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GRAND DRAW 2008/9: REGISTER NOW!
The RFU Grand Draw 2008/9 will get underway in
October, but you can register your club’s interest NOW via the RFU
Website, simply go to the homepage and follow the link for registration
details or click here to go
straight there.
The top prize of £10,000 is already confirmed, but
there are many other great prizes, including tickets to a 2009 Autumn
International, complete with hospitality and tickets to the Guinness
Premiership Final.
So entering the Grand Draw can raise money for your
club funds AND give your members the chance to win some great prizes.
Artificial
Grass Pitches
RFU Game Regulation 17 covering the use of
Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) has been
amended for season 2008/09 to allow their use in RFU Competitions, click here to view
the regulation online. AGPs can be used for
RFU Competitions (including league competition) so long as the pitch
conforms to IRB regulations and the RFU has granted permission for its
use. AGPs must be considered as a ‘seamless’
alternative to natural grass pitches and all fixtures should be honoured
where arranged to be played on them. Normal insurance cover exists
through Marsh for the use of the pitch, subject to the pitch meeting the
requirements laid out within the RFU permission. Further information on
Artificial Pitches is available at rfu.com/facilities
or from your Funding & Facilities Manager.
RugbyFirst - New Functionality
The RFU have recently launched new functionality to
allow clubs and CBs to tidy up their membership lists if they have
individuals appearing more than once.
There are step-by-step guides on the Webmasters
Forum on RugbyFirst and these will be followed
soon with a more graphical version showing screen shots for each step.
This functionality is available to Honorary
Secretaries, Membership Secretaries and Webmaster at clubs, CBs and
Referee Societies.
RFU Regulations 2008/09
Annually the RFU reviews its regulations. Changes
are required to meet changes in policy, changes in the law or
International Board Regulations, correct errors or to meet demands from
the game. A summary of these changes can be
found here with the full version available at rfu.com/regulations
RUAble - Rugby Union Disability Network
Following consultation with active club members,
including active players, spectators, coaches, etc, all with some
form of disability, the Community Rugby department are seeking to create
a developmental database (on RugbyFirst) and
network of ‘rugby people’ who consider themselves as having a disability.
The term disability may cover a range of issues from, for example, a
visual impairment (maybe use of only one eye or neither eye) to those who
use a wheelchair, a prosthetic limb or have a learning difficulty, to
name several of many. Ultimately this network may evolve to such an extent
that a representative structure could be possible – just as Wheelchair
Rugby and Deaf Rugby (both RFU Associate Member organisations) have done.
Primarily, however, we are seeking to collect the details of ‘rugby
people’ with a disability in order that we may:
a) know what the current national picture is
b) be able to learn from, and improve, their experiences in our game
c) identify models of good practice from
coaches, players, spectators, referees, volunteers and clubs in general
d) overcome some of the perceived & actual barriers that
individuals may face
e) bring more like minded people into our game
Please forward this email onto any club members –
players, coaches, volunteers, supporters etc - who you feel would
consider themselves as having a disability which may include:
• physical disability (including amputees, ‘Les
Autres’, wheelchair users or those who use
prosthetic limbs)
• wheelchair user
• learning disability
• hearing impaired
• and visual impaired
They may reply to the Equity, Welfare &
Medical Manager, Nic Scott, in person if they
feel comfortable to do so , via the dedicated email – RUable@therfu.com
If you require any further information please call on 07764 960 403 or
see the website.
So – if you know of people who fit this description – please let us know.
Sport
England strategy 2008 – 2011
The new strategy commits SE to deliver on a series
of demanding targets by 2012/2013 –
• 1 million people doing more sport.
• A 25% reduction in the number of 16 year olds who drop out of 5
key sports.
• Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports.
• A measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their
experience of sport – the first time the organisation has set such a
qualitative measure.
• A major contribution to the delivery of the 5 hour sports offer
for children and young people.
The strategy can
be found online here
National U17s Competition
The RFU is looking for a volunteer to be the South
West Divisional Organiser for this successful competition that helps keep
players in the game at a vital age group. Details of the
role and the application process can be found here. For more
information contact Billy Clark, Age Grade Competitions Manager, RFU
Tournaments & Competitions Department on billyclark@rfu.com
or 0208 831 6681
O2 Scrum on the Beach
Rugby took over Trafalgar Square for the last of
five spectacular O2 Scrum on the Beach events.
More than 140 tons of sand was unloaded at the base of Nelson’s Column to
create an urban beach for nine hours of action, with England stars Danny Cipriani, Paul Sackey,
James Haskell, Lee Mears and David Strettle all
involved.
Thousands of players and fans took part, tried out the skill stations in
the inflatable Play Zone around the square, or simply enjoyed the
atmosphere of a day of entertainment in an iconic London setting.
There is a serious message behind the beach rugby events staged at
Bournemouth, Newcastle, Birmingham, Newquay and
in the centre of London this summer.
They are all part of the RFU’s Play On campaign
sponsored by O2 that is targeting the retention of more young adults to
drive up the playing population in England. Click here to read
more on playonrugby.com
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