JUNE 2011 / issue 136 RFU THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOUCHLINE RFU AND RFUW MOVING FORWARD IN DIFFICULT TIMES The departure on June 10th of the RFU Chief Executive “We must now move forward, the critical things remain Officer, John Steele, will have been unsettling for the entire unchanged as Martin Johnson, his coaches and the England game. Board of Directors Chairman, Martyn Thomas, has players prepare to go to New Zealand to contest the Rugby World been asked to cover the role of Acting CEO until July. Cup. They are far too professional to be affected by recent events He says, “The loss of a CEO is always going to cause difficulty and, having talked it through, the World Cup campaign remains and unrest but regrettable though it was, the Board unanimously their focus and their challenge. felt that it was in the best interests of the Union for John to “After England return from New Zealand, we will have four years leave. While he had done many positive things in terms of the before hosting the only Rugby World Cup in this territory that most new structure, the Board ultimately felt that John’s position had of us will see in our lifetimes. It is a tremendous opportunity, for become untenable and that his departure was the best decision for the community game, for the professional clubs, for our volunteers the long term benefit of the Union. and everyone involved in rugby. “I accept that people will have been shocked by the news but “With new directors joining the Union, the Shaping Up structure the direction of travel John Steele set out is not something there stands. The Commercial and Operations areas of the organisation is any desire to change. When he was appointed the concept was will make immediate progress. However, the shape, scope and that we should put rugby at the heart of everything we do and responsibilities of the Performance Director role are something we that remains the case. are looking at. “This was always going to be a testing time, both the difficult “Rob Andrew and I have discussed it and, to give him some help action taken in January with people losing their jobs and now on this, Bill Beaumont is chairing a small group, which includes with John’s departure. However, the RFU Council and the Board Rob, Jason Leonard, Richard Hill and John Spencer to look at has signed off the Business Plan and the budget. Stephen Brown, how that role will work. At the moment Rob is doing two jobs, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, made a tremendous covering both performance and operations. He has been very, very presentation to Council on the day of John’s departure, and the professional in the way he has carried on in a difficult situation. budget and the Business Plan were unanimously approved. Martyn Thomas Continued on page 2… CHURCHILL CUP SUCCESS FOR YOUNG SAXONS KEEPING IN TOUCH Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and England World Cup winner, Will Greenwood, joined forces on 17th June to launch O2 Touch, an RFU initiative which aims to get England IN THE CHURCHILL CUP England Saxons fielded of the Churchill Cup Executive, said: “The Churchill Cup has playing touch rugby this summer ahead of the Rugby World their youngest ever side in the ninth and final provided what we had all hoped for – regular international Cup in New Zealand. tournament, with an average age of 23 and beat the competition for USA and Canada in a showpiece event, At the launch outside City Hall, Boris Johnson, said “Rugby USA 87-8 and Tonga 41-14 before defeating Canada which has been hosted in 17 venues and included 13 doesn’t need to be a full contact sport and the O2 Touch 37-6 in the final. participating nations since 2003. It has also given refereeing programme enables everyone, young or old, male or female, to To underline the point, the Saxons try-scorers in the and coaching opportunities for all three unions and have a go, get fit and have fun. Sixways final were Miles Benjamin, 23, James Gaskell, 21, ultimately strengthened the relationship between us. We “I’m a big fan of rugby and fully support this new initiative to get Charlie Sharples, 21, and Jamie Gibson, 20. The game was would like to thank all those who have made the Churchill people more active. That is why I am also announcing today that I controlled by Man of the Match fly half Rory Clegg, 21, who Cup a success, including previous sponsors Barclays and our am providing funding of £115,000 to help complement the scheme also supplied the conversions and a pair of penalties. broadcast partners Sky Sports. in London. With England hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2015 I Leicester number eight Jordan Crane, who stepped up to “The initial period of the alliance agreement was five years want everyone to get behind the sport and give it a try.” lead the side in the absence of the injured Luke Narraway, (2002-2007) and was subsequently renewed on a two-year England players Simon Shaw, Riki Flutey and Maggie Alphonsi said, “It’s been great and the way we’ve come together rolling basis. The latest agreement will expire at the end of joined a touch rugby workshop at the launch and RFU affiliated has been a credit to the guys and the management. The the current tournament and it was felt by all parties that clubs across England will be running weekly touch rugby sessions way we’ve played and won our games has been really Canada and USA should be fully integrated into the existing throughout the summer. The RFU has distributed hundreds of encouraging. There are some boys who’ve played for the portfolio of international strategic investment tournaments. touch rugby training kits to participating clubs to help get them Saxons in this tournament who’ve got a great future as “In addition the success of playing additional fixtures up and running. O2 Touch is the first initiative to be rolled out to England players ahead of them. Canada was our toughest in Australia and New Zealand in 2010 and the need to support the RFU’s Choose Rugby campaign which aims to increase game of the competition and we answered all the questions support three Tests Series, has led to the conclusion that participation before Rugby World Cup 2015. and came away with a good scoreline.” the development and performance of England’s elite and Ronan Dunne, UK Chief Executive Officer at O2, said “Our The tournament, which began at Franklin’s Gardens and potential elite players is best delivered in the future with longstanding association with England Rugby is something we are took in Esher and Kingsholm before the Sixways finale at midweek matches alongside the Test matches. We will very proud of. We have supported the English game from elite to Worcester, gave an opportunity for fans to see international continue to support USA Rugby and Canada as we much as grassroots levels since 1995 and are committed to making rugby as we can and wish their teams all the best at Rugby World rugby in their locality and star players of the future. RFU Continued on page 2… Business Operations Director Paul Vaughan and a member Cup 2011.” A CHANCE TO PLAY IN RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 – ENGLAND PRELIMINARY TRAINING SQUAD PAGE 3 1 Touchline - JUNE.indd 1 21/06/2011 16:48 HQ NEWS MOVING FORWARD IN DIFFICULT TIMES KEEPING IN TOUCH Continued from page 1… Continued from page 1… accessible as possible. O2 Touch provides men and women across depending on where their club is based. To be in with a chance “On the community rugby front, Steve Grainger, our new the country with the opportunity to discover just how much fun of representing the North or the South at Twickenham, teams can Development Director, Rob Udwin our Community Rugby Chairman rugby is. With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, it is upload their film at: rfu.com/O2touch. An RFU committee will and I are conscious that the Rugby Development Officers and the perfect time for everyone to pick up a ball and show select the top five films from the North and the South, with the Community Rugby Coaches (CRCs) have not had certainty of their support.” winning teams getting the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play late and we have now notified our CRCs that their contracts are The RFU is running an online competition with winners having at Twickenham. extended to the end of the year. We want to drive the situation the chance to play at Twickenham. Touch rugby players are England’s second highest try scorer of all time, Will Greenwood, forward and not leave in limbo people who are an important part encouraged to go along to their club and film themselves in action added “Touch rugby is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the of the workforce. to show how easy and inclusive touch is. The RFU has produced its game, it is so easy to pick up and no matter what age you are or “The Board asked me to become Acting CEO until the next Board own video at Twickenham to get the creative juices flowing and to which part of the country you are from, it is a great way to have meeting on 29th June and at that point the Board will decide on inspire potential players to get involved.