Page 21 - RFU Annual Report 2017
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Strategic Report
CEO’s Review of the Year
We have seen significant activation And for more senior CB
and investment from partners, administrators we launched a
helping us to achieve our business Leadership in Union programme, 750
priorities to support our teams, delegates already being helped to do
engage fans and support grassroots the best possible job of running their
programmes. And recently, we Constituent Bodies.
announced Secure Trading as
our Principal Partner of England Significant development has also
Sevens in time for their spectacular come through CBRE All Schools,
Twickenham performance. which has now embedded rugby
in 500 state secondary schools,
All partnerships that were coming some never having owned a rugby
to a close have not just been ball before. The aim is to have 750 by
renewed but enhanced, bringing Rugby World Cup 2019. More than
even more benefit to the game. 175,000 students took part last season
– up 35 per cent on 2014/15 – with
We secured £12.6m of investment 28,000 playing regularly in extra-
from Sport England, one of the curricular activity, a third more than
biggest awards to any national last season.
governing body, which will help
us sustain current participation The CBRE All Schools programme,
nationwide, while providing even our work in converting school players
more playing opportunities. to club players, growing women’s
rugby, and offering social forms
Our extended partnership with O2 of the game, have put us in a good
until 2021, having existed since the place.
game went professional in 1995,
makes it one of the longest standing Old Mutual Wealth Kids First
sports sponsorships. Rugby for the U7s to U13s has been
promoting fun, building skills and
O2 Touch has introduced 20,000 confidence, and putting young
registered players to the game players at the heart of the game. The
since it began in 2013, with six first year of Age Grade Rugby has
new O2 Touch centres in London seen significant developments
this summer. This growth passed in rules of play, the competitive
agreed Sport England participation menu and a nationally consistent
targets a year early, with an increase calendar. September will see full
of 8,000 players since Rugby World Age Grade Rugby implementation in
Cup in 2015. The number of O2 clubs and schools.
Touch centres has also increased
significantly during this time, with Almost six and a half thousand
75 new centres established in clubs, responded to our Age Grade Survey,
universities and colleges, bringing with the feedback telling us that
the total to 350 nationwide. youngsters enjoy playing alongside
friends, winning being of limited
Many young people are attracted importance, and that they were often
to O2 Touch and over the past faced with competing demands
12 months the Young Rugby from club, school or representative
Ambassador (YRA) programme has teams. Clearly, enjoyment must be
continued to grow with more than uppermost if we want to keep young
1,400 young people signed up and players in the game.
more than 25,000 hours contributed
to the game in volunteer hours. YRAs We have also entered a partnership
are coaching and refereeing , raising with 15 universities, investing in
funds, designing and delivering growing the game in the education
tournaments, and progressing into sector and giving fantastic playing
leadership roles within the National opportunities for students.
Youth Council and their
Constituent Bodies.
Annual Report 2017
