HAMPSHIRE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION
Facilities Development Plan 2005 – 2008
Document dated: September 2004
1. Introduction Hampshire Rugby Football Union (HRFU) submits its Rugby Facilities Development Plan for the period 2005 to 2008. It focuses on two main areas 1.1. Improving our Member Clubs facilities infrastructure 1.2. Providing the best possible development environment for our County Squads The plan is based on input gathered as part of the recent RFU Clubs Audit. It describes the current clubs environment within the county, sets county goals and targets for improvement, sets investment priorities, outlines the approach that we will take and then describes facilities detail at the club level. The plan is a working document and will be subject to regular change management as investment is made and projects are completed in Clubs within the County. The plan will also be updated to reset County investment priorities as necessary. This Facilities Development Plan has the full support of the HRFU Management Committee and the HRFU Community Rugby Committee. Please address any comment that you may have to Dave Marsden (HRFU Community Rugby Chairman), at [email protected] or via telephone 02392 463181
2. Background Hampshire Rugby Football Union has 51 member clubs of which 35 clubs are in full membership of the RFU, a further 6 clubs are in full RFU membership, but are within other Constituent Bodies (Students and the Royal Navy) and finally 10 clubs who are not members of the RFU. Hampshire also provides county rugby at a Senior XV and U20 level, as well as County Junior rugby from U14 to U18 age groups. The Junior age groups operate ‘A’ and ‘B’ squads. The 34 member Clubs, who are in full membership of the RFU, have the following league profiles: 1 Club at level 4 1 Club at level 5 2 Clubs at level 6 5 Clubs at level 7 25 Clubs at levels 8 – 11 7 Clubs are non-league 10 Clubs also have Colts teams entered in a recently formed Hampshire Colts League (2004) The County also provides league rugby for 3 Dorset & Wilts Clubs. The more general profile of the 37 member clubs is: 26 of the Clubs have Mini / Junior Sections. 13 of the Clubs have Women’s rugby 8 of the Clubs are in the Channel Islands 4 of the Clubs are on the Isle Of Wight HRFU has rented premises that are used as a headquarters, based in Wickham. It has an Office, that is manned most weekdays, and a large meetings room which hosts the majority of county meetings. Hampshire County Council provide a working office environment for the 2 county RDO’s and also provide day to day administrative support and car parking. They also currently provide a working office environment for a Women’s Rugby Development Officer, funded by Active Sports. 3. Goals 3.1. To continually improve upon the facilities of our member Clubs to assist them in meeting their own club development plans. 3.2. To provide a high quality training and playing environment for the identification and development of players, coaches and officials to county squad standard and above.
4. Investment Priorities Within the county we wish to ensure that those Clubs who have inadequate facilities are viewed as a priority, so that they are able to meet the needs of their membership and are in a position to fulfil their Club development plans. The following Club facilities are key priorities areas: 4.1. Player changing and showering facilities. 4.2. Officials changing and showering facilities. 4.3. Toilet facilities and Access for All. 4.4. Pitch Improvement and Floodlighting 4.5. Clubhouse issues, providing access for all and improved catering facilities. This would allow more clubs the opportunity to offer their facilities within the local community, which in turn may generate increased revenue, helping them to a sounder financial base. 4.6. Finally, in parallel with the Club priorities the county would look to further develop the concept of a Centre of Excellence for Rugby Development, such that all players, coaches and Team Managers associated with the county squads were able to mature to their maximum potential.
5. Partnerships Hampshire RFU will engage in partnerships with the local councils, local sports organisations, local schools and local businesses, as well as the RFU, in the development and delivery of our Facilities Plan. We wish to encourage these local partnerships through the RFU Club Cluster initiative and via direct contact through the Community Rugby Committee and ‘Club Hampshire’. We also seek active sponsorship with the business world, offering valued incentives for those businesses to share in the success of providing improved playing and clubhouse facilities within Hampshire. 5.1. Incentive packages for businesses. 5.1.1. The County have a agreed policy for sponsor offerings 5.1.1.1. Invitations to up to 4 people to County Championship games including buffet lunch and post match refreshment. 5.1.1.2. Similar to all age group home matches if sponsoring an age group XV. 5.1.1.3. Two pre-Christmas International tickets including lunch with a RFU Representative. 5.1.1.4. Two Varsity match tickets. 5.1.1.5. Logo on the County shirts and tracksuit tops if specifically sponsored. 5.1.1.6. Whole page advert in the County Handbook and Match programmes 5.1.1.7. Acknowledgement on the county website with a direct link to the company site. 5.1.1.8. Perimeter board (self provided) advertising at home matches. 5.1.2. Options at Club Level (National Leagues and London 1) 5.1.2.1. Season tickets for home matches 5.1.2.2. Pre game lunches 5.1.2.3. Business publicity on touchline boards and in match programmes 5.1.2.4. Business logos on playing kit, training kit and leisurewear. 5.1.2.5. Access to International tickets at cost price. 5.2. Partnerships with local councils, sporting organisations colleges and schools 5.2.1. Local Authority Organisations 5.2.1.1. Pro-active work implementing government policies attracting good reputations and more funding. 5.2.1.2. Sharing of ideas and resources 5.2.2. Sporting Organisations, Colleges and Schools 5.2.2.1. Improving the coaching levels of teachers and local sports groups. 5.2.2.2. Sharing ideas and resources 5.2.3. Community 5.2.3.1. Providing sport for all and thereby offering an alternative activity to young people that want to take it. 5.2.3.2. Providing a place for the local communities to feel comfortable in. 5.2.4. Clubs 5.2.4.1. Access to more potential players 5.2.4.2. Access to more Volunteers 5.2.4.3. Good will from the local community when seeking to improve facilities.
6. Targets (end 2008) 6.1. Player Base 6.1.1. Senior Rugby – Stable Player numbers, then increase by at least 1 new team each year. 6.1.2. Colts Rugby – Stable Player numbers, then increase by at least 1 new team each year. 6.1.3. Mini/Junior Rugby – Increase numbers by 10% 6.1.4. Women’s Rugby – Increase numbers by 15% 6.2. Clubs 6.2.1. All Clubs have sufficient playing areas and adequate clubhouse facilities for the teams that they run and the concurrent matches that they wish to play. This is to include: 6.2.1.1. Changing and showering facilities for players. 6.2.1.2. Changing and showering facilities for officials. 6.2.1.3. Access for All and Toilet facilities 6.2.1.4. Quality pitches 6.2.2. All clubs have access to floodlighting for training, preferably at their own clubhouse (Fixed or Portable), or as a backup, a nearby-shared facility. 6.3. HRFU 6.3.1. The creation of a County Rugby Centre (or Centres) of Excellence in Hampshire where the RDO’s can offer County and Club Volunteers access to education and training in all aspects of the game. 6.3.2. The development of 5 primary clubs, geographically spread around the county, where the majority of the county games can be played at all levels.
7. Approach 7.1. Categorise the Clubs into RFU ‘Model Venue’ types. (See Appendix 1) 7.2. Define the numbers of each Model Venue type that Hampshire would like to have. 7.3. Investigate the feasibility of creating a HRFU Rugby Centre (or Centres) of Excellence and if so, define the requirements of a that Rugby Centre of Excellence, using the RFU templates that are available (see Appendix 2) 7.3.1. Identify Clubs that are willing to become HRFU Centres of Excellence. 7.3.2. Select the preferred Clubs and agree a costed programme of work. 7.3.3. Identify funding to meet the costs 7.3.4. Agree a timeframe and target for completion. 7.4. Define the requirements of hosting county games. 7.4.1. Identify Clubs that will be targeted for hosting County Matches at all levels. 7.5. Using the information from the 2004 RFU Club Audit programme 7.5.1. Identify Clubs that have inadequate playing or changing facilities for the teams that they run or are planning to run. 7.5.2. Identify Clubs that have no training lights facilities 7.5.3. Identify Clubs with specific short-term priorities. 7.6. Develop packages of priority work, in conjunction with the RDO’s and the RFU that contain the following information 7.6.1. Outline plans 7.6.2. Estimated Costs 7.6.3. Target delivery times 7.6.4. Planning considerations 7.6.5. Funding Options 7.7. Prioritise packages of work with the RDO and the RFU to ensure the best coverage possible. 7.8. Assist the Clubs in the preparation of the necessary supporting documentation for funding. 7.9. Project Manage the HRFU applications process 7.10. Coordinate the necessary Club/RFU communications in the delivery of approved and funded works.
8. Clubs Using the input gathered by the RDO’s, via the RFU Club Audit programme, we can get a top level profile of the Clubs in Hampshire and also start to develop a picture of the facilities that are in use by the clubs. The top level club profiles show the following general characteristics: 4 clubs are directly owned, 20 clubs lease or rent their facilities, 14 clubs use or hire public facilities, 1 club is unknown. 50% of clubs share their facilities with other sports 70% of clubs open their clubhouse for non-rugby related activities. 99% of clubs have their playing facilities located with or very near their Clubhouse. The club facilities profile shows a generally poor state of health across the county with the following specific input: Clubs with currently inadequate facilities o Inadequate changing facilities . Andover RFC . Basingstoke RFC . Eastleigh RFC . Ellingham & Ringwood RFC . Overton RFC . Paxton Pumas RFC . Petersfield RFC - New changing room facilities (subject of a current RFF application) . Romsey RFC . Southampton . Trojans o Inadequate Toilet facilities . Ellingham & Ringwood RFC . Overton RFC . Paxton Pumas RFC . Petersfield RFC - (current RFF application) . Trojans RFC o Inadequate Officials facilities . Alton RFC . Basingstoke RFC . Eastleigh . Ellingham & Ringwood RFC . Millbrook RFC . Overton RFC . Paxton Pumas RFC . Petersfield RFC – (current RFF application) o Inadequate Senior Floodlighting (training) . Alton RFC . Basingstoke RFC . Chineham RFC . Farnborough RFC . Fleet RFC . Guernsey RFC . Hants Police RFC . Isle of Wight RFC . Millbrook RFC . New Milton RFC . Nomads RFC . Paxton Pumas RFC . Sandown & Shanklin RFC . Tottonians RFC . Ventnor RFC o Inadequate Junior Floodlighting . 90% of clubs have no specific Junior Rugby floodlighting. o Other areas of general inadequacy . Catering is provided on match days by 90%+ of clubs, this falls to about 50% on match day evenings and then falls off to about 5% of clubs providing catering on non match days. . Pitch surrounds look mostly OK, although 7 clubs do not have their pitches roped off on match days. . Showering facilities vary greatly between clubs, with only about 5% of clubs providing showering and changing for Women’s rugby. . Locks on changing rooms are provided by 90% of clubs, but 7 are not able to provide a locked changing facility. The County needs to establish areas of priority investment that we would wish the RFU to assist with. We first must get the basic facilities in place across the clubs in the County so that we can more easily retain and attract players and their families into the Clubs. If we are to achieve the growth targets that we have defined in this document for 2008 then we must have Clubs in Hampshire that have the basic facilities that will satisfy the needs of its Customers (Players and their families and friends). We need to prioritise the needs of the players in front of the family and friends as their retention and attraction is fundamental to us. To this end Hampshire will prioritorise investment in the following way: 8.1. Investment Priorities 8.1.1. Player changing and showering facilities. 8.1.2. Officials changing and showering facilities. 8.1.3. General Clubhouse Toilet facilities and Access for All 8.1.4. Pitch Improvement and Floodlighting 8.1.5. General Clubhouse facilities 8.1.6. County Centre of Excellence Some Clubs have had investment made or committed, via the Community Club Development Programme (CCDP), in 2003/2004. These clubs must be considered on an equal basis as all of the others, if they have an investment priority within the list above. 8.2. Clubs successful in the 2003/2004 CCDP 8.2.1. Aldershot & Fleet - Training floodlights 8.2.2. Basingstoke – Match Floodlights 8.2.3. Havant – Pitch Improvements 8.2.4. Winchester – Match Floodlights Other clubs in Hampshire are currently being very proactive in their desire to improve their facilities and these clubs are to be encouraged to complete any investment opportunities that are available to them. The clubs concerned are 8.3. Clubs that are seeking funding/assistance to improve facilities 8.3.1. Alton – Pitch Improvement 8.3.2. Andover - Floodlights 8.3.3. Ellingham & Ringwood - New/improved location and facilities 8.3.4. Fareham Heathens - Training floodlights 8.3.5. Havant – Match Floodlighting 8.3.6. Overton – Current ground & facilities under threat. Move to a new ground 8.3.7. Petersfield - Changing/showering/toilet facilities 8.3.8. Southampton - Improved facilities at a improved location 8.3.9. Tottonians – Pitch Improvement To achieve the Clubs and in turn the Player County targets for 2008 we will need a 3- year investment programme that covers all of the clubs concerned. This can only be achieved if the club themselves has a desire to seek improvement. The County will work with each Club that is recorded as having inadequate facilities, in the Club Audit Programme, and agree what action can be taken in order for the Club and the County to achieve its ambitions. 8.4. Clubs responsibilities and commitments Clubs will need to demonstrate good management practice and also have the support of their local authorities in order to pursue funding opportunities with the RFU or Governmental sports bodies through this Facilities Development Strategy approach. In particular the following items will need to be carefully considered. 8.4.1. Clubs must produce a 5-year ‘Club Development Plan’ that has the approval and full support for their committee. The plan must demonstrate the goals and targets that they are looking to achieve. It must also include the investment opportunities that they wish to pursue. Each investment opportunity needs to show how it will support the overall Targets of the County as defined in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 above. 8.4.2. When developing facilities plans, it is key that the RFU buildings and floodlighting specifications have been used and checked with a RFU representative. This should be done prior to seeking detailed planning permission for your local authority. 8.4.3. Clubs must seek the necessary security of tenure and planning permissions from their local authorities prior to applying for investment funding. 8.4.3.1. Investment funding below £10K needs a leasehold or licence agreement of at least 5 years. 8.4.3.2. Investment funding between £10K and £20K needs a leasehold or licence agreement of at least 10 years. 8.4.3.3. Investment funding between £20K and £50K needs a leasehold or licence agreement of at least 15 years. 8.4.3.4. Investment funding over £50K needs a leasehold or licence agreement of at least 21 years. 8.4.4. Clubs must be able to demonstrate a level of self-help by detailing what their financial contribution will be to any project that is applying for Investment funding. Clubs need to be alert to the fact that planning applications made to local authorities can take a very long time to process.
The County will offer advice and guidance to any club that wishes to explore investment opportunities with the RFU. The County will also support Clubs in the development of their Club Development Plans. Clubs can find a template for a Club Development Plan on the Hampshire RFU Web site under ‘Community Rugby’. The RFU Web site contains a lot of information about investment in the game and is a good start to understanding what options may be available. Appendix 1 RFU Model Venue 1 - Usually a club, school or other providing playing recreational, introductory and lower level competitive rugby. HRFU examples would be: Paxton Pumas RFC Kingsclere RFC Alresford RFC Nomads RFC
RFU Model Venue 2 – Club, school, university or other provider, with a wider programme. The majority of Hampshire clubs that are not model 1 clubs will fit into this category.
RFU Model Venue 3 – An established venue with a wide range of programmes and potentially higher level of competitive rugby. Many of the RFUW World Class programmes can be accommodated within the specification for Model Venue Three. RFU examples are: Rosslyn Park RFC Lydney RFC Cheltenham RFC
RFU Model Venue 4 – A venue for top training and competition rugby. As part of the development of the World Class Plan, the RFU Performance Director will analyse the requirements of the elite game. Facilities catering for national level rugby such as Twickenham, Castlecroft, the proposed Academies and the proposed Player Development Centres can, to a large extent, be considered Model Venue Four.
Appendix 2 Rugby Centre of Excellence definition A locations that provides a high quality playing, training and educational environment, with high quality staff and which is available 7 days a week 12 hours a day 10:00 am to 10:00pm. The location should be developed to have the following facilities: 2 full size-playing areas of good quality with safety fencing. Both playing areas need match quality floodlighting. 1 full size training area with good quality training floodlights. Physio room fitted out with the necessary equipment Training equipment store, stocked with sufficient resources for both Senior and Junior rugby development. Scrummaging machines Changing accommodations for up to 100 people Changing accommodations for referees Pitch side video facilities A playback/analysis room able to take 10 people. Conference & Education facilities for up to 60 people with professional presentation/video/dvd display facilities and training Car Parking for up to 300 cars Catering and bar facilities able to handle up to 1000 people The location should have a resident on site Manager who would be responsible for the overall delivery of the location services. Provide a high quality administrative service Equipment is maintained to a high standard and is available Playing surfaces maintained and managed to a high quality Location staff is available during opening hours and provide a high quality service.
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