November 2012 Issue 151 The Official Newspaper of The RFU QBE INTERNATIONALS KICK OFF IN THE CITY At the launch, the England Coaches announced the squad to face Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Verity Williams To mark the start of the series, five giant rugby balls were installed in London’s England Coaches Graham Rowntree, Lime Street for the day, between the Andy Farrell and Mike Catt recently Lloyd’s and Willis buildings in the busy headed to the City of London to launch centre of the insurance district. Each the inaugural QBE Internationals at three-metre high ball created quite a stir the business insurance specialist’s with commuters and represented one of European headquarters. the nations competing. The QBE Internationals, which opened All five balls moved to Twickenham on with the match against Fiji, see England 10 November where they were situated take on the best of the southern in the stadium’s South Car Park for hemisphere at Twickenham Stadium fans to view ahead of the first match. this autumn. Fans attending the remaining QBE Andy Farrell, England Backs Coach, Internationals should also head to the Ian Ritchie, Jason Robinson and Steve Grainger said: “The QBE Internationals give us South Car Park to see the England ball the opportunity to compete against top with the relevant opposition ball. quality sides, including current World As part of this partnership, the RFU will Champions New Zealand. We look also be working with QBE to invest in forward to this challenge and relish community rugby now to build capacity the prospect of performing in front of for future generations to enjoy. We’ll give WORLD CUP a packed Twickenham Stadium for all more detail about how we’re doing this four matches.” towards the end of the year. LEAD UP AND LEGACY Nicola Marshall The RFU announced its participation legacy plans with exactly three years to go until the Rugby World Cup final 2015. Chief Executive Ian Ritchie, alongside Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger, and England’s most capped player, Jason Leonard, outlined seven areas of focus for the RFU in the lead up to 2015 and beyond. From building capacity by improving facilities and increasing the quantity and quality of coaches, to getting more schoolchildren playing rugby or encouraging players to return to the game, the plans are well underway. 1. Facilities – Committed an additional investment of £10m to create £25m worth of improvements in club equipment and facilities benefiting over 500 clubs nationwide – from kit and equipment to club houses, changing rooms and floodlights to all weather pitches. 2. People – New investment of over £1m to deliver more than 6,500 newly qualified referees and coaches. Staging master classes for over 5,000 existing coaches and referees along with a focus on young people bringing in 5,000 additional club volunteers. 3. Schools – Launched the All Schools programme to ensure more schools are offering rugby and give over 1m young people opportunities to play. The initiative aims to introduce the game into 400 non-rugby playing secondary schools by 2015 and up to 750 by 2019. 4. Returning players – Working with colleges, universities and employers to inspire thousands of 16-24 year old players back into clubs across England. 5. Touch rugby – Ambition to encourage 15,000 new players to take up rugby by broadening the reach and appeal of the game through more access to touch. Over 200 club and 100 university based O2 Touch Centres will be set up by 2015, offering a range of pitch up and play activity, organised Leagues and events. RFU’S FINANCIAL RESULTS 6. Other nations – Building links between the RFU’s Constituent Bodies and over 15 of The 2012 RFU Annual Report & Accounts, published this month (November) confirm continued Europe’s key developing rugby nations to share knowledge on how best to grow and and substantial investment at all levels of the game, despite the financial impact of fewer home develop the game. matches in a Rugby World Cup year. 7. Cultural engagement – Developing a series of cultural programmes using art and The accounts show an anticipated and planned for loss of £6.3m for the Rugby World Cup photography to bring alive what Rugby means to local communities. year from 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2012 but investment in the sport at every level maintained thanks to the RFU’s established reserve policy. Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive, RFU said: “With three years until the culmination of one Said CEO, Ian Ritchie, “The Rugby Football Union is a dynamic, of the greatest sporting events on home ground, we are putting in place the infrastructure credible business underpinning the whole game in England. We and investment now to ensure that we deliver the greatest participation legacy for the game. have both solid financial foundations and security for many years to This truly is a once in a generation opportunity to showcase and grow our game and one come and plan our finances on a four-year Rugby World Cup cycle, that we plan to make the most of.” with each World Cup year also bringing only two home Six Nations The Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport commented: “I am delighted to matches to Twickenham. In this way we continue funding every level see the RFU is using the RWC 2015 to inspire new players, grow the game and build on of the game in fallow years thanks to the profits we build up over the success of London 2012. It is the one of the largest sporting events in the world, so it the other three. There are many positives in the current accounts is extremely encouraging to see plans already in place with three years to go. As part of and much to look forward to as we head towards hosting Rugby these plans, the All Schools programme is an excellent initiative, ensuring that more young World Cup 2015, especially as 2012/13 already promises record people have the opportunity to play rugby in secondary schools.” group turnover, contribution and investment in the game. Chief Financial Officer Stephen Brown added, “This was an excellent Jason Leonard, who played in England’s 2003 World Cup winning side, said: “There’s year in terms of underlying business performance with above plan nothing like a World Cup to inspire a nation and hosting the event gives us the perfect revenues from our two Twickenham Six Nations matches, and record chance to demonstrate that rugby is a game for everyone. It’s exciting to see plans to build 103,000 weekend attendances and sales at the Marriott London Sevens. participation already in place, so clubs will be ready and waiting to welcome the influx of new players.” Continued on page 2… Ian Ritchie 1 Photo credit: Harish Chavda Continued from page 1… BEAUMONT BECOMES FRIENDS AND RFU’S FINANCIAL RESULTS SIX NATIONS CHAIRMAN FORMER OPPOSITION “During the year we repaid £5m of our bank loan which Bill Beaumont, Chairman of the RFU Board, was recently elected Paul Bolton BILL Beaumont was a originally financed the Stadium’s South Stand and we will Chairman of the Six Nations Council and will serve in this role popular guest speaker have repaid the entire debt by the end of the current financial for three years. He takes at the Moseley Players year, making us debt free. We also provided £5.2m of capital over from David Pickering Association Autumn expenditure to kick start the £76m stadium refurbishment project who has been Chairman Supper held in the RFU and for the first time we are also accounting for the initial costs since May 2008 and Championship club’s of hosting Rugby World Cup 2015. Despite the anticipated loss, who will remain on the Billesley Common we have a significant asset base and very secure revenue streams, Six Nations Council as clubhouse. He made combined with substantial cash inflows and reserves which enable Representative for the a 240 mile round-trip Welsh Rugby Union. us to comfortably meet all of our ongoing responsibilities. from the Rugby Matters Bill said: “I am honoured In summary the highlights for the year were: Conference at Twickenham to be elected Chairman of • Reserve policy ensured game investment maintained the Six Nations Council. Stadium to speak at the • Revenues delivered on plan It is a privilege to be supper and be there with • Excellent crowds and sales for RBS 6 Nations home games and involved with the biggest two of his former England executive boxes sold out annual rugby competition team-mates, Martin Cooper • Twickenham Experience Ltd exceed budgeted contribution in the world. I would like and Jan Webster and • Record attendance and sales at Marriott London Sevens to thank, David Pickering to renew rivalries with • Marriott Hotel up on plan, with continued steady growth for his work over the former Moseley players • Broadcasting & partnerships last four years and I including fellow lock all on track look forward to working Richard Tuckwood • Cash flows strong with him and the rest of and Dave Warren, now • Balance sheet strengthened the Council”. chairman of the club. • £5m of Stadium South Stand Speaking after the Fylde, Beaumont’s only loan repaid announcement, RFU club during an illustrious • £5.2m capital expenditure on President, Paul Murphy, said: “I would like to congratulate Bill playing career, were regular opponents of Stadium refurbishment on his appointment as Chairman. His knowledge and experience Moseley. The RFU chairman also presented a cap will be valuable in representing England and ensuring that the • First time inclusion of Rugby World to mark 250 first team appearances to Moseley’s competition maintains its position as the best international Cup 2015 in financial statements long-serving hooker Adam Caves.