Beyond 2015

DEVELOPING RUGBY ACROSS EUROPE

The Story So Far July 2015 Unity Project – The Story So Far Unity Project – The Story So Far The Unity Project’s UNITY PROJECT BOARD Ground-breaking 1 Ben Calveley (RFU) First Year Chair

DEVELOPING RUGBY ACROSS EUROPE 2 Ben Calveley Katie Dooling (RFU) Project Manager

The Unity Project was plans included a scoping Country Twin officially launched a year visit to the country by a team Belgium Eastern Counties, NLD ago in partnership with made up of Constituent Body Croatia Leicestershire, Warwickshire 3 , representatives, RFU and and UK Sport. The project UK Sport staff, followed by a Czech Republic North Midlands, Staordshire Steve Grainger is an important part of the return visit by the country to (RFU) Georgia Kent, Essex RFU’s Lead Up & Legacy the Constituent Bodies. At programme and supports the the end of these two visits a Germany Hampshire, Hertfordshire development of rugby development plan was drafted Hungary East Midlands, Cambridge University across Europe. and sent to the Project Board Netherlands Cornwall, Devon 4 for approval. You often hear international Surrey, Sussex Jonathan Dance and other sporting bodies Through this exchange of (RFU) Portugal Cheshire, Lancashire refer to the solidarity principle knowledge and information – the idea that nations should both the unions and Romania Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire work together to develop their Constituent Bodies involved Russia Berkshire, Middlesex sport on a global basis. The will have the opportunity to Serbia Buckinghamshire, Oxford University 5 RFU absolutely subscribes learn from each other and to this principle and sees the it is this valuable sharing of Spain Durham, Northumberland Robert Morini Rugby World Cup 2015 as experiences that will ensure Sweden, Denmark, Norway Cumbria, Yorkshire (UK Sport) an opportunity not only to the legacy of the Rugby World Switzerland Dorset & Wiltshire, Somerset develop the game in England Cup endures. but right across the continent. This first year has been one of challenge This report provides an update on The Unity Project has been 6 and achievement associated with setting project delivery, including details of designed to deliver that vision, Cath Sweet up and operating a truly ground- the scoping and inward study visits as working to ensure that many The first year of learned. The (UK Sport) breaking legacy project. A great deal well as progress of the development other European nations benefit the Unity Project delivery stage of has been learned which will help build planning process. The report also from the tournament too. We has been exciting the project is now success for the project’s remaining highlights emerging development hope the project will help “and challenging. well underway and time. What has been very apparent is themes and case studies of how the develop relationships which It has been a real we hope to see the an enthusiasm and appetite from all project is supporting the growth of will last long in to the future. 7 involved for growing rugby across rugby across Europe. honour for the impact grow over the continent. World Rugby and Rugby Rugby Football the coming months, Morgan Buckley Europe selected 17 countries Union and its resulting in a (World Rugby) for the project to work with Constituent Bodies lasting legacy and these were twinned with to work with 17 for rugby. the ’s enthusiastic and Constituent Bodies. inspiring Unions. Over the lifetime of the project Throughout the the European nations and their scoping and allocated Constituent Bodies will work together to devise inward visit stage and deliver development of the project a plans to support the growth great amount of of the game, with all of the knowledge and work overseen by the Unity information has Bill Beaumont Project Board. The process been transferred Chairman for drafting the development with a lot being Rugby Football Union Unity Project – The Story So Far Unity Project – The Story So Far

Emerging Themes retain volunteers. There is also interest in the mentoring system the RFU has in A wide spectrum of work continues to place with some countries looking to set be delivered through the Unity Project but up a similar system as part of the project. common themes and challenges have emerged: Upcoming activities in the area of refereeing include the Czech Republic, Coach development is one of the areas Poland and Hungary being involved in where most of the countries involved referee exchanges. These exchanges in the project have sought advice and will give referees the opportunity to guidance. Topics where there has been experience refereeing in a different interest across the board are coaching environment, as well as the opportunity to methods (how to coach), how to train receive further coaching. There will also coaches and the importance of continuous be an expectation that when the referees professional development of coaches at return to their respective countries they all levels. pass on their learning and use it to set up mentoring programmes. The Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and Norway are all interested in Club development is an issue which for understanding how to deliver continuous many countries is at the heart of driving players and how to take players from professional development (CPD) courses participation. The unions are interested non-contact forms of the game to full to their coaches. One example of how to learn more about club governance, club contact rugby. the Unity Project is supporting this is financing and recruiting and retaining in Russia where a Growing the Game volunteers into club administration. For a number of the Unity Project festival will be hosted at which the Unity countries including Romania, Croatia Project will provide CPD course tuition Upcoming activities in this area include and Switzerland the challenge is getting to a number of coaches. At the end of the working with (among others) Spain, into schools to promote rugby as a way project the aim is that Russian educators the Netherlands and Belgium to look of recruiting players. There is also the will be able to deliver some of these at how clubs recruit, retain and reward added task of getting students from taster As we reach the end of courses themselves. volunteers. For example, representatives sessions into clubs playing contact rugby. year 1, it is fantastic of the Spanish Union will be attending Through the project we are looking at “to see the range of As an extension of the desire to the Northumberland Value the Volunteers adapting the All Schools model and World activities starting deliver more training to their coaches event to discuss holding something Rugby’s Get into Rugby programme to to take place across some countries, including Portugal similar as part of a wider volunteering use in other countries, with a focus on the participating and Romania, have asked that their strategy that the project is helping put transitioning players into clubs and the training delivery is reviewed and together. Another interesting initiative contact game. countries as a result recommendations made on how it can be is between Hungary and East Midlands of the Unity Project. improved. Portugal and other countries Constituent Body where they are setting This programme have also been invited to attend various up a buddy system between volunteers in VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY demonstrates how a Constituent Body coaching conferences the two countries. With all of the major sporting event as a way of exchanging best practice. With all of the scoping and inward Inward visits like the Rugby World Player development is another area of scoping and study visits completed, it is clear Referee development is another topic interest that has come to the forefront that the rugby family across Europe There have been a number of highlights Cup 2015 can act as a which has made its way on to a number through the development planning inward is a growing one with dreams and during inward visits, including the powerful catalyst for of development plans, with countries process is player development, in aspirations for the future. Women’s Rugby World Cup making growing sport outside interested in how to recruit, train and then particular how to recruit and retain study visits an appearance for the Hungarian trip. the host country, Scoping visits The Spanish were also able to observe which will continue completed, it and discuss continuous professional to have a real global In each of the countries visited inspiring development coaching courses is clear that work is going on. In Portugal, parents delivered by the Newcastle Flacons benefit long after the and youngsters were being asked to sign Academy Manager. event itself. the rugby up to a code of conduct, a great initiative spreading the values of rugby. Hungary Development plans family across demonstrated the benefits of hosting a youth tournament in tandem with an With 14 of the 15 development plans Europe is international match. Georgia’s innovative signed off, the focus for the next phase use of new facilities, grouping clubs of the project will be on delivery. Plans a growing at state-of-the-art stadiums, is proving are full of interesting initiatives, from effective. And in the Netherlands they a Growing the Game festival in Russia one with are using the women’s sevens team as involving coach and referee development, the catalyst for rugby nationwide, an to co-ordinating the rules of mini and dreams and interesting model for other countries with youth rugby in Sweden, Denmark and sevens now on the Olympic programme. Norway to increase playing opportunities. aspirations The latter will see the Unity Project support the up-skilling of coaches to for the future. coach these new rules. Liz Nicholl CEO, UK Sport Unity Project – The Story So Far Unity Project – The Story So Far

“Rugby Europe has embraced the This is why the Unity Project, Unity Project with enthusiasm from which is part of the World Rugby CASE STUDIES the outset, given its pan-European ‘IMPACT beyond 2015’ blueprint “outlook and complex developmental is so important to us, helping SERBIA SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWARY nature I would like to use this Rugby Europe capitalise on the opportunity to thank its sponsors unprecedented level of interest World Rugby, the RFU and UK Sport generated by the 2015 Rugby World The Serbia and For Sweden, Denmark and Norway This growth is underpinned by the rugby Buckinghamshire and Oxford University (Scandinavia) the development planning festivals, which are steadily increasing in for their valuable support. It is Cup tournament. It is ultimately Constituent Bodies as part of the Unity process was framed by successful inward size, number and quality allowing more important to understand that the about the good of the game on the Project have been working together on an and outward scoping visits with partner boys, girls, mums and dads to enjoy their majority of the 17 Rugby Europe continent and the array of objectives initiative to get more rugby played is in CBs, Yorkshire and Cumbria. At an early Happy Day. nations involved in the project are launched in our member unions by schools and then getting more children to stage in the process, we identified the Octavian Morariu mature sports markets, in which the 34 counties will only help rugby play in clubs. This support has included Unity Project as a fantastic opportunity rugby is challenged by many well- expand and get stronger in Europe”. President, Rugby Europe coaching the coaches sessions as well to accelerate the work already being In Denmark and established sports and games. IOC Member as a sharing of resources, materials and done in youth rugby across Scandinavia. Sweden respectively, knowledge. We created a vision for the project called A Happy Day – to create a quality rugby is now the As a result of this work almost 4,000 experience for players, parents, coaches second fastest school children have now been exposed to and referees at all of our rugby festivals. OTHER UNITY PROJECT STORIES OF NOTE tag rugby in schools and of those, 5% have (+14%) and fastest joined local clubs. The Serbian Union In order to achieve this, we set ambitious commented: “This is maybe the best result targets to standardise age-grade rules growing (+18%) Women’s development camp in Serbian rugby in the past 20 years but across Scandinavia and to provide all youth sport. we are not satisfied. We expect that we our children’s coaches with access to The RFU was awarded IMPACT Beyond should approach 10%.” education. Even at this stage we can safely say that we have achieved the goal 2014 funding under the auspices of the of accelerating the development of the Unity Project in order to support the children’s rugby in Scandinavia. legacy of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Thanks to support from Yorkshire and Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Cumbria and the successful delivery of Russia and Belgium sent 10 players; three directly supported courses and a further two Union-led courses, we two coaches and a referee to attend have already seen over 80% of Swedish, one of England Women’s U18s regional Norwegian and Danish children’s coaches development camps, which involved skills go through the education process. coaching and covered a variety of topics In Denmark and Sweden respectively, rugby is now the second fastest (+14%) including match analysis and nutrition. and fastest growing (+18%) youth sport. The camp was a great success and underlined the inspirational advantages of working together. RUSSIA GEORGIA

England Counties’ Tours At the national Growing the Game Festival run by the Rugby Keith Kent, the Head Union of Russia (RUR), Berkshire and Middlesex worked with Groundsman at Twickenham, The recent tours by the England Counties the RUR and their clubs on a plan for recruiting and retaining along with Kent and Essex and England Counties U20s to Hungary volunteers – a real challenge for a country where the culture of representatives, headed to and Poland this summer highlights the volunteering is emerging. They also held a session with Moscow Georgia in May to assess clubs to help them develop minimum standards for clubs in their pitches and take part RFU’s commitment to the Unity Project. their region. The aim is for the Moscow region to been seen as in two coaching conferences. The hope is that in the coming years the national leaders in club development and to then share their these two teams, together with England knowledge and experience with other regions to help support the Over three days six facilities Students, will visit a number of the Unity growth of rugby across Russia. were visited and the Project countries to increase the interest groundsmen worked to assess As well as the volunteering and club administration knowledge the pitches and come up with in the game. exchange there was practical work with coaches and referees. short and long-term plans Around 90 coaches and team managers took part in coaching for improving the conditions. workshops and over 40 referees and assistant referees received Since returning to England IN SUMMARY mentoring and took part in development sessions. a maintenance proposal has been written and shared with Throughout these visits and The work put into the visit by the RUR, Berkshire and Middlesex the Georgians. One of the activities, the exchange of ensured it was a great success and it proved a good way to kick- next steps will be to offer knowledge and ideas has “Legacy is such an important part World Rugby is very grateful for start the delivery of the Unity Project in Russia. training to six groundsmen been hugely beneficial to all of any major tournament and so the support, contribution and next year to improve the involved, including the RFU I heartily welcome this ground- investment of all stakeholders quality of pitches ahead of the and its Constituent Bodies. breaking project, which forms involved in this. It is clear World Rugby Junior World There were interesting “a key part of our Impact Beyond that this project is inspiring Championships hosted by discussions with Portuguese Georgia in 2017. strategy for Rugby World new partnerships and strong clubs who spoke about Cup 2015. grassroots activities. how they are working with On the coaching side of parents to combat anti-social things a series of continuous behaviour on the side-lines and It is particularly encouraging RWC 2015 is a once-in-a- professional development via meetings with clubs in the to see how it is the product generation opportunity for courses were run in Netherlands. Some interesting of very strong partnerships the game in England and, by conjunction with the coaching conference. At the two ideas emerged about how to between the RFU, Rugby Europe, extension, Europe and it will be make clubs more appealing to the 17 European rugby unions a wonderful legacy for what is venues (Tbilisi and Kutaisi) 65 coaches learned about the younger generation. This and UK Sport. It is that spirit of already proving to be a record- everything from small-sided sharing of experience has cooperation and solidarity that breaking tournament on many Bernard Lapasset Chairman, World Rugby games to tackling safely and been one of the most valuable we see time and again in rugby, different levels”. how to observe and review benefits to have emerged from across all levels and regions. training sessions and matches. the relationships formed as part of the project. Some of the highlights for the year ahead

Belgium Portugal In the coming year Eastern Counties, After a year focusing on knowledge Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and sharing regarding a number of aspects COMING UP Derbyshire will continue the work that of club and union administration, UNITY PROJECT CONFERENCE they have been doing with the Belgians next year will have more of a focus on On July 24 – 25 Sessions will also to put in place a volunteer strategy. coach development and supporting the 2015 the Unity focus on sharing Some great work has taken place already Portuguese with updating their coach Project Conference Constituent Bodies’ and will, hopefully, create an influx of development pathway. takes place with a and Unions’ volunteers into the game. number of sessions experiences of Romania both classroom and being involved in Croatia Over the next year Oxfordshire and practical focusing the Project, to help With Croatia the newest member of the Gloucestershire will continue to work on some of the ensure they get Unity Project, this coming year will see with the Romanian Rugby Union to help common issues the most out of the the first activities take place, with the them develop their coach education highlighted. next 18 months and creation of a schools programme at the programme. This will be a continuation to pass on lessons top of the list of things to do. of the great work that started around the learned to future England Counties tour to Romania legacy projects. Czech Republic this summer. It will be a big year for referee educators with a visit by Czech educators to the Russia North West of England followed by a The next year will see the second visit from educators from the North instalment of the successful Growing Midlands and Staffordshire to the Czech the Game Festival. There will be more Republic. The focus will be on how to sessions on volunteering as well as club recruit more referees into the game and development. More work will also be done to work together on the Czech referee to develop coaches and referees as well as development pathway. some new educators being trained.

Georgia Serbia Having run courses for over 60 coaches After a successful start Buckinghamshire this year, next year will see some in- and Oxford University will continue to country educators trained to deliver work with the Serbians to train more continuous professional development coaches to deliver rugby sessions in clubs courses such as Scrum Factory. It will and schools. Among other activities, also be time for the six groundsmen to 22 teachers will be put through the Tag start their training with Keith Kent and Rugby Award and 24 coaches will be doing the team of groundsmen who went out to their World Rugby Level 2 award. Georgia in 2015. Spain Germany Next year will see Northumberland and After some well received referee Durham work with the Spanish on their education taking place this year, there player development pathway with some will be more of the same next year, as support from the Newcastle Falcons, well as work on how to recruit the next as well as looking at coach and referee generation of referees. development.

Hungary Sweden, Denmark, Norway The next year will see a continuation In Sweden, Denmark and Norway the of the coach education work. More work to harmonise the mini and youth continuous professional development laws will continue allowing for even more courses will be run as well as training cross-border competition. This joined for some in-country coach and referee up approach, supported by the project, educators. There will also be work to means that the three countries can ensure the legacy of the Unity Project standardise their approach to coaching lasts well into the future through a club and through re-training their existing twinning programme. coaches to deliver rugby and festivals that children can enjoy. Netherlands In August the Unity Tournament will take Switzerland place. With sessions on developing youth Since the start of the project the Swiss rugby, spotting talent, teaching skills have put a university sevens programme and brainstorming ideas on how to avoid in place and next year Dorset and losing players between 16 and 24. There Wiltshire and Somerset will offer support, will also be a discussion on how to revise training more people to deliver this the regulations to make the game more programme. The Constituent Bodies and accessible for U15s players. the Swiss Union will also work together on developing a values of rugby session that Poland can be run in schools. With some work on the values of rugby in Poland taking place this year, next year will focus on getting more people trained to deliver rugby in schools, a priority for the .

DEVELOPING RUGBY ACROSS EUROPE

Rugby Football Union. The RFU Rose and the words ‘England Rugby’ are official registered trade marks of the Rugby Football Union.