Edition 10: 20th September 2013 Rugby World Cup 2015 Lead Up and Legacy Activity The RFU launched the seven strands of its national Lead up and Legacy plan on October 31st 2012. The aim of this is to set out an overall framework against which national resource will be invested in the lead up to RWC 2015 with the aim of increasing interest and participation in the game. Whilst many Clubs, CBs, Schools, Colleges, Universities and other bodies are working hard to develop local projects to meet identified local need these seven strands are areas in which we will invest national resource to create change in Rugby communities across the country. It is hoped that those delivery bodies that have not yet identified their focus will focus in on these areas and take action to improve provision and opportunities against these themes. Six Regional Activation and Legacy Groups are now up and running and are working to add value to the seven strands and to engage partners from outside of the immediate rugby community in supporting the efforts of those within it. Each group is populated by representatives from CBs and from the wider community. Attached as an appendix to this CB update is a brief overview of progress against the seven strands along with listings of clubs/projects etc involved to date – this will be updated for each issue. In addition to the work against the seven strands strong working relationships have been established with England Rugby 2015, the Organising Body for the tournament itself, and an update on relevant areas are also included in the appendix. CB Visits – September-October 2013 You will have received information concerning the CB visits planned for September and October, to be attended by Steve Grainger and Malcolm Wharton, along with other members of the Executive Team. Many of you have already registered your attendance but if you still have members wishing to attend please let Dee Murray know as soon as possible so that final numbers can be confirmed with the venues. Dates and Venues: Tuesday 1st October – Broad Street RFC, Coventry Wednesday 9th October – Sheffield RUFC, Sheffield Thursday 10th October – Tynedale RFC, Newcastle Monday 14th October – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes Monday 21st October – Guildford RFC, Guildford Wednesday 23rd October – Didsbury Toc H RFC, Greater Manchester For more information: [email protected] Mini & Youth Rugby Blueprint Roadshow – October to December 2013 Following on from the letter sent to you on 15th August 2013, please note in the title above the confirmed name for the Roadshows to ensure clarity that this is about the mini and youth game in clubs, schools and colleges. The programme of dates and venues for the Roadshow is more or less finalised (see below) Communications about the Roadshow have started to build up on the back of the Kids 1st/Ruckley launch and after the 2 Years to Go announcements. This will now continue to roll out more widely across the game and RFU communications network. CB colleagues will be copied in every step of the way. A webpage has been set up with information about the project and a click through to the schedule of events. This is on www.rfu.com/myrugbyblueprint and will go live in the next 24 hours - please take a couple of minutes to have a look. An e-mail address has also been set up for people to contribute their thoughts either if they can't make it to a Roadshow event or if they want to provide follow up feedback having attended. This is [email protected]. E-Fliers and posters are being produced with a simple message about what the Blueprint Roadshows are and a call to arms encouraging people to come along, hear more and have their say. Any support that CBs can give in pushing these through their communications networks as well is of course greatly appreciated. As soon as they are available, they will land with CB Hon Secs. Thanks in advance for your support – more updates to follow in the coming weeks. For more information: [email protected] Mini & Youth Rugby Blueprint Roadshows 2013 Date Location Tuesday 8th October 2013 The Rose Bowl, Southampton Thursday 10thOctober 2013 Broadstreet RFC Tuesday 15th October 2013 York University Wednesday 16th October 2013 Gateshead College Monday 21st October 2013 Berkhamstead School Tuesday 22nd October 2013 Tuxford Academy Thursday 24th October 2013 Chesterfield RFC Monday 28th October 2013 Launceston RFC Tuesday 29th October 2013 Taunton or North Petherton TBC Thursday 31st October 2013 North Bristol RFC Monday 4th November 2013 Chester RFC Tuesday 5th November 2013 Wigan RFC TBC Thursday 7th November2013 Isle of Man Sports Institute Tuesday 12th November 2013 Guildford RFC Thursday 14th November 2013 Sir Graham Balfour School, Stafford TBC Monday 18th November 2013 Salisbury/North Dorset TBC Tuesday 19th November 2013 Anglia Ruskin University TBC Thursday 21st November 2013 Preston Grasshoppers RFC Monday 25th November 2013 Village Hotel, Maidstone Tuesday 26th November 2013 Fiveways Old Edwardian RFC Thursday 28th November 2013 Broughton Park RFC Monday 2nd December 2013 Hurstpierpoint College, Brighton Tuesday 3rd December 2013 Henley RFC Thursday 5th December 2013 Moulton College TBC Monday 9th December 2013 Culford School TBC Tuesday 10th December 2013 Twickenham Stadium Thursday 12th December 2013 Bradford & Bingley RFC NatWest RugbyForce Business workshops - for information. After a successful NatWest RugbyForce weekend with over 400 clubs taking part in DIY and improvement projects. The support continues with NatWest RugbyForce Business support workshops. These workshops have been developed in partnership with NatWest and will be delivered by NatWest Business Managers. Two pilot workshops were run over the summer in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire to test the material and approach and the feedback from both sessions was very positive. The business workshops are being promoted to the clubs that attended the original NatWest RugbyForce workshop and will cover a number of topics from business planning, cash flow management, and marketing. Workshop tutors (NatWest) and venues are currently being confirmed across the country – below please find the current state of play. For further information please contact Dave Stubley [email protected] or Alex Thompson [email protected] Area 1 – Somerset / Dorset& Wilts RFU’s workshops to be confirmed CB Venue Date Cornwall RFU Bodmin RFC 09/10/13 Devon RFU Cullompton RFC 07/10/13 Gloucestershire RFU (1) Chipping Sodbury RFC 09/10/13 Gloucestershire RFU (2) Oxstalls Sports Centre 14/10/13 Area 2 – Berkshire, Hampshire & Oxfordshire RFU’s workshops to be confirmed CB Venue Date Buckinghamshire RFU Aylesbury RFC 16/10/13 Hertfordshire RFU Hertford RFC 21/101/13 Middlesex RFU Mill Hill RFC 14/10/13 Area 3 Surrey RFU workshops to be confirmed CB Venue Date Essex RFU Chelmsford RFC 07/10/13 Kent RFU Footscray RFC 14/10/13 Sussex RFU Eastbourne RFC 23/10/13 Area 4 East Midlands RFU and Eastern Counties RFU workshops to be confirmed CB Venue Date Leicestershire RFU Belgrave RFC 25/09/13 NLD RFU (Derby / Notts) Nottingham Boots Corsairs 07/10/13 RFC Warwickshire RFU Barkers Butts RFC 02/10/13 Area 5 Cheshire, Lancashire (2) & Staffordshire RFU’s workshops to be confirmed CB Venue Date North Midlands RFU (1) Pershore RFC 30/09/13 North Midlands RFU (2) Dudley Kingswinford RFC 07/10/13 Lancashire RFU (1) Broughton Park FC 30/10/13 Area 6 Cumbria, Durham and Yorkshire (2) RFU’s workshops to be confirmed. CB Venue Date Northumberland RFU Newcastle Falcons RFC 14/10/13 Yorkshire RFU (1) Barnsley RFC 02/10/13 RFU and O2 have developed a special wifi offer for clubs We have been working with our longstanding partner O2 to develop a special offer for wifi, partnering up to make the cost to all RFU member clubs as low as possible. We will be launching this offer to all clubs on 25 September. With the RFU O2 Wifi offer clubs pay just £30 per month on a 36 month contract with no set up or registration fees, saving over £1,700 over three years. This is an offer only for RFU incorporated clubs. Any clubs that are not yet incorporated should please contact [email protected] and we will be able to advise about how to become incorporated and able to benefit from this offer. Once installed, O2 Wifi is free for club members and visitors to use, no matter which mobile or broadband operator they're with. It’s also simple to connect to, with a one off registration process The benefits of wifi for your club include: 1. Encouraging people to spend more time in the club: guests and members can connect to a fast wireless network and look at the latest results, catch up on email or check in on social media 2. Making guests and members feel at home by creating a coffee shop environment – they’ll come and stay longer. 3. Making the venue fit for internal and external corporate events 4. Making administrative tasks easier and paperless For more information, or to sign up, visit: http://o2wifirfuclubs.com/ Club Leaders – Mentors Available & More Modules on Offer The Club Leaders programme is here to help with the business side of things, providing free support in the form of online modules, toolkits and seminars which cover a range of topics from marketing to tax obligations. Clubs also have the opportunity to request mentoring support. One club, to have already benefitted from a Club Leader’s mentor is Sutton Coldfield RFC, who with the help of their mentor changed the administration structure of their club. Like many clubs they found working with a mentor a positive and rewarding experience.