Rugby Union
What is Active Sports / Whole Sport Plan rugby?
The RFU/RFUW believe that local clubs are at the heart of the development of rugby union. They are key to providing good quality coaching, competition and participation opportunities for young people.
For those young people that have an interest, this programme will give them easier access to our sport at club level, and then help them improve to be the best that they want to be.
How it works?
A county Rugby Action Group has been established to find out what Northamptonshire needs and how Active Sports / Whole Sport Plans can be used to assist the development of the game. This action group also co-ordinates the production of the Active Sports / Whole Sport Rugby plan.
Stage One - Local schemes
Stage One aims to attract those girls and boys who have already learnt the basics of the game, usually in school, and who now wish to take their involvement further. We will provide them with new local coaching and competition opportunities. These will include introductory coaching programmes for players with limited experience, running from September to December for those in school Years 6-9. In addition there will be rugby festivals running from March to May for participants in Years 6 and 7 and girls in Years 8 and 9. All these activities are aimed at enthusing young people and preparing them for clubs.
Stage Two - Club development
This stage includes developing and setting up quality junior clubs. These clubs will be developed to Active Sports / Whole Sport Rugby Approved Venue minimum standards to fully satisfy the RFU/RFUW commitment to safe play and equal opportunities. They will provide regular quality coaching so those players can continue to improve their skills and enjoy the benefits of regular competition throughout the season.
All clubs in the county will all receive support in their development towards the RFU "Seal of Approval".
Stage Three - Assessment
This third stage concentrates on the most effective way of assessing the abilities of those Year 8 and 9 boys and Year 8-10 girls participating at local level in schools and clubs who want to take their involvement with rugby further. These young people will be referred to assessment sessions by Level 1 and 2 Active Sports coaches.
Stage Four - Development Squads
Those boys and girls identified at Stage Three as having ability and talent will be put into new Partnership squads between February and May where they will get additional training and assessment at pre-county levels. These squads will also provide inter-Partnership competition opportunities.
The benefits of Active Sports / Whole Sport plans
The programme will bring significant Lottery funding to rugby union. This investment will help to provide:
- More coaches, better-quality coaching and more coaching opportunities for young people to improve their performance, get even more enjoyment and attain more success.
- More and easier access to rugby, giving young people opportunities to compete and develop their skills and sustaining their interest, so providing the foundations for lifelong involvement.
- More opportunities for young people to join clubs and compete in junior sections, so helping to raise everyone's performance.
The future health and welfare of rugby relies on the enthusiasm and commitment of young players and that if young people are going to enjoy rugby union, they have to be given the opportunity to participate, improve and compete. Active Sports / Whole Sport Plans will be a key ingredient in ensuring that - whatever their level of participation - young people raise their game to their personal best.