Page 20 - RFU Annual Report 2017

18
Strategic Report

CEO’s Review of the Year

The sevens programme remains title, and London Irish who were work on the reconfiguration of the
important, especially with the World promoted back into the Premiership. East Stand, bringing our corporate
Sevens Series and qualification hospitality under one roof and
for Rugby World Cup Sevens in At grassroots level our 24/sevens greatly enhancing facilities for our
2018. Team GB men and women competition is creating more debenture holders from autumn 2018.
competing at the Rio Olympics playing opportunities, with 32 The 2017 Series sale saw 1,335 new
marked a really significant moment local tournaments, four regional debenture seats sold, and we are on
for the sport. The women’s squad just play offs and a national final – track to sell out all the available 2,230
missed out on a medal but inspired involving 10,000 players. The new East Stand enhanced debentures.
many young girls to pick up a rugby tiered structure, with social and
ball, while Team GB men, under invitational elite tiers alongside the We will also benefit from creating
Simon Amor, did an incredible job in existing open competition, gives England Rugby Hospitality as
winning a silver medal. both grassroots development of the exclusive provider of official match
sevens game and an entry point day hospitality at the Stadium from
It was fantastic to see the England and development opportunities for autumn 2018. The new venture will
team, despite suffering a number aspiring international players. also see Keith Prowse, our long-
of injuries, secure silver again at standing official hospitality agent,
Twickenham’s HSBC London We are also working, alongside become exclusive sales agent for
Sevens, putting them second in the World Rugby and other tier one England Rugby Hospitality.
Series, our highest place in a decade. nations, to develop a new cross pitch
variant of sevens – with less intensity The new year saw Prince Harry
From a club perspective, the of contact providing another become the RFU Patron, to add to
Premiership and Championship had opportunity for us to grow our game. his patronage of our Injured Players
an excellent season. Congratulations Foundation. He joined players and
to Saracens on retaining the At home in Twickenham during fans at England’s Twickenham
Champions Cup, Exeter Chiefs the season 1.1m tickets were sold open training session before the
on the Aviva Premiership Rugby to 17 matches, notwithstanding Six Nations.

Annual Report 2017