Age Grade Competition Review (U7 through to U19) A Task Group report prepared for: The Community Game Board The Professional Game Board and the Game Participation & Promotion Sub Committee (CBRDPs, ERFSU and the CSUs) Ian T Elvin December 2011 Under 19 Age Grade Competition Review: Consultation draft Page 1 Contents Page 1 Introduction 3 2 Terms of Reference 6 3 Task Group Membership 7 4 Task Group (Methodology) 8 5 Limitations of the Task Group 9 6 Competition Issues 10 7 Under 14 review 11 8 Post 15 Aspirational and Performance 26 9 Recommendations 28 10 Appendices 33 Under 19 Age Grade Competition Review: Consultation draft Page 2 Age Grade Competition Review 1. Introduction 1. This report has been prepared for the Community Game Board (CGB), the Professional Game Board (PGB) and the Game Participation and Promotion (GPP) sub-committee of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Given the nature and importance of the report it is acknowledged that the School, College and University Services (SCUS) sub-committee of the RFU will also have a keen interest in this project. 2. Consideration of the consultation draft, in December 2011, was shared with interested colleagues, including CB representatives on RFU Council, the Chairs to the Constituent Bodies Rugby Development Plans (CBRDPs)and the County Schools Unions (CSUs). Every effort has been made to listen to those close to the U19 game and to appreciate how we might move forward from here. 3. A task group including representation from CBs, GPP. SCUS, ERFSU, SRFU, specialist staff from the RFU and representatives from the wider game, have made a valuable contribution in preparing this report, focusing on specific terms of reference which required an evaluation and recommendations on competition programmes and supporting player development issues for U19 rugby union. 4. Consequently, all young people under nineteen, boys and girls, school children in state and independent schools, students in further education and in the initial stage of higher education, club members in mini and junior sections, plus aspirational and performance players in the fifteen aside, 7 a side, touch & tag game have all been considered in our work. 5. Over the last forty years rugby union in England has witnessed the growth and development of the game for children in our clubs as well as in primary and secondary education. With over 150,000 secondary school children and 35,000 primary school children engaged in the game the situation would appear to be strong. Indeed over 3,150 schools (independent and state schools) are affiliated to the RFU, including 60% of all secondary schools and 3% of our primary sector. 6. Following a Schools Review in 2010 it was clear that changes to the competition programme were desirable. However, there were already models of good practice in some Constituent Bodies (CBs) and County Schools Unions (CSUs). Moreover, in many respects the game was already moving in the right direction with an increasing number of primary schools taking up the game. The challenges to growth were predictably in the secondary sector where an increased government interest in inter schools competition and a perceived lack of clarity in some schools initiatives, suggested further consideration should be given to our options going forward. 7. The game required the development of a framework for the state and independent sector, one which might not need major changes but a well defined offer to schools and clubs built on sustainable foundations. The clubs had to be factored into any framework which encouraged sustainable growth through the joint planning and development of the U19 game. Although radical change might not be required there was a need to reach a wider population of players and provide more regular and Under 19 Age Grade Competition Review: Consultation draft Page 3 appropriate competitive opportunities. The work leading to this task group report was borne out of the review undertaken in 2010. 8. The level of commitment to our children, by the constituent bodies, their clubs and the educational system is hugely impressive. The voluntary sector alone has a phenomenal record of encouraging and supporting the next generation of players into our game. Across the land proud people speak of their club’s success in attracting and encouraging children (boys and girls) into their clubs and the joy of seeing players emerge from the mini and junior ranks into the senior game. Although the development of home grown talent has always been an aspiration of our clubs the picture remains inconsistent at best. Not all children, by any means, continue through from the U7s at their local club to the senior team twelve years later! The commitment of our schools varies from the expression of recent interest in playing the game, through “developing and engaged schools” to those that are more established with teams in each year cohort and appropriate fixture lists. 9. The RFU, as the National Governing Body, has been heavily committed in supporting strategies which underpin the development of the game, providing national and regional staff, numerous interventions and a significant investment of resources. However, too many children drop out of our game in their middle teens, when they leave school, move on to higher education or indeed following their graduation from College and University. 10. At the same time there are ambitious educational institutions, in the state and independent sector, who strive to deliver excellence through rugby union. Directors of Rugby promote their programmes to prospective students, play competitive fixtures against like minded institutions and celebrate their place in the pecking order as an important outcome to their efforts. 11. Clearly clubs and schools seeking to play rugby union need to feel comfortable with the offer the game provides and they will ask important questions. What does the RFU believe and invest in? How are the County Schools Unions (CSUs), the ERFSU and the geographic CBs involved? What support does the school and club infrastructure need to grow participation and provide the right competitions? 12. In commissioning this report the RFU and the task group recognises that the competitions programme is keenly connected to the overall participation agenda. We need to understand the culture in which we encourage the game and its competitions. Is the RFU, the CBs and their clubs, and all our schools working effectively to grow participation and to provide the right competitive environment for our children? 13. The complexity of the project has been compounded by the current social, economic and player development environment as well as the diversity of purposes in those organisations supporting young people to play rugby union in all its forms. Parents, coaches, referees, administrators, teachers, schools and clubs each exercise a responsibility towards the children in their charge. Under 19 Age Grade Competition Review: Consultation draft Page 4 However, experience suggests that not everyone holds the same values when exercising their responsibilities. 14. In a rapidly changing world we continue to recognise and appreciate the transformation in social norms, the dynamic of family and community networks and the influence of peer group culture as we wrestle with their impact on the game and how we should respond to changing needs and aspirations. This report seeks to recognise these challenges whilst being true to the values of the game and the best interests of those involved in the game. 15. The task group has endeavoured to concentrate on key issues that influence the development of young people, but inevitably have found it necessary to consider a number of wider organisational, management, resourcing and behavioural matters that have a profound impact on young people and their enjoyment of the game. 16. Appreciating the wider picture, understanding the prevailing culture within rugby union and how best it might be improved, comprehending the various responsibilities and making progress in a longer term and sustainable fashion will present a considerable challenge to those with conservative views or who find it difficult to (re)focus on the true values of the game. The task group, when setting out on this project, recognised these challenges and remained prepared to make recommendations which would have a significant impact on the game. 17. The RFU which exercises significant responsibilities in support of the game therefore comes under the spotlight in terms of its organisational structure and responsibilities, including the development of a rugby framework for young people, the management and oversight of the game, the need to delegate, empower and resource programmes for the medium to longer term future. Indeed the RFU needs to appreciate that the development of young people, through the game of rugby union, together with its various competitions, should provide a pertinent feature when evaluating the role of competitions in the senior game. At an appropriate moment the recommendations in this report need to be considered alongside the review of competitions in the senior game. 18. It is clear that no evaluation or recommendations in this report will fulfil all expectations for all people. There are such divergent interests all we can do is remain focused on the core values of the game and the best interests of the developing person and player. All members of the task group and those giving evidence have wholeheartedly embraced player development and the game’s core values as critical to the work of the group. 19. Any lack of structure or intimidating influences on the game’s development, bold suggestions leading to a change of priorities, or a re-emphasis on the development of our young and aspiring rugby players, needs be confronted with an overarching view to what we want for the game in the years beyond 2015. Under 19 Age Grade Competition Review: Consultation draft Page 5 20.