Page 79 - RFU Annual Report 2015/2016

New clubhouse at Hinckley RFC attracting players. 100
more state secondary schools join rugby family for new
academic year thanks to CBRE All Schools. England Women
get professional 15-a-side contracts for the first time. Wow
factor social spaces at Kettering RFC draws in the community.
CBRE All School St Mary’s Catholic High School’s U15s and
U13s play in Girls National Finals. More than 25,000 women and girls playing rugby. Level
2 course for 12 Loughborough University students sees them refereeing intra-mural
matches. 15,000 O2 Touch registered players target smashed a year early with 17,900
playing. Hundreds of school and clubs sign up to Old Mutual Wealth Kids First pledge to
put children at the heart of the game. Lucie Skues grows from rebel to Level 1 coach
and Young Rugby Ambassador thanks to CBRE All Schools. 17 European nations helped
to grow grassroots rugby in the Unity programme. RFU partnership with 15 universities
invests £220,000 into growing the game within the higher education sector. Age Grade
Rugby introduced so that children enjoy their rugby and never want to stop playing. New
floodlights for two pitches at Gosford All Blacks. 22 Twickenham schools supported to
be active through Kick Start. Libby Turner falls in love with O2 Touch and becomes Exeter
University’s O2 Touch club captain. 60 people trained to deliver the RFU’s new Emergency
First Aid in Rugby Union course. Chiswick RFC play their first ever 4th team fixture thanks
to the Return to Rugby programme. Surrey and Lancashire compete in the final of the first
ever Women’s County Championship. The first centre of excellence for deaf rugby opens
in Devon. Handsworth RFC bring Return to Rugby players into a growing squad. Students
at Sandwell College played their first 15-a-side rugby game. Try for Change helps rugby
charities to grow. Work starts at Aylesbury, Preston and Hornets on first of 100 floodlit
artificial grass pitches. Team of friends and Old Emmanuel players win inaugural national
amateur men’s 24Sevens Finals at Allianz Park. Pitch drainage at Redcar RUFC. 633 clubs
registered for season’s NatWest RugbyForce, receiving funding and expert advice to help
improve their facilities. St Austell RFC set up their first women’s and girls’ section, St Austell
Angels. Young Rugby Ambassador Rebecca Tweedy promotes mixed ability and disability
rugby for young people in Brighton Spirit of Rugby project. Fire fighter and former player
Chris Tate through Keep Your Boots On campaign becomes Newark Head Coach. The first
ever women’s rugby game between Keele University and Staffordshire University played
in the North Staffordshire Varsity. Rugby Groundsmen Connected, with 721 groundsmen
signed up, helps improve 1,673 pitches. Berkswell & Balsall RFC link with Heart Of England
School, create the club’s first women’s team, with mums also playing in a touch team.
Special Education School, Frogmore Junior given 25 Rugby World Cup balls to start playing
tag rugby. Josh Thompson goes from playing touch with Marlow O2 Touch to becoming
an ambassador and playing touch for England. All students in the Barking and Dagenham
College Rugby Academy sign up to the Young Rugby Ambassador programme.
Just a few of many benefiting from your support. Thank you.