cheltenham & stroud e news april/may...
TRANSCRIPT
CHELTENHAM & STROUD E NEWS
APRIL/MAY 2016
In this edition; Minchinhampton RFC facility developments, NatWest RugbyForce; RFF Small Grants, RFU Courses coming
soon, Age Grade Review, GMS support for clubs, RFU Headcase Concussion awareness, Old Mutual Kids First Rugby, Young
Rugby Ambassadors, Gloucestershire RFU Annual Awards and more
‘Strengthening clubs and growing the game in the communities around them’
NatWest RugbyForce 2016 This year we’ve seen a large number of clubs across the county sign
up for RugbyForce. With a few selected for additional support. Well done to Minchinhampton,
Tetbury, Old Patesians and Painswick who all were shortlisted for the development workshops and
£500 grants towards their RugbyForce weekends. A further congratulations to Fairford RFC who
were selected for the pitch maintenance support programme. This
included a visit and follow up report by Keith Kent, Head
Groundsman at Twickenham and a £2000 grant to help
support the works to be undertaken. All clubs who’ve registered or
are yet to register before the 13th May are to be entered into a
draw for a further opportunity: For the first time ever, NatWest
RugbyForce has launched a unique competition that could see your
club win England Rugby icons Will Greenwood or Lewis Moody to
sit on your club’s board as an advisor for an entire year. From
attending AGMs, special events at your club or simply being able to
offer some advice on how to make your club a more sustainable
business, Greenwood and Moody will become fully embedded in
their chosen club. Clubs also have access to the RugbyForce
resources and templates which include a range of posters, social
media banners, videos, templates to use prior to and during their
weekends; all free to access.
Visit www.natwestrugbyforcetoolkit.com for more details
Minchinhampton RFC have been busy further developing their
clubhouse facilities, whilst still work to go photos show the progress
over the last few months. The club hope to have things all completed
ready for the next season. The club have nearly completed the
external works with just doors left to fit. Work then turns to the internal
fittings including a new kitchen & bar area, plus toilets, storage and
plant room. The whole project including site purchase & ground works
for pitches as well as the clubhouse has taken years of planning and
fund raising to get off
the ground. By the end
of the whole project
over several phases
the total costs will be
circa £700k.
For any clubs looking
to embark on a
facilities project please
speak with Morgana
Further details on anything in this issue please contact Morgana Simpson, Rugby Development Officer [email protected]
Fairford RFC receiving their visit from Keith Kent, Head
Groundsman at Twickenham. In photo L-R; Morgana
Simpson RDO, Jonathan Chambers, Scott Cahoon,
George Ellis all from Fairford RFC & Keith Kent.
Game Management System (GMS)
The RFU is launching a support mechanism to help clubs perform a ‘spring clean’ of their membership information in the Game
Management System (GMS), enabling clubs to get the best from the system.
All clubs updating their data in GMS from now until 30 June will automatically be entered into a draw to win an incredible top
prize of catered hospitality for 10 at Twickenham for the Old Mutual Wealth Series, England v Argentina on 26th November.
There’s also five great ‘money can’t buy’ packages to win, which include kit, equipment, resources and England Rugby 2016
Grand Slam merchandise.
What do clubs need to do?
Watch this video and then follow a simple step-by-step approach, making all your changes through a simple spreadsheet
downloaded from GMS.
There are FAQs, video guides and online training available to help you along the way via englandrugby.com/GMS.
Benefits for clubs:
Cleaning up your membership information will help you create robust rugby data in GMS and communicate more clearly with
your people. This will help with playing numbers, volunteers, revenues and admin! It also places your club in a great position to
receive support and resources from the RFU.
Cleaning up a spreadsheet of contacts might feel like a challenge at first, but you will soon crack it and your club can start to
enjoy the great long term benefits.
Get started by visiting englandrugby.com/GMS. There you will find FAQs, video guides and how to book an online training
session. For any further questions on the Spring Clean please email [email protected] or contact Morgana
The RFU is delighted to support Table
Tennis England’s “Loop” project to bring
table tennis to our clubhouses. Loop is an
initiative designed to increase the number
of people playing social table tennis, while
at the same time increasing clubhouse
usage, helping to increase revenue across
the bar and providing fun for everyone in
the club.
It has been designed for use in other
sports clubhouses – hence the
strapline ‘everyone’s 2nd favourite sport’ –
in the knowledge that no one can walk past
a table tennis table without wanting to pick
up a bat and play! Take a look at the offers
available on the website here and bring a
great addition to your rugby club activity.
Rugby Football Foundation (RFF) Small Grants are available for clubs to apply
for through the season & split into two grant options. The 'Helping Hand Grant'
provides a mechanism for clubs to apply for a small grant of between £500 -
£1,500 for eligible Capital Projects (for example a new set of rugby posts,
redecorating the changing rooms etc.) with the club matching the grant on a £ for £
basis. Further details click here this includes guidance on what can be funded.
The “Groundmatch Scheme” provides easy-to-access grant funding for capital
projects which contribute to the recruitment and retention of community rugby
players. Clubs at level 5 and below can apply for between £1,500 and £5,000 on
a matched £ for £ basis. Further details click here
Completed applications for both grants are considered on a rolling basis
throughout the year. Clubs may only apply for one grant per project and are
eligible for only £5,000 in a 24 month period. The RFF aspires to turnaround
grants in eight weeks from receipt of a complete application.
Further details please contact Morgana
Calling all Mini & Youth sections - don’t
forget to check our the Age Grade
changes coming September 2016.
GRFU Annual Awards. This annual award will be given to those who have been
recognised as giving outstanding service to the game in Gloucestershire as a volunteer.
Criteria:
long service to one or more member clubs or associations in a playing, coaching,
administrative or refereeing capacity
long service to one or more sectors of Gloucestershire rugby
long service to one or more of the Gloucestershire Rugby Combinations
One or more of the above plus:
Be well known in relevant local rugby circle
Full details of how the nominee meets the criteria must be given on the form for it to be
considered by the Panel. Nominations may come from Clubs, Combinations, Associations
or the GRFU Management Board. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS WITH THE NOMINEE OR
CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED. Once completed, please email the form
[attached] to GRFU County Office by 13 May 2016 when they will go before the Panel for
consideration. These Awards will be presented at the GRFU Annual General Meeting on the
evening of Wednesday 13 July 2016.
Don’t forget to check out the online education for players, coaches, parents & guardians, match officials and teachers - click on the image to head to the website and to learn more.
Old Mutual Wealth Kids First is the RFUs new approach
to rugby at U7 - U13 within clubs and schools across the
country. It’s all about helping children develop and learn the
game at their own pace, and making sure they have plenty
of fun while playing. We’re asking rugby centres to take a
pledge to commit to a range of high quality standards and in
exchange are offering free resources – balls, coaching
cards and loads more. Watch this short video to
understand more about Old Mutual Wealth Kids First, why it
has been introduced and what benefits it can bring to the
development of your young players. We are asking clubs
and schools across the country to take a pledge –
a commitment to our mantra of developing children through
rugby. Sign up here.
Further details about Kids First can be found online here.
England Rugby Referees Association (ERRA)
The England Rugby Referees Association aims to
engage and communicate with the individuals who play
such a pivotal role in our sport.
Members will receive e-newsletters with news and
training hints and tips, including exclusive training and
development videos in the “Whistle-Stop” series. As the
Association develops, it will sit within My Rugby
Academy and allow access to even more training
materials.
With effect from 1st May, anyone attending one of our
Level One/Level Two Refereeing courses will be
automatically enrolled. Anyone who already holds a
Level One/Level Two Referee course, or an Entry Level
Referees Award/National Foundation course, can
sign-up via the website. For details and to watch the
launch video click here
Young Rugby
Ambassadors Don’t
forget to signpost any
people aged 14 - 25
year old supporting your
club to the RFU Young
Rugby Ambassadors
programme. To see how
their time and efforts can
turn into more. Click on
the image to find out
more or speak with
Morgana For those who
are active YRAs already,
don’t forget to sign up to
the celebration event at
Twickenham - limited
spaces available!
Fairford RFC are looking for fixtures for the U17s in 2016/17
season and ask ay clubs who will have this age group to
please feel free to make contact to help plan ahead with
some fixtures. Please contact Kenny Robins directly to
discuss. Thank you.
National Rugby Awards 2016
Message from event ambassador Chris Robshaw:
“I am honoured to be a part of an event that recognises the, often
unheralded, work and achievements of those involved in rugby
around the country. With the National Rugby Awards now in its
second year it makes me very proud that this is has become a
permanent fixture in the sporting calendar. I look forward to
meeting all the finalists in September.”
There are 13 nomination categories, including:
• School of the Year
• Men’s Team of the Year
• Facility Development
• Female Team of the Year
• Youth & Mini Section of the Year
Entries are now open at www.nationalrugbyawards.co.uk, for the
chance to have the achievements of your club, school or special
individual to be recognised at a national level and to celebrate at
the Home of English Rugby on Thursday 1st September 2016.
All entries will need to be submitted by 5th June. Good Luck!
Courses coming soon…All bookable online
www.englandrugby.com/courses
Rugby Ready 20th May 6pm at Hucclecote RFC
Level 1 coaching children rugby union Sat 21, Sun 22 May & Sat
4 Jun 2016 at Marling School, Stroud. 9-5pm each date.
Level 2 coaching 15 a side game Sun 8, 22 May & Sun 12 Jun
2016 At Hereford College 9-5pm each date.
New courses will be coming soon for 2016/17 season, so keep an
eye out for these new dates and venues. As always GRFU offer
all clubs subsidies towards the cost of any RFU course - speak to
Morgana for details.