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Grand
Draw 2011/12 registration open
Planning
for the next Grand Draw is well underway and Pre-Registration will
open, via the RFU website (rfu.com) as normal during mid-August. The
Draw organisers are making every attempt to bring the start date
forward from mid October. However, this relies on getting all the
prizes and draw literature ready early and that may be difficult,
particularly given the holiday season is now in full swing.
Watch out for announcements through email and on RFU.com for more
details.
Please remember that
the club contact automatically reverts to the Hon Secretary information
as it appears on Rugby First unless you pre-register. Similarly the
schools contact stays the same as last time UNLESS you pre-register.
Pre-registration also enables you to order extra tickets early.
If you have any questions, or need more information about the Draw
please contact the Draw Organisers: grand.draw@therfu.com
Inspired
Facilities Fund
Up to a thousand local
sports clubs and facilities will be upgraded over the next 3 years
thanks to a new £50 million National Lottery fund: the Inspired
Facilities fund.
This fund is part of the Places People Play legacy programme that is
bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into
communities across the country. Investment will be available to breathe
new life into tired facilities that can be unattractive to sports
participants, expensive to run and difficult to maintain, putting these
clubs right back at the heart of their local communities.
The programme has been designed to be as simple and accessible as
possible for potential applicants, making it attractive to community groups
and sports clubs who may not have received public funding before.
At least £35 million of the funding will go to community and voluntary
organisations, through grants of between £20,000 and £50,000. The
remaining money will be open to a wider group of organisations,
including councils and schools, with grants of up to £150,000
available.
All enquiries from rugby clubs should be directed to the relevant RFU
Funding & Facilities Manager:
Further
information can be found on the Sport
England website.
Helping
schools to Choose Rugby
 This July the Rugby Football Union launched its
Secondary School offer with an information pack landing on every head
teacher’s desk in England. Schools continue to be the biggest pipeline
of players to the club game. Through the new schools offer, we aim to
maximise the number of schools and children in school getting involved
in rugby union and getting onto the rugby journey. Our unique variety
of development opportunities for teachers and young people is in the
following sections:
- Teaching and Learning
- Teacher Training and
Development
- Inclusive Activity for
All
- Competition
- Schools in the
Community
- Leadership and Volunteering
- Gifted and Talented
- Support Network
In
the Secondary School offer we have highlighted that rugby union is not
just a sport, it delivers for schools and young people on many levels
and is a tool to drive whole school improvement including attendance,
achievement and behaviour. See rfu.com/schools
we have FREE online tools, resources and training that help teachers to
do what they need to do and enhance both the sport and academic
programme for secondary schools. This August a students offer through
FE and HE institutions will launch followed by a Primary School offer
in September. With the whole of the education spectrum engaged and the
Rugby World Cup looming, this September will be an excellent time for
clubs to forge meaningful links with the education sector. For more
information please get in touch with your local Rugby
Development Team.
England
Open Training Day at Twickenham
Tuesday
August 9, 2011 - Save this date for your chance to meet the England
squad and show them your support ahead of the Rugby World Cup!
Watch the team train at Twickenham and then get player autographs
pitch-side. The training session provisionally starts at 4.30pm so keep
checking RFU.com for details.
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Quick Links
Play
On and O2 Pathfinders - end of campaign review
At the close of the Play On campaign we have written to thank all O2
Pathfinders and everyone who has supported the Play On campaign. The
time and effort given has ensured that current players stay connected
and has helped to ensure that rugby union continues to thrive in
England. The initiative describes the RFU’s continuing work in
recruiting and retaining players, click
here to view a brief feedback on what has been achieved.
Leading up to Rugby World Cup 2015, to help clubs to make the most of
opportunities to recruit players and volunteers locally, the RFU has
now launched Choose Rugby, a long-term strategic marketing campaign.
There is no doubt that a number of our O2 Pathfinders will be involved
with Choose Rugby and their experience will be invaluable.
Enter the O2
Touch competition for your chance to play at Twickenham
Don’t forget that you can enter a team in the O2 Touch Facebook
competition. Five teams from the South and five from the North will be
selected to play a social touch rugby event here at the home of English
rugby. The deadline for entries is August 26, 2011 so don’t miss out on
this fantastic O2 Touch opportunity.
Go to rfu.com.chooserugby
for more information.
Get up for
England club breakfasts
As excitement and anticipation build towards the kick off of England’s
campaign in New Zealand, your club could win an O2 hosted breakfast for
the morning of the England v Scotland match on October 1, 2011.
A fantastic opportunity to treat players, invite local businesses,
dignitaries or anyone else to share the excitement of the game with a
group of passionate rugby fans. For the lucky winning clubs, O2 will
provide the following:
- A pie and a pint for up
to 100 people
- Soft drinks for kids
- Giant screen loan and
installation
The
competition is open to clubs participating in the O2 Touch programme
this summer. To enter your club, please contact your Rugby
Development Officer. Eight winners will be selected by an RFU
panel.
O2 Touch comes
to Harwich and Dovercourt RFC
O2 Touch rugby is a massive hit by the sea at Harwich and Dovercourt
rugby club, the initiative has harnessed a new enthusiasm for rugby
across the town. A host of new enthusiasts look forward to the Friday
touch rugby sessions on the pitches ringed by beach huts. Read
more
Ellie
Gattlin wins Forest Heath Sports Award
Ellie made her debut for England Women Under 20s in their 12-5 win over
France in February 2011 at Worcester. But it all started with the
Suffolk Youth Games; Ellie started playing rugby as a result of the
coaching that Newmarket RUFC youth and mini section coaches provided
for Forest Heath District Council for the Suffolk Youth Games. Read
more
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