Page 22 - RFU Annual Report 2017

20
Strategic Report

CEO’s Review of the Year

The past season saw healthy growth Successful grassroots clubs being Following the General Election
across community rugby. We had at the heart of their communities we engaged with incoming
166 additional adult male teams continues to be a major imperative Parliamentarians and Ministers to
playing and the quality of the game and more than £2m was invested in make sure our strong relationships
on offer depends markedly on the projects worth £14.5m in 54 clubs to continued.
quality of our coaches and referees. improve playing surfaces, artificial
Currently, we have 20,000 coaches, of pitches, floodlights, changing At international level too we play a
which 13,000 are licensed, and 6,000 facilities and social spaces. strong and committed role within
referees, and our 400 developers all relevant bodies including the
and educators deliver 2,000 We are also investing over £50 British & Irish Lions, who selected
training courses a year with 30,000 million in Artificial Grass Pitches 16 England players for their New
attendances. with the installation of 100 floodlit Zealand tour, Six Nations, Rugby
AGPs nationwide by 2019, which Europe, European Professional
At the elite level, we signed a new will allow more rugby to be played Club Rugby and World Rugby, and
agreement with Premier Rugby more often. Work got underway on we have been working to develop
Limited (PRL) to add real benefit the first RFU floodlit artificial grass the game and our relationships in
to our current coach development pitches in Aylesbury, Preston and other countries, most notably the 17
programme, giving Premiership Weston Super Mare, all part of our European nations involved in the
coaches the opportunity to gain World Cup legacy. recently concluded Unity Project.
experience in an international
environment. Rugby Groundsmen Connected was This was always going to be a period
meanwhile helping to improve 1,673 of reinvigoration. The 2017/18 season
At elite level also, The Rugby Players’ pitches, and NatWest RugbyForce will include the launch of a new
Association (RPA) four-year funding sees rugby clubs open their doors for Strategic Plan, which will ensure
deal with the RFU and PRL sees us a weekend of DIY, hundreds of clubs that our business is structured
facilitating RPA programmes to giving facilities a facelift ready for appropriately and that we have the
support current and former RPA the new season. right resources for the ever-changing
players. sporting environment.
When the New York Giants played
And for the second successive the L A Rams in front of a capacity Last October we gained a new
year all registered professional Twickenham crowd last October, Chairman in Andy Cosslett, one of
players, coaches, support staff and NFL became the first ever non- our Independent Non-Executive
referees completed a mandatory rugby sporting event to be held Directors, Andy having already
online concussion awareness at the Stadium. This built a new overseen the delivery of the most
module. Head Injury Assessment relationship between both sports and successful Rugby World Cup as
was extended to the A league and their fans. This paved the way for Chairman of England Rugby 2015.
Championship, and the RFU’s Rugby two more fixtures in October 2017.
Safe programme has given easily It is a real privilege to have now
accessible information for everyone And in July 2017, Twickenham joined him in leading the RFU,
in the game. Stadium featured as the only UK working with so many talented,
venue on U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour passionate and committed people
Our four-year Elite Player Squad deal when we welcomed 110,000 U2 fans at every level of the game and of the
with the RPA runs until 2020, and for this 30th anniversary celebration Union. Our international teams and
includes match and training fees, of the band’s seminal album. Staging grassroots rugby are both in a good
image rights and squad performance such a prestigious event showcased place, as we continue to increase our
bonuses. The new Professional Game the stadium as an adaptable and investment in the sport at every level.
Agreement with Premiership Rugby award-winning venue.
extends until July 2024 and sees I would like to thank Andy, the
Premiership clubs benefitting from Our relationships with external Board, Council, all at the RFU and
the successful financial performance bodies remain strong. Locally, we all involved in the game for their
of England Rugby. are working well with Richmond support.
Borough and community partners.
It enables both the RFU and the Nationally, we are working closely
clubs to continue to grow together with central Government and in
on and off the pitch, and all parties particular with the Department for
to work together to make England Culture, Media and Sport, Sport
Rugby the best in the world for club England, UK Anti-Doping and the
and country, with greater flexibility British Olympic Association.
during core international periods.

IT IS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO HAVE NOW JOINED ANDY IN LEADING THE
RFU, WORKING WITH SO MANY TALENTED, PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED
PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE GAME AND OF THE UNION

Annual Report 2017