SEPTEMBER 2011 / issue 138 RFU THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOUCHLINE RFU AND RFUW RFU DISCUSSION AND DECISIONS ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2 the RFU Professional Game Board, the held a Board and Council meeting to discuss a Community Game Board and the Performance number of issues, including the recruitment of Director Review Group who supported the a new Chief Executive, the appointment of a Board proposals. Chairman and an independent non-executive The Council approved the release of the Director and the proposed release of the Blackett Report, which has since been sent to Blackett Report. all RFU member clubs and Constituent Bodies, It was decided to accelerate the recruitment accompanied by a letter from Chairman Paul of a new Chief Executive, with recruitment Murphy explaining the progress made to date. consultants appointed expeditiously, followed A vote of no confidence in Martyn Thomas, by interviews and, hopefully, an appointment the RFU’s Acting Chief Executive was before Christmas. Helping in that process will rejected; more than half the voting Council be a fully independent non-executive Director members having voted against it as well as a of the highest calibre and of huge benefit number abstaining. regarding the RFU’s Corporate Governance Said Paul Murphy, “I am most grateful to the responsibilities. The Union has also appointed RFU Council, for their thorough deliberation independent auditors to conduct a full review and considered decisions. We are moving on the RFU’s Corporate Governance and to forward and dealing with all the issues recommend ways to enhance it. identified and will keep the game informed The RFU Council endorsed Paul Murphy’s of progress. appointment as Chairman. The next Chairman “I very much regret that recent events have election will take place at the July 2012 AGM. not cast the RFU in a good light with its The Council also considered and discussed stakeholders and that the reputation of the the Board’s proposal to structure the Rugby game has suffered. I do believe, however, that Department with a Rugby Director, focusing important lessons have been learned and that on the England representative teams and we can have confidence in the future. Together the professional game, and a Development we can help the game to thrive at every level, Director, focusing on the community game. from the grassroots clubs to the England side These positions were also considered by the we are all supporting in the Rugby World Cup.” ENGLAND YOUNGSTERS CLAIM COMMONWEALTH GOLD Stefan Curtis ENGLAND RUGBY SEVENS produced Jennings a dominant display of attacking rugby at the levelled the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of score minutes Man, winning all six matches and beating later. London southern hemisphere rivals South Africa 41-20 Irish wing in the final to claim gold. Anthony So impressive was their display in the final, Watson coach Ben Ryan said that the team performed grabbed “as well as I’ve seen any England side play.” England’s The Rugby Sevens gold cemented England’s second try, place at the top of the medal table ahead of converted by Australia, as England’s young athletes won club team-mate and captain James Lightfoot- 19 gold medals on the final day to finish with Brown, giving England the lead. And although 37 overall, eight more than Australia who had South Africa reduced the deficit to two points, a topped the table for the first two days. try from Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Arnott on the stroke collecting players’ autographs and wishing them Coached by England Sevens Head Coach Ben of half time increased England’s lead. luck ahead of the Rugby World Cup. FANS WISH Ryan and England Under 18 Head Coach John A brilliant try by Lightfoot-Brown and another James Haskell, Manusamoa Tuilagi and Jonny Fletcher, the English youngsters got off to a by Leeds Carnegie wing Marcus Webber put Wilkinson, England’s point scorers in their 23-19 flying start on Day 1, beating Trinidad & Tobago Ben Ryan’s boys 29-15 ahead, before two ENGLAND victory over Wales, were particularly popular 53-0 before putting 64 unanswered points past further tries from Arnott – completing his hat- with the fans and moved along the line, signing Sri Lanka. In the final game of Day 1, England trick – sealed the victory. Said Arnott, “We LUCK autographs and enjoying the opportunity to chat beat South Africa 7-5 in a tight affair. played South Africa before and knew they with the supporters. Day 2 saw England come up against the hosts would fight back so we really had to keep on “Given everything that is happening in the Emma Kennedy in the quarter-final, but even the support of our toes and make sure we were ruthless. It’s country at the moment,” said one fan. “It is the Isle of Man faithful couldn’t stop England been a great team performance and James reassuring to see how well these players conduct [Lightfoot-Brown] has led us so well.” WITH EXCITEMENT mounting before running riot, eventually winning 52-0. England’s themselves and to know that there are still semi-final was against Scotland who had Coach Ben Ryan added, “I’ve looked after the Rugby World Cup, fans had the chance to fantastic role models out there for our children.” beaten Sri Lanka 47-0 in their quarter final. England sides for five years – at Commonwealth meet their England Rugby heroes at Northampton Saints and England wing, Chris Despite conceding their second try of the Games and World Sevens tournaments – and in Twickenham Stadium. Ashton, speaking for the players said, “It is competition, England still ran out 19-5 winners the last ten minutes they played as well as I’ve More than 3,000 fans arrived for England’s open fantastic to meet so many supporters. It’s to set up a final re-match with the Springboks. seen any England side play.” training session and the chance to meet their always amazing to see how many people come South Africa got off to a flying start under A number of the 7s players were recently rugby heroes. They sat in the stand watching the to every game and events like this. It has been the floodlights, scoring in the first minute of returned from their successful England U18s England squad prepare for their match against great to have them watching training, we really the game, but a try from Sale Sharks’ Mark tour to Australia – see Page 2. Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, before appreciate their support.” 1 HQ NEWS WIN A SIGNED RWC 2003 SHIRT WITH THE JSC ENGLAND INVESTMENT WILL PAY OFF SAYS FLETCHER The England Rugby Junior Supporters by Nicki Drinkwater Club is running a competition to win a signed shirt from the victorious 2003 JOHN FLETCHER is looking forward to Rugby says, also paying tribute to the work of the schools fact that of the 14 forwards Walton selected to RWC winning team. To enter, all you World Cup 2015 because, “I believe we have the and colleges. “It’s a joined up approach, we are all tour, only four had any experience of international need to do is sign a junior up for only £5 best national junior programme in world rugby,” working together to identify the better players and rugby, having represented England at under 16 and answer the question which can be said the England U18s coach after an unbeaten make sure they become as good as they can be.” level. “Our job is to find players for the future, found in the teaser version of the online tour to Australia. The best evidence that the system is working we’ve been actively out there looking for them, magazine Game On. The JSC is packed full Fletcher and his 26-man squad recorded three will come when England contest – and host – the it’s not just about those who come up through of benefits for a junior rugby fan including victories against their southern hemisphere next Rugby World Cup. “I believe come 2015 we’ll the system. To be without players of the calibre competitions, free ticket offers, discounts, opponents. And whilst the scorelines were see a lot of players come up through the under of Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College and Exeter exclusive JSC events and while stocks last, impressive (England defeated Australia Academy 18s. Our job is to provide Martin Johnson and the Chiefs prop) and Jack Clifford (the RGS Guildford new members also receive a free rucksack U19s 19-8 before overcoming Australia A Schools senior England coaches with as many different and Harlequins No. 8) through injury and still and water bottle as a welcoming gift’. 27-0 and Australia Schools 46-19), it is the players as possible who are capable of playing in perform as we did was outstanding.” performances that most satisfied Fletcher who many different ways. Our victories are proof that Another such example is skipper Dominic Sign up now for your chance to win visit: believes that a number will be challenging for we are better than the southern hemisphere teams Barrow. So impressive was the Prince Henry’s rfu.com/juniorsupportersclub honours come the next RWC in four years’ time. of this age when it comes to moving the ball Grammar & Leeds Carnegie lock that the coaches He said of the 46-19 win over Australia Schools. around and a lot of our tries have come because voted him player of the tour. “Dom has a big “The ball moves through lots of phases, there is lots of that.” future in the game,” said Walton.