August 2012 Issue 148 The Official Newspaper of The RFU and RFUW BEAUMONT MBE FOR MAGGIE Julia Hutton BECOMES England Women’s flanker Margaret Alphonsi was recently honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. One of the most well-known names in women’s rugby, with RFU her barnstorming performances during the 2010 Rugby World Cup earning her fans all around the world, the 28 year old was honoured for her services to rugby. CHAIRMAN Making her debut as a 19 year old against the USA in 2003, Alphonsi now has an impressive 63 caps and has played in two XVs Rugby World Cups (2006 & 2010) where England finished second to New Zealand on both occasions. She also featured in the inaugural 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens, where England lifted the Plate. Most recently, Alphonsi was part of the England team that defeated the world champions New Zealand in an historic three-Test series last autumn, as well as helping England to a record-breaking seventh consecutive Six Nations title, and a sixth Grand Slam in seven years. England also became the first team in Six Nations history not to concede a try in that tournament. “I’m so pleased to have been given this great honour by HRH, the Queen,” said Alphonsi. “What makes it so special is that it doesn’t just recognise my own personal achievements but that of the England team – I wouldn’t have received this had it not been for the hard work and dedication of the RFU and my England teammates. The remarkable work and achievements of the England Women’s squad over the past six years have been fantastic, and to have been a part of that has been incredible. I certainly have to thank all the people who have supported me along the way.” Alphonsi, who works as Divisional Talent Development Officer for the RFU in the London & South East region, mentoring and inspiring potential England Rugby talent of the future, is also an Ambassador for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, alongside Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood. She is also ambassador for the RFU’s Injured Players Foundation, a Patron of Sporting Equals and does charity work for SKRUM in Swaziland. See other rugby honours and how to nominate – Page 2 Bill Beaumont became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ACTIVE RFU following the Union’s Annual General Meeting. The former England captain took over from Paul Murphy, who became RFU President at then end of Willie Wildash’s term of office. Beaumont said: “I’m very honoured to be appointed RUGBY Chairman of the RFU. I was fortunate enough to captain my country and everything since then has been about putting something back into a game that is important to so many people. We all want to make the game as attractive as possible for all the men, women, boys and girls, who want to play and watch at every level. “The RFU staff and thousands of volunteers face three years of hard work ahead but the legacy of England hosting Rugby World Cup in 2015 will be enormous and it is our chance to showcase our game throughout the whole country.” Murphy added: “I wish Bill Beaumont all the best as my successor as Chairman. He has my total support and I am sure he will bring his great experience to bear and lead the Board as effectively as he did the England team. We’ve made enormous strides on and off the pitch in the last six months and I’m sure Bill will lead us forward to realise our full potential over the next few years.” Murphy, 61, took office having served for six years on the Board of Directors where he chaired both the Governance and Rugby union received a big boost recently with the news from we’ve put on supporting our clubs and growing the game around the Finance Committees. He represented Oxfordshire on the Sport England that participation has grown by 26,000 in the year to them over the last 12 months is paying dividends. RFU Council for 16 years. April 2012. “I’m delighted to see the growth in numbers is attributed in no small Beaumont, 60, is a former England and British & Irish Lions The findings come from Sport England’s annual Active People Survey, part to the 15-a-side game and the future looks bright because we’re captain who has played a major role in the leadership of the which identifies how participation varies from place to place and between also looking to develop sevens and touch rugby. domestic and global game since the end of his playing career. different groups in the population. The independent survey, undertaken by I have to inject a note of caution, as we’re measuring against a He played for Fylde and Lancashire and won 34 caps between Ipsos Mori, shows numbers increasing in each of the last four quarters from previous year’s figures that included a severe winter in 2010-11. But 1975 and 1982, captaining England to a first Grand Slam in 33 170,300 to 196,300 and demonstrates that we are on track to meet our we have had a good last 12 months and now our goal is to sustain years in 1980, when he also led the Lions in South Africa. growth targets. that effort in the summer months with our big focus on touch rugby, He has represented his county on the RFU Council and the Said RFU Rugby Development Director, Steve Grainger (pictured), then to keep on growing in the next three seasons up to the 2015 RFU on the IRB Council, including a four-year term as vice “This is a great result for us. The figures show that the focused effort Rugby World Cup.” chairman, and has been a director of the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup. He is currently captain of the RFU Injured Players Foundation Ambassadors XV, Honorary President of the Wooden Spoon charity and was awarded a CBE for services to rugby union in 2008. A team captain on BBC’s Question of Sport for 14 years, he is the chairman of his family firm Bill Beaumont Textiles in Chorley. 1 LANCASHIRE, HAMPSHIRE & LEICESTERSHIRE RECOGNITION Former international referee Peter Hughes, a stalwart of Burnley and was president in 1996-1997. A tireless worker for schools rugby, Executive Committee from 1986 through to 1993 and also a RFC and Lancashire for 50 years, was awarded a British Empire on leaving the RFU Committee he was made a Privileged Member and member of the Competitions Committee from 1987 – the first year Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours for his services to rugby served on the England Schools’ Union Committee for 18 years and was of league rugby in England. union in Lancashire. He served Lancashire on the RFU General awarded Life Membership. He is also a Life Member of the Lancashire Andrew Reed received an OBE for services to the community Committee for a decade and has devoted his life to the sport County Rugby Football Union Schools’ Section. and to sport in Leicestershire. The Labour Co-operative MP for at county and club level after his days as an international panel Havant RFC’s Michael Chalk who is also Hampshire’s Disciplinary Loughborough from 1997 to 2010, Andy is a keen sports enthusiast referee came to an end. Chairman, was also honoured with a British Empire Medal for and former President of Birstall RFC, where he organised an annual A member of the Manchester and District Rugby Union Referees services to rugby in Hampshire. Mick has been with Havant Rugby fund-raising President’s Day. During his time as an MP Reed was an Society for 49 years and their President from 2003 to 2005, he was on Club since 1966 as a player, committee member and chairman. active member of the Commons and Lords rugby team. He chaired the RFU County Panel for 15 years, becoming an international referee In his playing career he was a hooker and a member of the side East Midlands Sport in 2000–3, has been Chair of the Board of the in 1977, when he refereed four full internationals. He is still involved that reached the last 16 of the John Player Cup. He also played for County Sports Partnership for Leicestershire since 2004 and also with the Manchester Society and has been on the Calder Vale RFC the county. He has also been a loyal and hard-working servant for chairs the National Strategic Partnership for Volunteers in Sport. and more recently Burnley RFC committee. He was fixture secretary Hampshire Rugby and Chairman of their Disciplinary Committee Huge congratulations to those recognised in the Queen’s for nine years and President for two seasons. He became the club’s for the past 18 years. He was a selector for the Under 21 team Birthday Honours list who have made such an important representative on the Lancashire County Rugby Football Union in 1964 and was one of the Civilian Club Representatives on the HRFU contribution to the game. NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR UK HONOURS The rugby community is well represented in the UK honours list. What? How many? The RFU would, however, like to see more nominations from If you have someone in mind to nominate, please email Nicola There is no limit on numbers so we’d welcome as many the game, and particularly from the grassroots. The UK Honours Sheldon on [email protected] with details of the nominee suggestions as possible! system recognises the achievements of ordinary people who do and their contribution.