Page 21 - RFU Annual Report 2018
P. 21

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                                                                                        CEO’S REVIEW
                                                                                          OF THE YEAR


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               GROW (CONTINUED)               programme to over 2,500 young   The 2017/18 season brought notable
                                              people volunteering across the game.   commercial partner activation in O2’s
               And, in addition to our 14 University   And NatWest RugbyForce remains   Red Rose TV advertising, the first such
               Partners, we are rolling out a network   a key volunteer event with over 500   campaign for England Women, and
               of RFU joint funded personnel in the   registering to take part, 285 attending   Tyrrells TV advertising featuring the
               university sector.  Nine clusters are up   workshops, and six clubs receiving a   Red Roses and Tyrrells Premier 15s,
               and running targeting those who may   support package and grant of £5,000.    backed up on millions of bags of crisps
               previously have left the game.  Over                           in supermarkets around the country.
               7,000 university students and graduates   With qualified coaches fundamental   Guinness’ enhanced investment in the
               have been helped to find rugby after   to players’ enjoyment of rugby, 18   West Fan Village brought a new Surge
               university and the profile and standard   Game Changer coaching videos have   Bar and performance stage.
               of BUCS Super Rugby has further   been viewed on average 80,000 times
               improved. There are also 21 Focus   per video and digital learning now   And the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteers
               Colleges strengthening rugby in their   complements face to face coaching   Recognition Programme saw 42
               institutions and driving transition of   programmes.           dealers stage events, and over 1,400
               players into local clubs.  A review of the                     nominations for a Twickenham awards
               competitive playing opportunities in   Our ‘Facebook Live’ events featured   ceremony for the top 100 volunteers.
               the sector is underway in partnership   Eddie Jones, and we are also working to   The programme was also nominated for
               with ECRFU and AoC Sport to meet the   increase the number of female coaches   Community Programme of the Year in
               needs of all levels of college players.    and referees.       the Sports Industry Awards.

               Work to strengthen our clubs and their   The England Rugby Referees   All of this helps our investment in the
               facilities has seen            Association now has over 7,000   game, a key part of which has been in
                                              members with whom we communicate   our artificial grass pitches which are
               £1m invested in 23 club projects,   regularly and training courses saw   improving the playing experience and
               which once again brought       strong attendances with over 24,000 in   limiting cancellations in bad weather.
               healthy partnership funding,   our first three quarters.       By September and the start of the new
               reaching £3.5m.                                                season we had 23 rugby 365 AGPs, three
                                              To grow the game in England our   under construction and a further 12
               The Rugby Football Foundation made   partners’ investment is invaluable and   planned for delivery for the summer
               smaller grants and loans to over 100   support continues to be innovative and   of 2019.
               clubs, while the Rugby Groundsman   varied, benefitting the wider game.
               Connected online community now has                             With a recorded footfall of over 100,000
               over 1,100 members. The Rugby Energy   In a challenging market which saw   this season, this breaks down as 40%
               Club won the inaugural Sports Industry   leading rights holders lose partners   senior players, 40% Age Grade players
               Award for Sustainability Initiative of the   over the year, the RFU commercial   and 20% Quilter Kids First players. More
               Year and continues to provide low cost   partnerships programme has performed   than 2,000 games were recorded and we
               options for clubs to use less energy and   well, with both Guinness and NatWest   also launched our fully accredited AGP
               save money.                    extending with new four- year   apprenticeship programme. Recent AGP
                                              agreements and Greene King IPA   Coaching & Refereeing Masterclasses
               Investment in volunteer leadership   signing up for a further three seasons as   on six of the newly commissioned AGPs
               support has seen the Leadership   title partners of the Championship.  involved our professional referees and
               Academy welcoming its 1,000th                                  members of the England coaching team.
               candidate. Our technical advice on   We saw two new brands join: Virgin
               governance and tax provided both   Active with a ground-breaking digitally   After a successful three-year AGP
               reassurance and tangible outcomes   led partnership and Tyrrells as the first   programme, we will be sensibly pausing
               with over £1m saved in VAT across the   title sponsor of the women’s Premier 15s   and undertaking a strategic review of
               community game. The CB Leaders   competition.                  all areas of the AGP operations this
               Conference brought 100 delegates                               year before investing any more capital
               together to align their work to the RFU                        beyond the commitments made for the
               Strategic Plan, continue succession                            coming season. This will not affect host
               planning and strengthen work with                              clubs with facilities already opened, nor
               clubs.                                                         facilities confirmed for construction in
                                                                              Phase 2 or 3, where pitches are not due
               Young Match Officials helped to                                to be completed until summer 2019.
               swell the Young Rugby Ambassador





                                                                                                            Annual
                                                                                                            Report
                                                                                                            2018
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