering rugby union in curricular and extra-curricular activities. They had previously done very little rugby and, with a whole new Physical Education Department, this was the perfect opportunity for change. Zak is a talented sportsman in a number of activities, especially football, which he played at his local club from a young age, he also loves fishing and shooting but discovered rugby at IES Breckland. During his rugby lessons over four months with Lee Parry, England Rugby Community Rugby Coach, it was evident that Zak had changed as a person. Zak said “Rugby is good and interesting, especially the contact and physical side of the game.” He felt that rugby had changed him in more ways that just on the field thanks to the game’s core values. He said “Before playing rugby, on the sports pitch I wasn’t respectful to other players, team mates or the referees.” Zak recalls that when a decision was given against him and he kicked the ball away, despite being told not to, he continued to do that until he was given a timeout. “I remember Lee speaking to me after my second lesson. He told me I had potential but said I needed to focus on the core values, sportsmanship in particular.” Having taken this on board, Zak began to encourage others around him and was far more respectful of decisions made by officials. One week Zak was injured and was given a whistle to referee in the lesson. “Lee gave me a different role in the lesson as a referee with a whistle. I was nervous about doing it because I hadn’t done it before and I didn’t feel confident about all the rules, but once I started doing it I enjoyed it a lot. Next lesson I’d recovered from my injury and I asked if I could referee the games throughout the lesson.” He is looking forward to turning 14 so that he can look at some referee courses especially in rugby as “officials in rugby get far more respect.” Zak believes that the core values have impacted on other parts of his life beyond sports. “My attitude in the classroom has changed. I have a greater respect for teachers and I am able to PE. Having TREDS as a tool for learning for Zak has made all increased, and the respect he now shows to both his teachers concentrate more on the task in hand like in maths, and I work the difference. He is a talented young sportsman whose bad and his peers is admirable. The number of merits he has been better in a group or team like in drama.” behaviour at times got in the way of him developing. He has awarded in the last three months has almost exceeded the total Head of PE Ben Willgress said: “Zak has improved massively progressed hugely in a such a short time.” number he was awarded last year. He is now currently on track since he has undertaken the referee course. His attitude, In Maths he has impressed too, his teacher Tara Crumpler told to achieve all of his end of year target grades. What an amazing respect and sportsmanship has been exemplary in all areas of Lee: “Zak’s attitude to learning has improved, his self esteem has impact, thank you!”

10 TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 TEAGUE TAKES ON FULL TIME SKILLS COACH ROLE

Rory Teague has been appointed full-time skills coach with the England senior side having held the role on a temporary basis during the Old Mutual Wealth Series in the autumn. The former England Under 20 backs and attack coach helped guide the side to glory at the World Rugby Championship in the summer. Teague joins forwards coach , scrum coach Neal Hatley and defence coach Paul Gustard in England’s backroom team. “Rory’s come up from the 20s and will be doing skills during the RBS 6 Nations, so he’ll be full-time with us,” said Jones. “He’s a good, young coach. He’s inquisitive, curious, wants to get better and therefore he can play a key role for us in improving the skills of the players.” Teague had playing spells at Gloucester, Bristol as well as Grenoble and began coaching at Harrow School where he guided from a young age, before moving to Wasps and then Saracens as an academy coach. He joined England Rugby before last year’s U20 Six Nations and his cousin is former England and British and Irish Lion Mike Teague. NOMINATE A VOLUNTEER FOR THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS If you know a volunteer who has given so much Each of the 42 events will select one Volunteer that they deserve to be recognised for their of the Year finalist, who will be announced at the work then why don’t you nominate them for the local event. These finalists will then be invited to Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer of the Year Awards? a black tie awards event at Twickenham Stadium Entries for the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer of on Friday 15th September 2017, where the three the Year Awards close at midday on Monday 20 overall winners will be announced and will each February 2017. Visit here to nominate them today: receive a Mitsubishi car for the year. Outstanding volunteers will be invited to For more information on how to nominate a attend one of up to 42 drinks reception events volunteer for the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer held at a Mitsubishi Motors dealership in various of the Year Awards, along with many other locations throughout England in May and June opportunities, visit englandrugby.com 2017, at which exclusive Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition prizes and will be awarded a certificate. WITNEY WOLVES WIN ACCOLADE Witney Wolves Rugby SEN, a special needs tag rugby team for children and young adults and part of Witney RFC, won the Disability Sports category in the Oxfordshire Sports Awards at Kassam Stadium, having been runners up last year. New faces are always welcome at their Sunday morning sessions, with some 35 regularly there to have fun and grow in confidence, develop social skills, get fit and make friends. The Wolves head coach Jeremy Bristoe was presented with the award, accompanied by fellow coach Dec Armstrong and 18-year-old player James Paul, who has been with the club since he was eight. Bristoe said: “This is a great recognition for the club which caters for a wide range of disabilities. Our coaching is geared towards our international festival, which will be held at Witney RFC in June.” To discover more about this wonderful wolf pack please visit witney wolves

TOUCHLINE – FEBRUARY 2017 11 COMPANY BOSS MARKS 40TH WITH BIG CHEQUE FOR IPF When 16-year-old Alex Ross sustained a head injury playing for Bolton School, his family was impressed with the way the RFU Injured Players Foundation were there offering support from day one. A bleed on the brain was operated on and Alex made a good recovery to go on to Nottingham University to study Politics Philosophy and Economics. He was at Twickenham Stadium as England played France in the RBS 6 Nations to see his father Chris present a £10,000 cheque to the IPF. Chris is Managing Director of J K Ross, a health and safety clothing and equipment specialist for the a wide range of industries. He said: “The IPF is now the company charity and, when we had a dinner to mark our 40th anniversary, we sold tables to suppliers and raised £5,000 and matched it to make it up to £10,000. “When Alex had a serious head injury the IPF appeared like magic and couldn’t do enough for us. Whether you are playing for school or club, everyone in the rugby pantheon is treated the same. We had never heard of the IPF before Alex was injured but in those situations you certainly know that they are there.” Receiving the cheque in Twickenham’s specially adapted IPF hospitality box, Paul Murphy, IPF Chair of Trustees, said: “I want to say thank you from all of our clients for this generous donation. As the RFU funds the running of the charity every penny will go to helping those who sustain a catastrophic spinal cord or traumatic brain injury while playing the game in England.” Discover more at www.rfuipf.org.uk

FROM ANDALUSIA TO NORTHUMBERLAND Last month (January) saw the first exchange ensured that they had a busy week of rugby and local and Billingham u16s. between Northumberland Referee Society and culture – from a steak night in a pub to refereeing All agreed that they had benefitted from their time Andalusia Referee Society, Spain. part of a floodlit match involving Border Park, in England and four referees from Northumberland Three referees and one match observer flew in played at Northern RFC. They refereed league games will travel to Andalusia over a weekend in March from Malaga to spend a week with their Northern at level 7 and 8 in and around Newcastle and made where they will all referee games on both the hosts. Graham Crozier, the Active Referee Rep, a team of three for a great game between Northern Saturday and Sunday, no doubt in warmer climes!

THE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING WHO GENEROUSLY SUPPORT THE GAME

TOUCHLINE Editorial input with pictures to: Touchline Editor, Patricia Mowbray Email: [email protected] Direct Line: 0208 831 6514 Correspondence to: Patricia Mowbray, Touchline Editor, Rugby Football Union, Rugby House, Twickenham Stadium, 200 Whitton Road, Twickenham TW2 7BA. Mailing and Distribution: Enquiries or updates Email: [email protected] Tel: 0208 831 6762 Touchline is published by PPL Group, on behalf of the Rugby Football Union, the national governing body of the game in England. Also available on the RFU website: englandrugby.com Photography courtesy of Getty and Touchline contributors. Thanks to all individuals, clubs, schools and CBs for contributions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the RFU. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the RFU or PPL Group. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for errors and/or omissions. All trademarks are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners. The RFU Rose and the words ‘England Rugby’ are official registered trade marks of the Rugby Football Union and are subject to extensive trade mark registration worldwide.

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