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RFUSEPTEMBER 2010 / i ssue 127

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JOHN STEELE started as the RFU’s Chief Executive onSeptember 6th, vowing to put rugby ‘at the heart of theunion’s business.’

The former Chief Executive of UK Sport said: “This is a hugeday for me. It really doesn’t get any better. I have had a lifetime inrugby, right back to my mini rugby days in Cambridge, and I havea massive passion and, I believe, empathy for the sport.

“As a union we have one goal and that is to develop the gameat all levels across the country. To do this we need to put rugbyat the heart of everything we do. The RFU is here to serve andlead rugby and we will continue to build on firm foundations.

“The business is on a sound financial footing, which is acredit to my predecessor Francis Baron. But we need to makesure that we invest in the right way to put rugby at the core ofour organisation.”

RFU Chairman Martyn Thomas and Steele will be visitinggrassroots clubs around the country to meet the 50,000volunteers in the sport and he promised: “We will be listeningto everybody to discover what we are good at, what we can dobetter, how we can work better with our partners in theinterests of rugby.

“These are hugely exciting times for rugby. On my first weekendback in rugby I watched the Premiership double header, visited acommunity rugby playing initiative and watched the Women’sWorld Cup final. There is so much good work going on aroundthe country but I believe there is still a lot more that can be doneto develop the game.”

Steele, a former Northampton fly-half who became the SaintsDirector of Rugby and then Executive Director, is looking forwardto the 2015 Rugby World Cup as a unique opportunity for Englishrugby, saying: “2015 and a home World Cup in the sport I ampassionate about is something very, very special for the gameand the whole rugby family. It is a means for us to grow anddevelop the game at all levels and a focus all our combinedefforts on delivering the best tournament ever.

“In terms of 2015 we are still in the planning stage but alreadywe know that it will give us all a once in a lifetime opportunity toget players into the game. We want to work closely with everyonein the game to ensure that we are all ready to develop a joined upapproach that brings new players into our clubs for the long termand which will help us create sustainable success over the nextdecade and beyond.”

ALTHOUGH England were unable to endNew Zealand’s stranglehold on the Women’sRugby World Cup on Sunday September 5th, goingdown 10 – 13 to the defending champions whosecured their fourth successive world title, thematch did much to promote women’s rugby.

England came tantalisingly close to takingrugby’s ultimate prize with a magnificent effort infront of a record-breaking crowd of over 13,000people at the Twickenham Stoop, drawing levelwith the Black Ferns in the last quarter. Only a latepenalty from the boot of centre Kelly Brazier tookthe victory out of England’s reach.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: “I am soproud of the players. At the moment we are all sodisappointed but I genuinely believe in the biggerpicture of this result. The legacy this tournamentwill leave behind is huge. The fact that a women’s

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP A RECORD BREAKER

Continued on page 2

Dave Barton & Peter Thomas

THE O2 Rugby Reunion finale took place atKneller Hall, Twickenham on September 5th. Theculmination of this summer’s O2 Rugby Reunionregional events, ‘The Big One’ gave 34 teams fromacross the UK the chance to play in front of some500 supporters and to meet members of theEngland Rugby squad. The winners were: Nottingham Police in the

Corporate Competition; Saiyan in the Cup; withParched As lifting the Bowl and Inappropriatesthe Plate.O2 Rugby Reunion, a nationwide initiative

supported by the RFU to encourage players whohave drifted away from rugby to get back playingthe game, used a specially created Facebookapplication which let friends put a team togetherand sign up and play at one of the nationwidetouch rugby events. ‘The Big One’ at Kneller Hall was followed by the

Women’s Rugby World Cup final at The TwickenhamStoop. Commenting on the initiative, 2003 WorldCup winner Mike Catt said: “As both a coach andpast England player I truly believe in theimportance of keeping young players in the game.Rugby is a fun, sociable sport for players and fansalike and through O2 Rugby Reunion moreplayers have reunited with their old team matesand rediscovered their love of the game.”The O2 Rugby Reunion regional events took

place in Newcastle, London, Bristol, Manchester,Coventry, and Dorset said Jenny Simms, RFUSponsorship Account Director, “The Play Oncampaign is all about getting people back into thesport, an important strategy for the RFU. The O2Rugby Reunion touch events were created toensure the best possible links to local clubs andthe regional rugby communities and to reach awider audience via the O2 Rugby Reunion andFacebook activity."To find out more about the RFU’s retention

campaign, Play On visit: www.rfu.com

O2 RUGBYREUNION FINALE

John Steele – RFU Chief Executive

Catherine Spencer

rugby game filled the Stoop is ground breaking.Such a thought would have been regarded asnonsense before this tournament began.

“New Zealand were excellent today but ourdefence matched their attack, and I thought wehad the momentum at 10-10 to take the win, butunfortunately for us they eventually won by thesmallest of margins.”

With attendance over the tournament’s fivematch days at over 30,000 and viewing figuresfor the 13 matches televised live on Sky likely tobuild interest in broadcasting the women’s game,said RFUW Managing Director, Rosie Williams,“The whole tournament exceeded everyone’sexpectations. We are delighted it was such asuccess and believe it has helped the IRB to putwomen’s rugby firmly on the map.”

STEELEPUTSRUGBY ATHEART OFRFUBUSINESS

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NOVEMBER atTwickenham Stadiumshould be quite a month,with England taking on NewZealand, Australia, Samoaand South Africa onsuccessive weekends in thefour Investec Internationals.The InvestecInternationals will serve as agreat practice ground for the2011 Rugby World Cup andthere’s no doubt thatplayers will be intent onputting down a marker forselection. It will be a sterntest for England but onethey will relish.

Fans can still buy ticketsfor the Samoa Test onNovember 20th by visitingrfu.com/tickets

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 20102

HQ NEWS

NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER MIGHTY SAMURAI TAKE MIDDLESEX HONOURS

At the final, a nervous start by England put the home side on thedefensive with a knock on from the kick off which handed NewZealand an early opportunity to exert their dominance. Immediatelythe Black Ferns showed why they are world class, making Englanddefend furiously. An incredible effort in defence, including try-savingtackles by Danielle Waterman and Margaret Alphonsi saved an earlyscore by the visitors.

New Zealand also had their first opportunity at the posts withineight minutes but Brazier missed the target, as did Emma Jensen sixminutes later, letting England off the hook.

With New Zealand in explosive form, England were unable to getinto their stride and were constantly on the defensive, though theyhad their first real chance following the sin-binning of fly halfAnna Richards.

Some good immediate pressure by England got them into NewZealand’s 22 for the first time, but just like England’s defence, NewZealand held firm. England fly half Katy McLean was unable to addthree points after missing a penalty.

New Zealand then lost a second player, Mel Bosman, to the sin binbut moments later England gave away a penalty in their own 22. NewZealand opted not to kick for goal and their gamble paid off. WithRichards returning to the field, the visitors took a clean line-out balland spun it into the midfield, with wing Carla Hohepa finding a gap totouch down for the first try and first points of the evening on 33minutes. Brazier added the conversion to hand her side a 7-0 lead atthe break.

But England’s hopes were far from fading and McLean soon kickedEngland’s first points with a steadying 43rd minute penalty. Braziercould have matched McLean’s efforts minutes later but her kick wentastray leaving England just 7-3 adrift.

Hohepa was once again in dangerous form and made a threateningbreak, but lock Jo McGilchrist matched the winger’s speed to executea try-saving tackle to stop the Black Ferns adding more points to thescore board. England were once again magnificent in defence asRichards went close, before they were overturned.

Brazier stroked over a 55th minute penalty but, with New Zealandlosing captain Melissa Ruscoe to the sin bin, England were now incontrol to the delight of the Stoop crowd. A well worked Englandline-out and drive saw scrum half Amy Turner go close. New Zealandwere penalised and a series of scrums saw the home side batterNew Zealand’s defence. Eventually another solid scrum just fivemetres out saw Turner pop the ball out to the right wing forCharlotte Barras to score. With McLean adding the conversionEngland drew level at 10-10.

England rolled on their experienced replacements for some freshlegs but they were unable to make a further dent on the score board.In fact, it was New Zealand who took advantage stroking over acrucial 65th minute penalty and putting victory out of reach for thehome side.

DO YOU carry out the CRB checks for your club? Do youwant to speed things up a bit, while reducing postage costsand errors on forms?

The RFU are, on 4th October, launching a CRB E-Applicationsystem. This will mean that our entire workforce of bothvolunteer and paid staff can apply for a CRB check through a100% secure online site. Many of you will have dealt with paperCRB applications over the past few years and will, we are sure,recognise the huge benefits of this new electronic process:

• It is free to member clubs and CBs

• Brings time and money savings for clubs, applicants and the RFU

• Gives quicker turnaround time on forms for most applications(60% of clear certificates returned within 10 days)

• Is expected to prevent 99% of errors as a live on-line guide helpsevery step of the way

• Means application forms won’t get lost in transit

• Gives the ability to track applications through the CRB process ina far more detailed manner

• Is more environmentally friendly – with no paper forms required.

Those who do not wish to use the E-Application systemmay continue to submit paper CRB applications. However,we would encourage our clubs to take advantage of whatthis system has to offer.

ULR SAMURAI INTERNATIONAL tookthe Middlesex Sevens title at Twickenhamon 14th August, beating last year’s winners,London Irish, in the final. In a repeat of lastyear's finale, Samurai avenged theirprevious loss by overcoming a strongLondon Irish side 15 – 12.

Samurai, whose management teamincluded Joe Lydon. Mike Friday and PhilGreening, had beaten the White HartMarauders, Harlequins and the British Armyen route to the final,

There preparing for the CommonwealthGames in Delhi were an England squadplaying as England’s Help for Heroes and aWelsh team under the banner Wales AmserJustin Time. Both bowed out early but gotthe applause of the crowd as did the squadfrom Kenya and the British Army side.

The Middlesex Charity Sevens tournamentwas played in aid of the RFU Injured PlayersFoundation and the Professional RugbyPlayers Association Benevolent Fund.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 7sENGLANDwill be out to take the final step to end NewZealand’s domination of the Commonwealth GamesSevens in Delhi in October when 7s makes its fourthappearance. New Zealand have claimed gold medals atKuala Lumpur (1998), Manchester (2002) and Melbourne(2006), and are yet to lose a game.England pushed them closest in Melbourne with a greatrun, topping their pool thanks to a 14-12 win againstAustralia, then powering past Samoa 17-14 and Fiji 21-14

Simon Mills

to reach the final. Mathew Tait was acknowledged as theplayer of the tournament after scoring a hat-trick againstSamoa, touching down again against Fiji and gettingEngland on the scoreboard with another long-range strikein the final. But despite further scores from Andrew Vilkand Ben Gollings, England went down 29-21 against NewZealand and had to settle for the silver medal.This time round England will have a squad of specialistsevens experts including Gollings, who also appeared at the2002 Games, and Isoa Damudamu, and will be out torecapture the form that saw them beat New Zealand in thefinals of the Wellington and London tournaments in 2009.They face Australia once more in a key pool clash on DayOne of the tournament after taking on Sri Lanka andUganda. The competition will be tight with Australia andNew Zealand already assembling exciting squads – HoseaGear and Lachie Turner among them – and Samoa go intothe Games after capturing their first IRB Sevens WorldSeries title. England started their build-up in July and head coach BenRyan said: “The objective for these players now is to deliverfor a winning England team at the Commonwealth Games.There will be big guns in New Delhi like New Zealand,which means we’re certainly not going to be the favourites.But we believe and trust in the players selected and that ourpreparation will be right going to Delhi so that we’ll be inthe best possible shape when we’re on the start line."

For further information contact the RFU Safeguardingteam on 0208 831 7454.

For information about CRB and other safeguardingguidance please visit the RFU’s Safeguarding Website– RUSafe reached on this link -clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/RUSafe

James Haskell

Continued from front page…

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUPA RECORD BREAKER

CRB e-APPLICATIONS

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 2010 3

FOLLOWING their hat-trick of victories at theLancashire Schools Rugby Knockout Competitionsearlier this year, Lancaster Royal Grammar Schoolwas named Lancashire Rugby School of the Yearfor the second time.

An award ceremony at the Lancashire RFUAnnual Dinner at Preston Grasshoppers RUFC, sawthe Sanderson Trophy presented by Cliff Barker,President of Lancashire RFU. He also presented thecaptains of the LRGS U18, U15 and U14 teamswith the Lancashire cups, in recognition of theirvictories in the schools knockout competitions.

There for the school were: Andrew Jarman,Headmaster; Ian Whitehouse, Deputy Head andU15 coach; Jonny Millatt, U14 coach and thewinning team captains: Andrew Abraham (U18),James Warlock (U15) and Josh Hillis (U14).

Brian Bonney, Head of Rugby and Director ofSport, retiring after the ceremony, was unable tobe there as he was on the Vale of Lune SpanishRugby Tour. He said: “These successes are a fittingclimax to my career at LRGS. Rugby has been theflagship sport at the school for many years and ithas been a privilege to lead so many talentedcoaches and players.”

SCHOOLS

STUDENTS

RUGBY STUDENTS from West Suffolk College showedwinning form in a new pink kit last season – not onlyraising eyebrows but also cash for Ipswich Hospital.The West Suffolk College under 18 and under 19 squadsdonned charity shirts decorated with a print of a bra andtorso for games, with each player paying for his own shirtand raising sponsorship throughout the season. Eachyear the academy holds a leavers’ dinner and funds wereraised during the evening. In total the youngsters fromthe College raised over £1,600 for the Radiotherapy Unitat Ipswich Hospital. The cash is being used to buyspecialist pillows which allow patients to lie comfortablyduring radiotherapy treatment. Player Nick Shore said: “We certainly turned heads.Both fans and players from other teams have been askingwhere we got them from, and how they can get one.”The shirts have travelled with the players all across theUK. Team coach Nigel Brown said: “I’m really proud of

Hugh Godwin

ST BENEDICT’S EALING successfully defended the Cupcompetition at the 14th annual Cronk Cunis Under 21 Festival at theRichmond Athletic Ground on Monday 30th August.

The cup final, in which St Benedict’s defeated Tonbridge 19-7, wasthe culmination of nine hours of rugby played on seven pitches. Atotal of 71 matches were played involving 40 teams. Some 750players took part in the festival’s five competitions – Cup, Plate,Bowl, Vase and Shield - making this event the biggest festival of one-day 15-a-side adult rugby in the country.

St Benedict’s had looked likely winners from early in the day butwere strongly tested in their semi-final against Brighton, winning11-6 in a closely fought match. The second semi-final was evencloser, with Tonbridge scoring in the dying minutes to overcomeDulwich College 12-11.

The Cup was presented to St Benedict’s captain Rowan Halsall byRFU President Richard Appleby (below). In presenting the trophies,Mr Appleby praised the festival’s organisers and the important placeit holds in the rugby calendar. “It is wonderful to see so many youngrugby players enjoying the game, renewing old friendships andmaking new ones”, he said. “The organisers of the festival are to becongratulated on another successful and enjoyable event.”

A special presentation was made to chief organiser Tim Cunis byRichard Appleby in recognition of Tim’s outstanding contribution torugby in developing the festival over the past 14 years. Presentationswere also made to the doctors, physios, referees and match officialsfor their contribution to the tournament.

LANCASHIRE RUGBY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

the lads and we’ve enjoyed the season, at the College wenot only improve the ability of the players on the pitch,but we also we have a strong emphasis on the ladsattitude off it. Each year the players select a charitysome of the fundraising ideas amaze me as well as theamount they raise. Special mention must also go to ourkit supplier, The Touchline Group, who were kindenough to supply the shirts at cost price which helpedtowards the total.”“Part of my job as a coach is to make sure kits don’tclash in games so I always speak to the other coach onthe phone beforehand. When they asked what colour weare wearing and I said ‘pink with a blue bra’, whichcertainly stunned them.”Players were joined by the college’s vice principal,Martyn Wagner and sports academy manager NeilReader, to donate the funds and a framed shirt to thehospital radiotherapy team.

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE IN THE PINK!

ST BENEDICT’S SEIZEU21 TITLE AGAIN

CUP: St Benedict’s, Ealing 19-7 TonbridgePLATE: Berkhamsted 21-0 MillfieldBOWL: Oratory, Reading 17-0 Portsmouth GSVASE: Pangbourne 22-14 NorwichSHIELD: St John’s, Leatherhead 20-15 Hampton

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 20104

COMMUNITY RUGBY

Tony Simpson

ANYONE crazy enough to run a marathon distance ‘up a ladder’might imagine that a 230-mile canter round Northumberland usingbicycles, kayaks and legs would be a fun challenge, besides being avehicle for fund raising.

The participants handed over the £13,000 raised 18 months agoby climbing five times the height of Mount Everest in a relay on aVersaclimber machine and set about preparing for theNorthumberland Challenge. Mike Old, new Manager of EnglandCounties XV and son of British Lion Alan, was joined by RyanHoward, Joe Talbot and Catherine Emmett on the adventure, withthe Northumberland branch of Wooden Spoon the beneficiaries oftheir efforts.

Backed by an enthusiastic support team, led by Alan Old and RFUCommittee Member Danny Hodgson, the quartet put down animpressive marker by completing every yard of the 230-mile course.Said Mike. “It was a hugely rewarding challenge, with a real senseof achievement at the end of it, made even more satisfying as weraised around £15,000 for the charity. We also had amazing back-upfrom people providing food and support. I am hoping this willbecome an annual event and possibly run six teams next year,although I may well move into a management role next time!”

The event began from the causeway at Holy Island and a 24-mileopening leg to the foot of the Cheviot Hills. Then followed a 30-milerun/walk to Byrness, where the group were joined by former BritishLion, England and Northumberland star Roger Uttley for a 20-milemountain bike ride to Kielder Water. A six-mile paddle over KielderWater preceded a 36-mile bike ride to Hadrian's Wall, with a six-milestroll along Hadrian's wall launching Day-Two, before a 65-mile rideto Boulmer on the coast, followed by a six-mile run/walk along thecoast path and finally a 15-mile ride to Bamburgh Castle.

Rob Udwin, CGB Chairman

AT THE START of its second season, theRFU’s Community Game Board (CGB) hasachieved a good deal and is intent now onbuilding on the foundations established.

Over the months there has been adetermination to put clubs at the centre ofeverything that the Community Game Boardwants to achieve and a recognition that onlyin partnership can the RFU and its CBs andclubs protect, develop and grow the game.

Clearly, any new initiative takes time to getestablished and I am most grateful for theway the vision established two years ago hasbenefitted from the support of the RFUCouncil, CBs, clubs and the paid andvolunteer workforce. Our schools and universities havealso been an important part of the whole process.

In the Board’s first year we repositioned the RugbyDevelopment Officers as a club-facing workforce andequalised their geographical and workloadresponsibilities. This, we anticipate, will have a verypositive impact in the new season.

The Regional Rugby Managers have become the primepoint of contact for Constituent Bodies and, with a morerobust role established in managing theirRDOs and other staff on their patch, theyalso have a single management line,reporting to the newly-appointed Head ofClub & CB Services, Jez Allman.

We have made a good start on putting inplace Planning, Funding and Reportingprocesses with our CBs which will ensure amore focussed, accountable and bottom-upapproach to managing the game at alocal level.

The fact that all 28 county CBs have signedup to the pilot will certainly expedite thisprocess and I am most appreciative of theirsupport which speaks of real and positivepartnership in achieving the kind of progresswe all want.

Hugh Godwin

TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS RFC have confirmed their statusas a flagship rugby club by becoming the second in Kent toreceive the RFU’s Whole Club Seal of Approval, joining a selectband of 41 clubs throughout England. The Whole Club Seal ofApproval was introduced by the RFU in 2009 to build on theexisting Mini & Youth Seal of Approval.

“This award recognises the amount of work and time thatour volunteers put in,” said Darren Grasby, Tonbridge Juddians’Director of Rugby.“On the coaching side alone we have at leastfour coaches for each age group at mini and junior level.Each age group has managers and first-aiders, and there areadministrators looking after the various mini and youthsections. On the adult side all teams have dedicated coaches,which ensures that at all levels players enjoy well organisedcoaching sessions.

“Our club membership is 900-plus and the Whole Club Seal ofApproval has enabled the club to focus on the way we manageand organise ourselves. We like to think we were alwaysorganised but this process has identified gaps in certain areas,and it was good to get everything documented.”

Tonbridge Juddians run five senior teams and a veterans’ XV,as well as mini and youth rugby from Under-6s up to U18s. Theclub has an academy side which is a combination of the bestUnder 16s to 18s and plays six matches per year in addition totraining on a regular basis with the first team squad. A TJsExiles team which is a mix of students and local players playsfixtures in September, at Christmas and Easter. The club has athriving women’s side which recently achieved promotion intothe London 2 league.

“Every club can make improvements, said Grasby. “We realisedlast year that our database of new and existing players neededupdating to ensure we can communicate regularly with them. Nowwe can track which players are playing regularly and the club canfield five sides every Saturday.”

Andy Pratt, RFU rugby development officer for Kent (Rural),said: “Tonbridge Juddians RFC have worked particularly hard inrecent years to ensure their mini and youth sections provideexcellent opportunities for young people and the senior sectionscan now also boast this hard-earned RFU accreditation.

Jez Allman, the RFU's Head of Club & Constituent Body Services,said: “To earn the Whole Club Seal of Approval accreditation is amajor achievement that underlines a club’s commitment toexcellence. The process is designed to encourage best practice in allaspects of running a rugby club, helping assess where they are andproviding a template for them to move forward.”

SEAL OF SUCCESS FORTONBRIDGE JUDDIANS

NORTHUMBERLANDBOOST FOR SPOON

COMMUNITY GAME BOARDBUILDS ON FIRST YEAR

This new mechanism should rationaliseand unify the various funding sources forCBs. It gives them the ability to plandevelopment for them and their clubs andto bid for RFU funding in a manageableway, with help from the Regional RugbyManagers, RDOs and club and CBvolunteers.

I believe that the quality and amount ofwork the Community Game Board and ourclubs, schools, universities, CBs and paidand volunteer workforce has achieved inthe first year is a record of which to beproud. The work is by no means finishedbut we have got off to a flying start.

In this our second season there will bevery much a bottom-up approach and a move away fromtraditional target-driven systems to more effective ways ofperformance management.

It was more than a decade ago and appropriate for thattime that, with a recognition of the difficulties facingcommunity rugby clubs, a set of initiatives entitledBlackman Action was established. Three successive RFUStrategic Plans also set a large number of targets for thegame. But with new times comes new imperatives and a

recognition that community rugby canbest benefit from a bottom-up rather thana top-down approach. The RFU isdetermined to deliver the environmentand resources that clubs tell us theyrequire and I believe we can together bestcreate sustainable clubs and grow thegame we all love.

I am grateful for the support and expertisethat our CBs and clubs have brought to theprocess and believe that the CommunityGame Board’s job is to listen, to help themsolve problems, and to help them to helpthemselves to succeed.

Realising a vision is, of course, moredifficult than defining it but a very positivestep change is, I believe, being made.

Photo: Chris Lishman

Rob Udwin

Jez Allman

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 2010 5

COMMUNITY RUGBYPINNER TO BE PITCHPERFECT WITH RFUHELPTHE RESURGENCE of north London clubPinner & Grammarians has been recognised bythe Rugby Football Union which is providingthe bulk of the £46,500 funding for anextensive drainage scheme on the LondonBorough of Harrow-owned Shaftesbury PlayingFields in Hatch End.

The state of the lower pitch, which wouldbecome waterlogged and unplayable for longperiods in winter, had been increasinglyfrustrating for the club as it develops its miniand youth rugby sections and expands thenumber of teams at adult level.

Negotiations began over a year ago, firstlybetween the club and the RFU following anintroduction by the Middlesex County RFUChairman, Michael Barnes, a former Pinnercaptain and chairman. A report from consultantagronomist, John Hacker of PSD Preston,indicated that a very comprehensive newdrainage scheme was required. The RFUcontribution utilised funds from Sport Englandfor improvements to grassroots facilities andthe club applied to the Rugby FootballFoundation Groundmatch grant scheme whichwas matched by the Borough’s contribution of£6,000. Certain safeguards required by the RFUincluded security of tenure for P&Gs and anagreement to ensure that the drainage systemis maintained.

Work carried out by Agripower Ltd of GreatMissenden was completed in June this year.Thirty 10cm drains have been cut at 3m intervalsacross the lower pitch.. The whole area has beentreated for weeds and the pitch re-seeded.

Pinner and Grammarians president DavidHiles said: “This commitment and financialsupport by the RFU is a feather in the cap ofthe club and indicates confidence in our futuredevelopment. To have two fully functionalpitches will help us to expand. “We areextremely grateful for the help and expertiseshown by Rick Bruin, RFU Facilities and FundingManager, and for the support given by CllrSusan Hall, portfolio holder for Leisure Services,in driving this through.”

Hugh Godwin

THE RFU has appointed PeteWard as England’s first RugbyInclusion Officer, working in theLondon North region.

It is a strategic aim of the RFUto make rugby union open andaccessible to all, and Ward, 27,will develop the game ineconomically disadvantagedareas around the capital andincrease the opportunities toplay and coach among blackand ethnic minorities, and thedisabled.

The former Middlesex rugbydevelopment officer will alsodevelop rugby's alreadysuccessful attempts to reach outto young people who findthemselves on the margins ofthe full-time education orcriminal justice systems.

Nic Scott, the RFU’s Equity,Inclusion & SafeguardingManager, said: “We are

delighted to be combining with external funding partners to support thisnew post, which was proposed by the RFU’s London North regionaldevelopment manager.

“It’s a great step forward for our inclusion programme as it focuses onsome of the important inner city areas around London such as Hackneywhere rugby is laying down roots as a popular sport for young people toparticipate in and enjoy.

“The London North region includes some deprived inner-city areas and arelatively high proportion of black and ethnic minorities. There are alsoprisons and pupil referral units where we have already been successful withinitiatives aimed at introducing a wide range of young people to our gameand its core values.”

Pete Ward said: “I am delighted to be appointed in this new position.I know rugby can have a positive impact in the areas around London I’ll beworking in, and it is good the RFU are taking responsibility for developingthe game like this. The Core Values of the game - Teamwork, Respect,Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship - are completely applicable to thelives of young people in these areas.”

NEVER has so much touch rugby been seen.Through July and August this summer regionaldevelopment officers and community coaches, allturned out in specially designed kit, helped to organiseand run no less than 183 touch events.The initiative aimed to get the 16+ age group enjoyingthe fun that touch rugby has to offer and at least 167 ofthe events did just that, with no less than 13,000players involved and an average of 78 at eachtournament or festival.Pleasing aspects of the scheme included the fact that30% of all the players involved were women and thatalmost 40% of the events featured surrounding funactivities like barbecues, beer and music festivals Said Jez Allman, the RFU’s Head of Club and CBServices, “It was marvellous to see so many peopleenjoying touch rugby through the summer, many ofthem not having had their boots on for quite a whileand others who were new to the sport. Everyone’sdelighted with the success of the scheme and the wayclubs and organisations, having enjoyed theexperience, are looking to expand on it and organiseregular touch events themselves.”

GETTING IN TOUCHWITH THE GAME

RFU’S FIRST RUGBYINCLUSION OFFICER

Pete Ward

FAIRPLAY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN MIDDLESBROUGHCharlotte Pearl

THERE have been some 30 schemes rununder the FairPlay programme since itslaunch last January and another 30 areplanned.

The RFU, Wooden Spoon, Barclays Spacesfor Sports and Enterprise Education Trust,have joined forces to create FairPlay whichtargets young people unable to attendmainstream education, including thoseeither in or on the edge of the criminaljustice system through exclusion fromschool.

Nowhere has the programme been moresuccessful than in Middlesbrough in the TeesValley, a town that has twice the average UKcrime rate, and where almost a quarter ofworking age people are claiming benefits.Three schemes have run concurrently there,each including young people from local PupilReferral Units (PRUs). Two PRUs, Ashdale andTollesby, ran their own schemes, while the third scheme based at Middlesbrough RUFCcombined a number of PRUs and Learning Support Units that operate out of mainstreamschools.

Over 100 young people took part in the schemes, which involved eight weeks of classroomand rugby coaching sessions. Said Dave Reed, the RFU Rugby Development Officer forTeesside, “Having the right people delivering the coaching is key to success, and the RFUhave highly motivated coaches who believe in the programme.”

Active support from the local authority has also been fundamental. John O’Boyle is theBehaviour and Attendance Adviser in Middlesbrough Council and a driving force in helpingto engage young people in the FairPlay programme.

O’Boyle said: “Broadly speaking, we are looking to address three key things – deliveringphysical activities where possible for young people who have energy, but issues with

Hugh Godwin

aggression; improving confidence and self-esteem across age groups and providingspecific guidance where possible. The natureand values of rugby, especially the fact that it isa contact sport, helps work out anger issues ina secure environment. The spirit of the gamelends itself well to building self-esteem and thesuccess of our local schemes means we arelooking to expand them in the future.”

To overcome any lack of facilities inMiddlesbrough, transport was provided to andfrom the local rugby club on a Saturdaymorning and one boy is now playing rugbythere regularly. Some taking part havecompleted a Community Sports LeadersAward. Reed said:“Feedback has beenextremely positive. During the scheme theyoung people involved have come together andbonded, and as a result PRU staff are reportingimproved behaviour in the classroom.”

Improving behaviour in the classroom andgetting these young people back into

education, training and ultimately employment lies at the heart of the programme as far aseach of the partners are concerned.

Jason Leonard OBE, Lead Ambassador for Wooden Spoon and England's most cappedrugby union player who began playing at Barking RFC, said: “Spoon has found that rugbyhelps young people at risk of violence feel less threatened, it manages individual angerproblems, and the discipline of the sport is helping young people fit into education andemployment."

Kevin Wall, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Coverage for EMEA at Barclays, said:“We know from the feedback we are getting from our community sites and other projectshow opportunities through sport can deliver major benefits to young people, not only interms of tackling issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour, but also in developingtheir skills and confidence and improving their future prospects."

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 20106

CLUBS

Tony Simpson

LINKS betweenbrewing andrugby have beenstrong for over acentury andSheffield OaksRUFC, with itsroots in theHillsborougharea of Sheffield,is a primeexample.

The club beganwhen teachersand formerpupils from alocal schoolfounded theirown team andthis soon grew,enjoying many aglory dayincluding cupand league wins,before the sidebegan to age and new blood was needed.With a local reputation for being a friendly,successful, forward-thinking clubmembership grew quickly, with ‘Oaks’ in2010 becoming bigger and stronger than ever.

It was no accident, then, that CrownBrewery became involved with the club in

ON AUGUST 16TH some of the UK’sleading firms took part in the CompliantGlobal Rugby 7s at Rosslyn Park. Tensionswere raised this year with a number offirms entering for the first time. With noprevious form on the corporate 7s circuitthey brought an uncertainty to proceedingswhich made the day all the more enjoyable. Compliant Global hosted the event toraise money for their 2010 charity Scope,a supporter of disabled people at each

COMPLIANT 7s HELP SCOPEPaul Bolton

TWO multi-coloured London taxis appeared on the streets of the Lincolnshire town of Market Deepingrecently as eight Deepings rugby club members prepared to take part in the charity Sucato Run.

The players drove from France to Portugal over the August Bank Holiday weekend in the charity bangerrally tour to raise money for the Gemin-i charity which raises money to help 60,000 children in 114countries tackle problems such as malaria, HIV/Aids, human rights and conflict resolution.

On their marathon journey, the players departed from Market Deepings with an entourage of riders onHarley Davidson motorbikes. The Sucato Run began in Rouen in Normandy and ended at Cabo de Rocain Portugal. The Deepings players involved were: Mark Owen, Nic Coupland, Gary Hainsworth,Dan Hainsworth, Lee Coupland, Phil Vaughan, Wayne Elliott and Phil Mills.

LIVERPOOLCOLLEGIATELAUNCHACADEMYLIVERPOOL Collegiate had Wales hookerGarin Jenkins and Lancashire RFUPresident Don Welsh sharing the officialduties when they presided over the officiallaunch day of the newly created RugbyAcademy at their headquarters at LiverpoolCricket & Sporting Club in Aigburth.The opening was marked by Garin andDon presenting Academy T-shirts to20-year-old Chris Lloyd, the club’s leadingpoints scorer last season and the clubPlayer of the Year; and at the other end ofthe Academy spectrum, to 15-year-oldJamie Lightbody, full back for theUnder 16s.Gary Ackerley, the Academy Manager, said:“This Academy is the next stage in thedevelopment of the club, both to improvethe standard of rugby and to encourage theretention of our young players. TheAcademy will provide opportunities forskills development while offeringeducational support with coaching andrefereeing courses for its members.”

stage of their lives, and a substantialamount was raised.The final saw Brooks Macdonald AssetManagement take on one oftournament’s newcomers TouchBriefings. In a technically sound displayof 7s, Brooks Macdonald ran out winnersby 22-7. Next year the tournament will beheld on Saturday 6th August, allenquiries should go to7s@compliantglobal.com

SHEFFIELD OAKS & GLORYa uniquemarketing andfund-raisinginitiative. Anew brewentitled ‘Oaks &Glory’ has beenproducedwhich willgenerate fundsfor the club viaeach drink sold.Club ChairmanJoe Pogsonsaid: “It hasbeen a greatprocessworking withthe brewery.They haveallowed us tocreatesomethingunique toSheffield whilesupporting our

club and helping to build on the successwe have had so far.”

The new brew will be available in manyindependent pubs and off-licences in andaround Sheffield. The picture shows JoePogson tapping the first barrel at thelaunch of ‘Oaks & Glory’.

TAXI! DEEPINGS BIG DRIVE FOR CHARITY

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 2010 7

CLUBS

REDDITCH officially opened the new pitch at theirBromsgrove Road ground with a busy programme scheduleof rugby activities over the August Bank Holiday weekend.The weekend kicked off with their first women’s touchrugby tournament which gave Redditch’s newly-formedwomen’s team their first taste of competitive rugbyalongside established sides including Droitwich andBromyard.Redditch then staged an Under 15s match against OldHalesonians, which the visitors won 19-12, followed by aninter-club fixture between the veterans, the Exiles, and acombined 2nd and 3rd XV.The new pitch was then officially opened by the Mayorof Redditch, Councillor Kath Banks who was joinedNorth Midlands President Steve Guy, Charlie Hemmings,North Midlands Junior Vice President, Worcestershire &Herefordshire RFU President Nigel Banwell, NorthMidlands Referees’ Society President Terry Rees andRob Bray, the chairman of the North MidlandsCommunity Rugby Committee. The pitch was christenedwith a match between Redditch and the Guanos, thepopular Midlands invitation side, with the visitorsrunning out 62-21 winners.The floodlights for the new pitch, which is part of a

major development at the multi-sport complex, cost£46,942 of which £30,000 was provided by the RugbyFootball Union's Community Club DevelopmentProgramme fund and £5,000 from the Rugby FootballFoundation charitable trust.

KEIGHLEY RFC have been putting their revamped headquartersto good use following their make-over via the RBS RugbyForce project.

The West Yorkshire club had two highly-successful social events inquick succession when they staged one of the RFU touch rugbytournaments and followed up with an even bigger production whenthe Bradford & Bingley Bumble Bees team for players with Moderateand Severe Learning difficulties helped them celebrate the naming ofthe stand in honour of North East Counties and Yorkshire player,Frank Whitcombe, who died a year earlier.

The fact that two teams from neighbours and rivals Wharfedalecontested the touch rugby final did not detract from a thoroughlyenjoyable event, which included a competing women’s team. The

TADLEYSILVER JUBILEE

Steve Williams

TADLEY RFC is preparing to celebrate its Silver Jubileeat its refurbished Red Lane headquarters. The club has come a long way since November 1985when Frank Jose, Roy Mears, John Thomas and MikeJewell, moved on from a local club to form their own.Their first game kicked off on September 28th 1986 at alocal school against a Chairman’s XV. They found asuitable ground in 1992 and converted the old barn atRed Lane, Aldermaston, into a clubhouse. The venue wasofficially opened by the then President of the RFU andBerkshire RFU representative Dennis Easby inSeptember 1994. A 1996 lottery grant helped expand facilities and theclub enjoyed success on the field moving up leagues, aswell as establishing the Tadley Tigers junior section. Nowin their 25th season, new facilities have been unveiled,including an expanded clubhouse, a physio room and thelaying of a third pitch. The facilities were funded by theclub and The Veolia Environmental Trust, which awardedthem a grant through the Landfill Communities Fund.Said founder member, Roy Mears: “It’s been hard workbut fun and very gratifying and we’ve come a long way.There’s a lot we can do in the future and I’ll be interestedto see where we are in another 25 years time.”

GREAT DAYS FOR EVERYONE IN KEIGHLEYBumble Bees had made their competitive debut at Keighley at theFat Boys’ Sevens earlier in the year and were back to enjoy anotherouting, which developed into a major re-union.

The attendance, which included former players from far and nearkeen to share in the tribute to one of the club’s best-loved playersand coaches, ensured that fund-raising for the Bumbles up-comingtour to Wales to take on Llanelli Warriors was well supported. “Therewas a lot of reminiscing about happy times, which is just how Frankwould have wanted it,” said Tony Simpson: “One of those dayswhen nobody could remember dropping a pass or missing a tackle!A great day for everyone, especially the Bumble Bees, many of whomstayed long into the evening to share fully in a proper rugby day.”

Mrs Mollie Whitcombe and grandson James, together with Bumble Bees founder Anthony Brooke and the assembled Keighley cast at theformal naming of the Keighley RFC stand.

REDDITCH CHRISTEN NEW PITCH RHINOS GO HEAD TO HEADMEMBERS OF KINGS NORTON RHINOS tag rugby teamcame face to face with their fiercest rivals to date when theymet these tough newcomers at the West Midlands Safari Park.

The seven-year-old players from the Hopwood based clubwere invited for a head to head with a difference. The boys metthe park's newest attraction, the Armoured Indian Rhinoceros,during a visit to the Safari Park in August.

The young rugby players Henry, Toby, Daniel and Matthew,from the rapidly expanding Rhinos Tag and Junior Rugby sectionat Kings Norton RFC, were keen to show just how formidable ateam they are! Having had a very successful first season togetherthey are all looking forward to the new season.

Kings Norton Rhinos will be running tag rugby teams in Under7 to 9 age groups and also junior rugby at under 13 and 15. Inaddition this year has seen the start of Rugger Bugs where boysand girls under 6 years of age develop their co-ordination, agilityand inter-personal skills in a safe and friendly environment.

The 'armoured' rhinos - Sophie and Rap - can now be seendaily in their new enclosure called 'Realm of the Indian Rhino'at West Midlands Safari Park. KNRFC would like to thank WMSPfor making the visit possible.

Kings Norton Rhinos train at Hopwood Park, Ash Lane everySaturday morning at 10am. For further details contactSteve Washington on 07866 735560.

WIDDEN OLD BOYS PRETTY INPINK FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Mike Taylor

WIDDENOld Boys RFC, who play in Gloucester’s premierleague, recently unveiled their 2010/11 1st XV kit in aid ofcancer research, pink with a dash of green. For the launch,all the sponsors were in a packed clubhouse, including:Cooke Sheet Metal, Burger Star, Back Badge Cars, Studies inWork and Thornbrook Ventilation. Throughout the seasonthe club will make collections on match days and organisefund-raising events.

GRASSHOPPERS ANDMANCHESTER ROLL BACKYEARS

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 20108

RPA

THOSE attending this season’s RPA Academy Induction Day havepraised its value in setting young players on the road toprofessionalism.

The third annual RPA Academy Induction Day was held atLoughborough University in August and was attended by over 60Academy Players from all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs. Theplayers heard from legal, health and sporting professionals, whooutlined the landscape of professional rugby and advised on playinginsurance, player agents, drug awareness, anti-doping and socialresponsibility. Players were also introduced to the range of health,welfare and education opportunities offered by the RPA's PlayerDevelopment Programme.

The day was well supported by a number of high profile formerprofessional players including Harry Ellis, Jim Evans, Leon Lloyd andKevin Maggs, who shared their advice and experience of life asprofessional players with the Academy players.

Howard Graham, Academy Coach at Harlequins said: "The daydelivered some important messages for our new Academy Playersand did that in a very good way, giving the players tips about howthey can protect themselves against some of the pitfalls of being aprofessional player, and highlighting the need to look after theirfutures once their rugby careers are over.

"Allowing the boys to hear from external experts, such as medialawyers and former professional players who have been through theexperience themselves had a strong impact, as it's good to hearadvice from the horse's mouth."

Jonah Holmes, Academy scrum half at London Wasps said: "Iwasn't expecting to find out as much as I did. New academy playersneed to come to this day; it's very useful.

Will Spencer, Academy lock at Bath Rugby said: "I was surprisedabout how in depth the day was. I have learnt so much fromspeaking to the former players like Harry Ellis. It's kick-started meinto speaking to agents, sorting out my insurance and so on."

THE LEXUS BRITISH BIKE RIDE 2010 has raised£90,000 to date for rugby charities the RPA BenevolentFund and RFU injured Players Foundation, and armedforces charity Help for Heroes.Event ambassador and Rugby World Cup winner RichardHill started the 150 riders on their 330 mile ride fromLands End to London on 1st September, arriving atTwickenham Stadium four days later for the AvivaPremiership Rugby London Double Header. Amongst theriders was England Manager Martin Johnson, whocompleted Day 3 of the ride from Yeovil to Winchester, andex-serviceman Derek Derenalagi, who lost both legs inAfghanistan in 2007 and rode the last stage intoTwickenham on his hand bike.RPA Communications Manager Fiona Hackett, who

LEXUS GREAT BRITISH BIKERIDERS CLOSING IN ON £100,000

completed the full 330 mile route, said: “The Lexus GreatBritish Bike Ride was a challenging and memorable fourdays for everyone who took part, but it’s been madetruly worthwhile by the news that we have raised£90,000 for three terrific charities. Thank you toeveryone who sponsored a rider, the event sponsors andthe organisers, who have all helped make the LexusGreat British Bike Ride 2010 such a great success.”This year’s ride, will be the first in a series of annualevents which aim to raise £1.5 million for charity overthe next 5 years. The Lexus British Bike Ride 2010 willremain open for sponsorship for the next two months.If you would like to support the three charities you cansponsor Fiona atwww.virginmoneygiving.com/fionahackett

RPA ACADEMY INDUCTIONVITAL FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

CLUBS

By Tony Simpson

PRESTONGrasshoppers and Manchester will be turning back thepages of history when they meet at Lightfoot Green in a leaguegame on October 2, 2010 – it will be 160 years since they first met inwhat proved to be a very entertaining afternoon for the assembledcrowd. February 2nd 1870 was the date the two clubs came togetherfor the first time and there were regular meetings until Hoppers’demise in 1885.Sporadic matches took place after the re-birth of Preston

Grasshoppers in 1900 but a regular fixture was put in place shortlyafter the World War II, which has only been interrupted whilst theclubs have gone their separate ways with League Rugby. There havebeen 74 previous meetings, with Hoppers winning 31 andManchester 35 with 8 drawn. Ironically, both clubs can claim the same individual as being

arguably their best ever player – A N Hornby, who representedEngland at both rugby union and cricket.Preston Grasshoppers have recently appointed England Counties

coach Dave Baldwin Head Coach at the club, replacing the long-serving Alex Keay. Baldwin will head up a new coaching structureincluding recently appointed Strength & Conditioning coach KarlFitzpatrick and new Assistant Coaches Stefan Ratchford (skills &kicking coach) and Michael Lough (backs coach). Baldwin, who is 45, started his playing career with Bramley in his

native Yorkshire before joining Wakefield RUFC and then Sale,where he spent a long and distinguished career as a second rowforward, winning representative honours with Yorkshire, North ofEngland and England 'A'. After retiring he became Director of Rugbyat Manchester RUFC where he spent seven years. Dave Baldwin

LIVERPOOL GIRLS HOPETO FIRETony Simpson

LIVERPOOLSt Helens havestrengthened theirlinks with MerseysideFire and RescueService (MF&RS) witha second sponsorshippackage involving a new girls’ rugby team. The under 18s girls’team at Moss Lane has received funding from MF&RS for theirnew kit and equipment so that they can enter the North WestLeague in the 2010/11 season.

The Service’s links with the club will be further bolstered as GaryBennett, a fire-fighter, has volunteered to coach the team. He is oneof four coaches training the girls’ teams at Liverpool St Helens FC.

The launch of the new team fits with the aims of the Service’sFire Fit project, to increase community participation in healthyactivity and encourage active lifestyles. The project follows asuccessful 2008 partnership between MF&RS and Liverpool StHelens Football Club which launched an Under 15s girls’ rugbyteam. Now numerous girls, aged 12-15, regularly play and train atLiverpool St Helens with many achieving great success.

Programme Coordinator of the Legacy Programme at MerseysideFire and Rescue Service, Essie Li, said: “I was amazed by the levelof hard work and stamina it takes to reach the standard that thegirls’ play at. We are honoured to be able to work closely withLiverpool St Helens FC to promote public health together and wishthem every success in the upcoming season.”

The launch of the new partnership tied in with a touch rugbytournament in which nine teams competed. Pictured are teamsfrom Essie’s Angels (the Fire-fighters in orange) and LSH.

THE INAUGURAL South Africa v EnglandLegends match, at the Twickenham Stoop,on Friday 26th November, will feature someof rugby’s most famous names, the nightbefore the two countries meet in theInvestec International at Twickenham.Following the success of the England vIreland Legends match played earlier thisyear, The England Legends have invited theirSouth African counterparts to compete inwhat is expected to be a highly competitiveclash. Both sides are raising funds for theirnominated charities - including SARLA, TheSouth African Rugby Legends Association.England's team will be led by formercaptain and British and Irish Lion MartinCorry and will include several members ofthe 2003 World Cup winning team.England's most-capped player, JasonLeonard, will return to his former homeground to take part. Other heroes of 2003include Jason Robinson, Paul Grayson,Mark Regan and Josh Lewsey. They'll bejoined by other recent internationals:Richard Cockerill, Tim Stimpson, MattPerry, Garath Archer, Dan Luger and BenClarke - all subject to availability.The South African Rugby Legends will beled by their Assistant Coach and SARLACEO John Allan, the ex Scottish andSpringbok hooker and their Coach (formerSharks and Springbok Coach) IanMcIntosh. Other former Springboks willinclude AJ Venter, Joost van der Westhuizen,Braam van Straaten, Robbie Kempson,Cobus Visagie, Bobby Skinstad and exLondon Irish player Ryan Strudwick –again subject to availability.

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 2010 9

PREMIERSHIP

CHAMPIONSHIP

CHURCHDOWN School, Gloucester were recent winners of a Community Schools Project run byGary Little, Community Manager at Aviva Premiership club Gloucester Rugby. Local schools enteredcommunity projects and prize winners Churchdown were on the pitch at Kingsholm to receive the award.

SOS IRB Kit Aid collects unwanted sports kit to give to less developed countries like South Africa,Kenya, Bulgaria and Samoa, working with 20 countries and with a further 56 on their waiting list. Theypromote the importance of recycling and have saved 75,000kg of quality sports kit from being throwninto landfill sites since 2000, delivering over £2million worth in just 10 years.

Said the Churchdown team: “We have been involved in this project for just under a year, workingclosely with four schools: Longlevens, Innsworth, Parton Manor and Elmbridge Junior Schools Webrought pupils to an art day at Churchdown School where an artist helped them produce musicalinstruments out of recycled materials and make flags of countries helped by SOS IRB Kit Aid.

“We attended sports leaders conferences at Bentham and Hatherly Manor, giving a presentation toraise awareness and get schools interested in being a part of the project. We have been along to eachof the schools that we worked with, giving an assembly to show the work of SOS IRB Kit Aid and hadlots of interest in helping. We also collected lots of kit for SOS at our own school.“

Pictured on the pitch with Richard Westaway from SOS are Becky Matthews, Adam Willis and LisaDenby. The rest of Churchdown School’s SOS team are: Katie Evans, Sam Cooper, Andrew Kilby,Gemma Dobson and Vicky Staples.

The RFU Championship season was launched at Twickenham in August with representativesfrom all 12 clubs there to meet the mediabefore getting stuck in for the new season.

MORE THAN 100 primary schoolyoungsters from Plymouth and thesurrounding districts brightened up theirsummer holidays by attending two all-daycoaching sessions laid on by Plymouth AlbionRFC at their Brickfields base.Partly funded by the DRC Partnership, theboys and girls, aged between five and eleven,were put through their paces by the entirePlymouth Albion Championship squad ledby head coach Nat Saumi.“This has been a great opportunity for localprimary school children to work withprofessional players,” said organiser and theclub’s Community Coordinator Chris Perkins.“All of the children really enjoyed themselvesand all of them said they’ll be back next year.”

CHURCHDOWN ANSWER SOS

LEGENDS STOOP TO CONQUER

TGI FRIDAY!

PLYMOUTH ALBION PLAYERS LOOK TO FUTURE

THE MIDDLESEX Charity Sevens atTwickenham saw Mike Friday coachULR Samurai to final victory overLondon Irish at a time when hewas taking on the role ofassistant coach at Championshipclub London Welsh.

Friday’s new appointmentbrings a reversal of roles withina notable coaching partnership.Phil Greening, current Head Coachof London Welsh, worked as Friday’sassistant in the England Sevens coachingunit. Under Friday’s direction the team wontheir first London Sevens title and four successiveHong Kong titles.

The pair first played together at Wasps whenFriday returned to the club after four seasonswith Blackheath. His international playing careerincludes captaining the England Sevens, caps forthe A and Student teams and Barbarianrepresentation.

Following four years as coach of Blackheath,Friday joins the residents of Old Deer Park in whatcould be a defining 125th season for the Exiles.With a third place finish in the Championship lastyear, London Welsh have been dubbed as the teamto rival Worcester Warriors for promotion.

Said Greening, “Mike brings an enormousamount of coaching ability and also the samemindset as myself and all at London Welsh. Hewill bring the sort of expertise and commitmentwe are looking for at the club… to take LondonWelsh back into the top flight.”

At the London Welsh 125th season celebrations,the Welsh Guards’ Military Tattoo kicked off theevent, which raised funds for the Welsh GuardsAfghanistan Appeal and honoured the longassociation between club and regiment.

John Dawes OBE, Club President andcaptain of the victorious British

Lions team of 1971, praisedthe troops, “It is hard to be

away from home and youhave shown true fortitude,loyalty and courage and tothe Guards I say: ‘this isyour second home

whenever you want it.‘” London Welsh minis

demonstrated a few moves forthe 1st XV and the Chelsea

Pensioners before the Corps of Drumsprovided a celebratory parade and a gun runcompetition in advance of a firework finale.

Said Albion’s chairman of rugby GrahamDawe: “It is good to engage players in thecommunity and they certainly enjoy theinteraction with young players. If just oneof these youngsters eventually goes onand plays for Plymouth Albion then it is ajob well done and good news for the club.”Later the Albion players also coachedlocal secondary school pupils.

Emma Kennedy

Martin Corry

Mike Friday

The South African Rugby LegendsAssociation (SARLA), a beneficiary of theevent, was originally set up to raise fundsfor the development of rugby at grass rootsand club rugby in South Africa. TodaySARLA has grown into a full-blown socialawareness charity using sport as thecatalyst to bring people together. TheEngland nominated charity will beannounced at a future date. Tickets will start at £20 for Gold seats,£10 for unreserved seating and £5 forconcessions, and are now on sale viawww.union.quins.co.uk or by calling0871 527 1315. You will also be able to payat the gate.

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 201010

IPF

COACHING

NICK SINCLAIR is now able to take a break away with hiswife Julie and six-year-old son Scott. For the Lancashirefamily this will be something new. Nick, who was seriouslyinjured aged 18 playing for Fylde, needs a lot of essentialequipment to accompany him and thanks to a small grantfrom the Injured Players Foundation that’s possible.“Without roof rails and a top box there was no way totravel with so much stuff,” says Nick. “The car iswheelchair-adapted and so has no storage space.”

DAN TANNER, a community rugby coach for Birminghamrecently raised £1,200 for the Injured Players Foundation bycycling 1000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End. He and therest of the charity bike ride put in 100 miles a day over ten and ahalf days.

Said Dan, “When I crossed the finish line it was a feeling of joyand pain! Having been involved in rugby for a number of years,I’ve met guys who have been badly injured and felt this was away of giving something back to the sport I love. We can allempathise with those who can’t play any more through seriousinjury and I’d urge anyone thinking of fund raising to consider theIPF as a beneficiary.”

Donations can still be made through: www.justgiving.com/Dan-Tanner

MUSEUM

Phil McGowan

AUGUST 20th 2010 saw the sixthWomen’s Rugby World Cup kick offin Guildford, Surrey. Twelve nationscompeted, with New Zealandrunning out winners. A specialexhibition profiling each of thecompeting teams, previoustournaments and the history ofwomen’s rugby opened at the World RugbyMuseum in Twickenham Stadium’s EastStand to celebrate the World Cup.The exhibition tells the story of theWomen’s World Cup, since its inauguralchampionship in 1991, documenting thegreat games and tournament winningsides. It examines the roots of the women’sgame, recalling Emily Valentine, a littleknown Irish girl, fast gaining the type ofmythology that has seen her dubbed the‘female Webb-Ellis’. The exhibition also chronicles theresistance that drove the sportunderground at the beginning of the

WELLS WORKS WITH MIDLANDS COACHES

ENGLAND forwards coach John Wells ran asuccessful session for 53 Midlands coaches andreferees at Birmingham & Solihull’s Portwaytraining ground.

The session, which focused on the breakdown,gave coaches and referees to see at closequarters howthe formerLeicester Tigerscaptain andcoach worksand to tap intoWells’s vastexperience.

“It was afantasticsession whichgave thecoaches andreferees afascinatinginsight into in-depth technical coaching,” saidIan Bletcher the Coach Development Officer forthe West Midlands.

“John Wells impressed everyone with thesheer humble way that he presented the session

and the way that he dealt with everyone.He was a model for every coach.

“The way that he identified and correctedfaults was what you would expect from one ofthe country’s leading coaches.

“We had referees from the Midlands Group inattendance plus Chris White who said the

session was areal eye-openerand of greatvalue to them.

“I think Johnalso enjoyedthe session andhe commentedhow impressedhe was by theenthusiasm andcommitment ofcoaches whowork at a verydifferent level.

“It brought home how important the Englandteam is to the community game. Hopefully wecan run similar sessions two or three times ayear to continue to strengthen the links betweenthe elite and community games.”

John Wells

twentieth century, and the pioneeringspirit that brought it to mainstreamacceptance. Finally there’s a look at what isinvolved in a World Cup from a player’sperspective, in the ‘Player’s Experience’section. A variety of posters and artefactsfrom the earliest days of the game andprevious World Cups are also on show. Theexhibition runs through to Spring 2011.Entry to the World Rugby Museum can becombined with a Twickenham StadiumTour. For information, including openinghours, prices, or to book your Stadium Tourin advance visit www.rfu.com/museum or call 020 8892 8877.

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUPEXHIBITION

IPF BROUGHT BIGIMPROVEMENTS SAYS NICK

Nick, now 40, has seen a big change in recent timeswith the advent of the RFU’s Injured PlayersFoundation. “I was playing 7 in an away match atDurham and had just left school when I was in a pile upthat put me in the Hexham spinal unit. I was threemonths in bed, had an operation and then spent threemonths in Southport spinal unit. I should have beenstarting university but instead went home to live in myparents’ front room, until they moved into a bungalow.“You have no choice but to just get on with it and backthen nobody came to see you from the RFU, they didn’tlike to acknowledge that someone had broken theirneck playing rugby. Even when Fylde were fund raisingand wanted to spread the word through the RFU it wasa ‘no’. Locally, people cared. Bill Beaumont came to seeme, he played for Fylde when my dad was in the secondXV, and people came from Lancashire and PrestonGrasshoppers but there was really no set-up to helpback then.”In the intervening years Nick met and married Julie,who worked as a respite centre nurse, and their familywas complete when Scott arrived. “Dave Phillips from IPF has been great,” said Nick. “Thecold is a real problem for me and he suggested Julie and Iput a conservatory on our bungalow and helped with agrant to part fund it. We also had partial funding for a loftconversion so that Scott could have a bedroom upstairs. “Things have certainly changed for the better, now youjust have to email the IPF and you hear within a week ifthey can help. I also went to Twickenham for the firsttime in 19 years last November for the England vAustralia match. I was in the IPF hospitality box with mydad, Keith, and they put us up at the nearby LensburyClub. Quite a difference from the England France match19 years earlier when I was at pitch level and frozen.”Nick was sitting in the newly-built sunny conservatorywhich overlooks the garden of his Blackpool home andcontemplating being able to take trips away from home.His parents, ever supportive, will probably be goingalong too.“It will be great to have a holiday,” said Julie, “and thisconservatory has made a huge difference too. We wereover the moon when the IPF weighed in and it wasfinished last November. Nick does suffer from extremesof temperature and it was great for him to get some suneven through the winter and to watch Scott playingfootball in the garden and attacking the plants!”

Paul Bolton

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 2010 11

CBs

RFUWENGLAND STARS IN COMMUNITY ROLESJulia Hutton

ENGLAND WORLD CUP stars Rachael Burford and Amy Turner have been appointed RFUCommunity Rugby Coaches (CRCs) for Kent and Surrey respectively. The England and Richmond playerstook on the new coaching roles on their return from the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Burford has been playing rugby since the age of six when she started at Medway RFC. Her honoursinclude England Under 19s, Academy and Sevens as well as England Seniors where she has earned over25 caps. WRWC 2010 was her second 15s World Cup.

She said: “I’m really keen to start this new role. Rugby is a big part of my life so to work in it isfantastic for me. It’ll be great to work in an area where it all began for me, developing rugby and givingsomething back to the game.”

Turner started playing rugby at Kingston RFC when she was seven. She joined Richmond in 2007 andcaptained the side to a Premiership win in 2009/10. She has played for England U20s, England A andSevens and has been a key player in the senior squad since earning her first cap.

She added: “I’m so excited about this opportunity. It’s great to be on board with the RFU as they havebeen a fantastic support to me through the years, developing me as a player and coach. I’m excitedabout working as a coach and developing rugby in the area.”

They join the London South Rugby Development Team headed by Rugby Development Manager for theregion Peter Macaulay. The pair will also work in teaching the core values of the game: Teamwork,Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

England team mate, flanker Sarah Hunter, who plays her club rugby for Lichfield, has also secured anew role. One of the RFU’s Community Rugby Coaches in Birmingham, she has now been appointed anRFU Regional Rugby Union Student Liaison Officer.

Hunter will help develop rugby in universities and Further Education colleges in the Midlands Westregion. Aged 24, she has played for Northumberland Under 16s, North East Under 18s and England A,before progressing to the senior England side. She was born and raised on Tyneside and gained a degreein Sport Science and Mathematics at Loughborough University, also playing for their rugby team as wellas Novocastrians before joining Lichfield.Rachael Burford Amy Turner

INDIAN SEVENS FINETUNE IN YORKSHIRE

Tony Simpson

WESTYORKSHIRE was an unlikely stopping-off point onthe Indian Sevens team’s itinerary ahead of theCommonwealth Games in Delhi in October, but their hecticweek-long stay in Bradford provided plenty of valuablecoaching and cultural activity during a busy programme.The most beneficial aspect of the visit was the amount ofcoaching the squad received during their stay frompremier coaches of Yorkshire RFU, Bradford & BingleyRUFC, the British Asian Rugby Association, Bradford Bullsand Leeds Carnegie.The week culminated in a sevens tournament at Bradford& Bingley’s Wagon Lane headquarters, with eight teamsrepresenting the host club, the British Asian RugbyAssociation (BARA), two Yorkshire Select and the visitorsproducing some keenly-contested matches.Sterner tests clearly lie ahead for the Indian team in Delhias they lock horns with the world’s best, who themselves willbe seeking to end New Zealand’s monopoly of the event.The squad was hosted by Bradford College, whose ProjectManager, Ronnie Todd commented: “We are absolutelydelighted that Rugby India chose our region and clubs toprepare for such a prestigious event. This forms part of thework we are undertaking to promote the Sport of Rugbyacross all communities. Sevens will be one of the highlightsof the Commonwealth Games and will help spread rugbyacross the world.’’

West Yorkshire Rugby Development Officer Hamish Prattsaid: “This has been the most polite, eager to learn group ofpeople I have been ever worked with in this country. Theyhave been an absolute credit to their country both on andoff the field. They are an outstanding example of how rugbyreally is a global game and the whole visit was a verypositive experience for everyone involved. The whole squadwere very focused on improving their skills and learning allthey could about the technique of sevens rugby and it was apleasure working with them.” Bees Chairman Glen Shaw said: “This was a ground–breaking development for our club. We are planning ournext pre-season tour to India! The club is committed toengaging with all communities and are looking forward totraining and playing on different continents.’’During the tour, the squad was hosted at local temples andmet a range of community groups. Said Bradford CouncilAssistant Director Phil Barker: “It was great to see top-classsportsmen training in our city and working alongside ourcommunities to show what we can achieve. I’m sure theGames will be a great success and we will have contributedto Rugby India’s tremendous progress.”The most satisfying finale for the tourists came in theshape of a 26-24 win over a West Yorkshire Select Seven inthe final at Wagon Lane, the winning try coming with thelast attack of the game – a perfect finale to a great week.

Paul Bolton

ULSTER ACADEMY U20s 45 MIDLANDS U20s 7

MIDLANDS Under 20s had their hands full trying to cope witha powerful Ulster Academy side in their first fixture against theIrish province at Instonians RFC’s Shaws Bridge ground.

The Midlands, used to testing themselves against Irishprovincial opposition having played regularly against Leinster’sAcademy in recent seasons, found themselves up against anUlster side containing some players with senior experience andothers from the Ireland Under 20 squad.

The Midlands players also had to travel to Belfast on themorning of the match and were put under immediate pressure byUlster. Early penalties were conceded followed by well-workedtries from the hosts when their power running coupled withsome poor defensive work by the Midlands added to the score.

Ulster led 26-0 at the break but it was not all one-way trafficas the Midlands contributed to an excellent spectacle withexcellent breaks by Richard Wilson (Paviors and NLD) and aforceful game from Will Ward (Melton Mowbray andLeicestershire), who was the nominated Man of the match for theMidlands.

In the second half, the Midlands forwards, ably led by hookerand skipper Will Radburn (Worcester Wariiors and NorthMidlands) produced a forward drive that Ulster could not counterwithout all their pack. This left openings for the Midlands backsto attack with Kane Nixon (Paviors and NLD) Dan Barrett(Bournville and North Midlands) and Matt Neild (East Midlands)to exploit. Neild scored the visitors try with Alex Warner(Bournville and North Midlands) adding the conversion.

Despite the final scoreline, the inaugural fixture against Ulsterwas considered a success by the Midlands party and gave theplayers an early opportunity to play a high-profile representativematch at the start of a new season which will see the launch ofthe newly-formed England Counties Under-20 XV.

TOUGH START FORMIDLANDS U20s

TOUCHLINE – SEPTEMBER 201012

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REFEREESLONDON TO PARIS 24CHAMPIONSHIP referee Paul Knowles and his youngerbrother Toby, a former England U19 and U21 player, after thediagnosis of a friend’s son with cerebral palsy, decided to join theinaugural London to Paris 24 cycle ride in aid of the charity Scope.

A twist on thewell-peddled route,saw 80 two-manteams leave Londonat 8am on themorning of Friday23rd July, ridethrough the nightand arrive in Parisbefore 9am localtime, the followingmorning, allowingall finishers towitness the finalstage of the Tour deFrance on theChamps Elysées thenext day.

Toby said: “I don’tknow if it was thefear of beingdropped off theback of the group or the benefits of cycling in the middle of abunch but without really noticing it, we were averaging over 35km/h during the daylight stages. It was pretty exhilarating.”

The pace slowed during the night-time stages but as a greydawn broke on the outskirts of Paris all except a few who startedthe ride were in a position to break the 24 hour barrier. By thetime the Arc de Triomphe was reached and the riders were cyclingdown the Champs Elysées with the sun on their backs there wassomething almost processional about the last few miles to thefinish at the Eiffel Tower.

Said Paul, “The guys at Scope did an incredible job organisingthe ride and it’s great that the event should have raised in excessof £150,000 for them. I must also thank my company, Capgemini,who, as befits the sponsor of the 2007 Rugby World Cup,supported me in my desire to do the ride from the beginningincluding making a very generous donation.”

Further donations can be made atvirginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser and for anyone interested,Scope will repeat the event next year and are also organising aLondon to Amsterdam 48 hours solo ride.

ERSC

Simon Mills

CHRIS WHITE has been handedthe job of developing the nextgeneration of top English referees.White is the country’s mostexperienced senior match officialafter taking charge of 50 majorinternationals, includingappearances at the 1999, 2003 and2007 Rugby World Cups.

Now the 47 year old fromCheltenham, who took charge of theAviva Premiership opener betweenHarlequins and London Wasps onthe opening day of the season, has anew role as the RFU’s NationalReferee Academy Manager.

He will help identify those with thetalent to reach the top of the gameand run the programme bymentoring referees and supplyingthe technical, analytical, fitness andsports science support needed tomaximise their potential.

The aim is to get promising refereesinto the ranks of Aviva Premiershipofficials more quickly and betterprepared than ever before and toincrease the overall number of highquality officials in the English game.Candidates will be drawn from acrossthe refereeing spectrum, from theNational Panel downwards, with asmall group to be selected before theend of the year.

“I still have the motivation tocontinue refereeing at the highestlevel but I’ve always had a passionfor the development side of thegame and improving performance,”said White. “The purpose of this newprogramme is to provide specificextra support for referees with thepotential to progress to the highestlevel and it adds to the superb

WHITE TO MAXIMISE REFEREE POTENTIALdevelopment systems we alreadyhave in place in England.

“There is a lot of talent out thereand we’ll focus on maximising thepotential of a small group of officialswith the potential to succeed at thetop end of the game. There will be agreat deal of concentration on thetechnical aspects of the game – at thebreakdown and scrummage, forexample – and we’ll look at areaslike communication on and off thepitch as well as at analysis andgame preparation and fitness andmedical support.

“It’s all about maximising potentialmore quickly and we want to makesure we produce a constant streamof officials to take charge in thePremiership.”

Ed Morrison, RFU Head of EliteReferee Development, said: “ChrisWhite’s credibility in the game is welldocumented after such an illustriousrefereeing career. He is an educatorby profession and I believe he’s thecorrect person to lead this excitingnew initiative. I have everyconfidence he will be hugelysuccessful in his new role, ensuringour young referees within theacademy enjoy the best possibleopportunity to develop theirrefereeing skills.”

Richard Glynne-Jones, RFU Head ofReferee Development, said: “Some3,500 referees are qualifying every yearand many then go on to join RefereeSocieties, where their progression canbegin. Chris’s input is intended tocomplement the excellent work thatgoes on up and down the country toensure those referees with exceptionaltalent are given every opportunity tofulfil their potential.”

HURRY! Hurry! Hurry! If you are thinkingof joining the England Rugby Supporters Clubthe moment is now, or rather by 12 noon onOctober 1st, if you want to be eligible to enter the members’ ballot to buy tickets for the

RBS 6 Nations at Twickenham.This ballot means that members are able to applyfor tickets, which they might not otherwise be ableto obtain, as well as acquiring the many otheradvantages, such as: free England Rugby

magazines sent to your home and discounts atthe Rugby Store and on tickets for noninternational matches at Twickenham

To join before October 1st go to rfu.com/ersc or call 0871 663 1863

JOIN THE CLUB –THE TIME IS NOW!