Irish Rugby Football Union Irish Rugby Football Union Annual Report 2015/2016 Annual Report 2015/2016 Irish Rugby Football Union 10-12 Lansdowne Road Dublin 4 www.irishrugby.ie Office Bearers 02 & Committee Standing 03 Committees Presidents 04 Report Chief Executive’s 08 Report Honorary Treasurer’s 20 Report Sponsors of 22 Irish Rugby 24 Accounts IRFU Annual Report IRFU Annual Report 02 & Accounts 2015/16 03 & Accounts 2015/16 OFFICE BEARERS STANDING AND COMMITTEE COMMITTEES President L. Galvin Celtic League Management Rugby Commercial and Marketing M. O’Sullivan J. Gibson P. Browne D. Madden - Chairman, I. McIlrath - Chairman, K. Lyons - Chairman, G. Hamilton G. Fitzgerald T. Grace, P. Whelan, G. Barrett, S. Bayley, T. Grace, S. Bayley, D. Devaney, Vice Presidents D. Kavanagh J. O’Driscoll, M. O’Sullivan, N. Comyn, L. Gavin, P. Orr, P. Dean, P.R. Browne, P. Power S.R. Hilditch K. Lyons Lions S.R. Hilditch, G. Hamilton, M. Quinn, J. Robinson, and S. McNamara. P. Orr I. McIlrath T. Grace I. McIlrath, K. Lyons, J. Boyd (Ulster Rugby Chair), J. O’Driscoll D. Kavanagh (co-opted), P. Brady (Leinster Rugby Hon. Treasurer M. Quinn FIRA P. Browne, K. Potts, Chair), G. Malone (Munster T. Grace J. Robinson J. O’Driscoll D. Nucifora and S. McNamara. Rugby Chair), T. McDonagh R. Ryan (Connacht Rugby Chair), Immediate Past President T. Hennessy Trustees National Professional S. Walker and G. Black. L.P. Magee P. Whelan A.R. Dawson Game Board T.J. Kiernan G. Hamilton - Chairman, Finance Chairman Management World Rugby Board W.S.H. Lavery D. Nucifora, P. Browne, T. Grace - Chairman, Committee J. O’Driscoll Dr. S. Millar 4 Provincial CEO’s, R. Ryan, D. Madden, L. Galvin, D. Madden P. Whelan J. Hartery, E. Reddan (player) J. Gibson, M.P Coghlan, Chief Executive and G. Keegan (Irish Institute J. Robinson, P. Browne, Committee Six Nations Committee P. Browne of Sport). K. Potts, C. O’Brien, G. Barrett P. Browne F. O’Rourke (co-opted) S. Bayley P. Whelan National Coach and L. Quinn (co-opted). M.P. Coghlan J. Schmidt N. Comyn EPCR M. Cunningham P. Browne G. Drennan P. McNaughton IRFU Annual Report IRFU Annual Report 04 & Accounts 2015/16 05 & Accounts 2015/16 President’s PRESIDENT’S REPORT Report MARTIN O’SULLIVAN It was a great honour for me to be elected President of the Irish Rugby Football Union as the first member of the amalgamated UL - Bohemians club and I share with my club and the Munster Branch a great sense of pride and privilege. It was a great honour for me to be elected President delighted to meet with our vast army of volunteers A feature of our game in Ireland has been the welcome “Would you like to see a change in the season from of the Irish Rugby Football Union as the first member across the Island, who so loyally help to administer expansion and development of our rural clubs. Our traditional September to April,’’…“Would you remove of the amalgamated UL - Bohemians club and I share our game across the clubs, schools, referees, third- base historically has been mainly in urban areas and yourself from the pitch in case of concussion or with my club and the Munster Branch a great sense of level and women’s sections. work needs to be done to arrest any perceived decline other injuries’’… I see as a further demonstration of pride and privilege. in numbers playing in those areas. It is generally the Union’s concern for the welfare of the club game Meeting passionate volunteers and learning about acknowledged that rugby has strong positive values and its participants. At the conclusion of a memorable experience, I am their clubs was a particular highlight. I am conscious and provides excellent role models. We constantly delighted to put on record my appreciation of all those that the primary role of the IRFU is to promote and hear the benefits received from involvement in sport The growth of women’s rugby is particularly who helped me in my myriad duties, including my propagate the game and support our clubs. We cannot and it is our responsibility to ensure access to our encouraging with new teams popping up all over the fellow members on the Union Committees and IRFU relax in execution of that task, nor be overly deflected sport for all who wish to be involved. country. The success of our international XVs and staff and equally my family and partner Edel, who by other challenges. The game is built on the work Sevens has greatly assisted this growth. We now need performed her own supportive role admirably. of volunteers and they, in my view, have always been Clubs generally are at different stages of development. all our clubs to open their doors to women of all ages and continue to be the real heroes of Irish rugby. Some do wonderful work in recruiting new players and encourage their involvement in our great game. The Union is fortunate in the calibre of its Committee and in organising and coaching teams. Others Historically, this season saw the inclusion for the first personnel, working in tandem with its professional The growth and sustainability of our game is of have tremendous facilities, while more have great time of a woman on the IRFU Committee. Mary Quinn staff. It exacts great dividends from the value of paramount importance. We need to continually review fundraising capacity. What struck me forcibly on my has made a very positive contribution thus far. meeting and forming relationships with committee what we do and adapt to our rapidly changing society. travels was that the solutions to all our challenges people from other countries, thereby enhancing Nowadays people of all ages have considerably more lie within clubs themselves and it is incumbent The physicality of our game attracts a lot of the high reputation internationally in which the options on which to spend their leisure time. We need upon us to identify ways of sharing information on participants. It is a core aspect of rugby which IRFU is held. to ensure that we have propositions for all of them successful good practices among all our clubs so that should not be removed. Notwithstanding that, it is within our game so as to guarantee that it remains improvements continue across the board. The well- vitally important that the welfare of our participants We are honoured with the support received from our strong and continues to make a powerful contribution being of our club and grassroots game is fundamental remains a top priority. We are proud of the leadership National leaders and in this regard I would particularly to individuals and to the communities in which we live. to the wishes of the IRFU and I am greatly sustained we have shown in that area and intend to continue like to acknowledge An Uachtaráin Michael D. Higgins that it will ever be so. The online club player survey to do whatever is required to ensure that our players and his wife Sabina, who invariably grace our home Already we see great progress in development of launched this season which invites everyone to air are protected. The assistance and commitment to internationals with their presence. floodlighting and all weather facilities which allow our their views on how they see their place in Irish rugby high standards of player welfare of all involved with games to go ahead at different, nontraditional times and how they would like to see the game evolve players and teams is vital in that regard. Throughout my term in office, visiting so many clubs and not be negatively influenced by poor weather. into the future is a helpful and popular initiative. and touching base across the grassroots landscape - Clubs are to be commended for these developments. Searching questions such as – “Should the Ulster I must congratulate IRUPA on the initiatives they which is in effect where my heart lies - I was especially Bank League players receive awards or payments’’… have launched, particularly around the area of mental IRFU Annual Report 06 & Accounts 2015/16 07 President’s President’s Report Report wellbeing, complementing the work that the IRFU also do in this area. On my visits to clubs my feedback was that there is much acknowledgement and regard for this and many other initiatives that the Union put in place during the season. Helpful programmes that the clubs spoke to me about related to a cross- it is vital that we maximize our potential in all aspects section of issues. For instance, the concern of of planning and preparation. bullying in the club environment; the issues of concussion and other potential injuries; guidelines Rugby World Cup 2015 was a wonderful event and a on the mental health awareness project called Mind great personal experience for me. Though the outcome Ur Buddy in association with Pieta House, the suicide was disappointing for us all, we must acknowledge and self-harm crisis centre; the partnerships with the the debilitating effect of injuries incurred during the Government’s jobs programme called Connect Ireland tournament and subsequently in the RBS 6 Nations. whose aim is to stem the flow of emigration and how RWC 2015 saw the last appearance of Paul O’Connell it has taken its toll on rugby clubs; and the partnership in an Irish jersey. Paul has been an outstanding player with Sport Ireland in the IRFU’s Keep Rugby Clean and ambassador for Irish rugby and in thanking him anti-drugs education programme. for his contribution, I wish him well for the future.