The Awards, supported by QBE, Official Insurance Partner of England Rugby, were launched in October last year by RFU President Willie Wildash, 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Joe Worsley and England Women’s star Maggie Alphonsi.  Winners have been chosen by a panel of judges who sought to identify and reward initiatives that promote the development of rugby at a grassroots level.

The Winning Clubs are:

Elliot Miller, General Manager UK National, QBE European Operations,commented: “QBE is proud to support the RFU President’s XV Awards once again as part of our commitment to rugby. Initiatives such as this are vital to recognise and reward clubs whose work has helped to develop and strengthen the game at a grassroots level. The ideas put in place here are entrepreneurial and original and will provide inspiration to clubs nationwide”.

Willie Wildash, RFU President, said:  “It’s been a phenomenal year for entries and as ever the competition was fierce. The quality of entries was very high this year and this made life difficult for the panel of judges. All the winners and runners up named here, as well as all of the others who submitted entries, are clubs doing a great job at the grassroots end of our game, across many important development areas.  These clubs are the heart and soul of rugby and it’s wonderful to be able to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work put in by all the volunteers involved.”

The Runners Up are:

Further detail on winning clubs

Choose Rugby – Player Recruitment Challenge

Old Rutlishian FC ran the Old Ruts Primary School Development Day in July 2011.  17 schools participated, 90 boys and girls of whom 95% had never played rugby before. Speed, teamwork, athleticism and physicality were assessed by 26 volunteers.  The results are 140 new junior and mini players.   The scheme will be run again in the summer of 2012.

This is Rugby – Discipline

HMP The Mount which is in the Herts/Middx Merit table leagues.  Introducing rugby and coaching to inmates, some of whom have never played before, to achieve the 3 goals of Prison PE: education, rehabilitation and resettlement.  Being on the rugby squad is the opportunity to change personally and play in a team that joins prisoners and officers together, developing trust and communication within a common ground – the rugby pitch.

More Volunteers

Farnham RFC ran a record breaking minis tour with 673 children and their families going to South Wales. The tour generates more active volunteers, not only putting together a safe and fun tour but once on board often helping out again in other club activities.  All contribute to it being a successful and welcoming club, and with local businesses sponsoring the tour it is a whole community working in partnership.

Better Referees

Hertfordshire Society of Referees operates a structured programme to develop and train referees, including assessment and high performance fast tracking.  It proactively recruits and has exceptional retention levels, aided by a recognition scheme in place.  Its current membership includes men, women, a wide ethnicity and age range from 15 – 65 years.

Playing Opportunities

Sandbach RC has implemented 5 initiatives to increase playing opportunities:  touch rugby; women’s rugby; under 6 rugby; social 4s; senior colts.  The club has considerable success at the 1XV level but also is strongly committed to creating playing opportunities for all.

High Quality Coaching

Dorchester RFC has implemented a proactive and structured coach development programme to ensure coaches are brought through from U17 with tag coaching, level 1 at 18, and level 2 at a senior level.  Each age group coaching team has a structure of a senior coach and mentor. There are also coach development days twice a year. The club has found former players and coaches maintain interest in rugby through these schemes.

Better Facilities

Ilkley RUFC needed to replace its old club changing rooms from 1928 but the estimated cost was £1.4m.  Since 2007 a thorough fundraising campaign involving the club, the RFU, the RFF, Sport England and the entire Ilkley community has been undertaken.  The project became a community sports club rather than rugby club to consolidate fundraising.  The new building opened in September 2011 and already participation in rugby has significantly increased.

Women and Girls Development

Exeter Saracens RFC has worked hard over the past year to promote girls rugby and get more girls involved in the sport.  Tag festivals, referee courses, girl’s rugby fun days, rugby skills sessions with RAF outreach team, prize giving and Q&A from Catherine Spencer, and Denise Hodge outlining the player pathway. The results have been 16 new U13s (from zero), and increased numbers in U15 and U18s.  Local links with schools and students should see this continue.

Community Links

Streatham-Croydon RFC is located in an area of inner-city deprivation and has developed its role in the community accordingly.  It has become a member of the Croydon Sport for Social Change Network, proactively recruited at Thornton Heath Festival, played matches against the British Asian XV, hosted Sky TV’s ‘School of Hard Knocks’ and been visited by the Mayor of London.  It’s closely involved with schools, has a minis section and a ladies team.  The club is now devising a redevelopment programme to remain attractive for years to come.

Schools Development

Ealing Trailfinders RFC is working with schools to build a borough wide competition to provide competitive rugby for all age groups and genders at a grass roots level.  Through the clubs programme it aims to educate the teachers at affiliated schools and encourage them to teach more rugby in the curriculum.  On a weekly basis, the programme delivers to 6 different schools, 400 children a week.

Student Players

Henley College Coventry launched its rugby development centre in April 2011 which offers a bespoke educational framework for students to embark on a professional career in sport and rugby.  This season has seen great success for the centre with a proven player pathway as well as work in the community supporting minis and juniors at Coventry RFC.

Fundraising

Thurrock RFC has supported a multitude of charities with donations ranging from Breakthrough Breast Cancer to the Essex Air Ambulance and many others in between. Activities have ranged from charity car washes and club calendar sales to lunches, discos and BBQs. More plans are in place for this year.

Comms & Technology

Weymouth RFC uses facebook, twitter, teamer (sms), email, newsletters and website banners to communicate with members and volunteers. The website is constantly updated and Rugby First is fully up to date. The website has a Flickr photo frame.  The website had 225,000 hits last year, including 79,000 of 133 photo albums.

Young Volunteers (vRugby)

University College London Women’s are actively involved in volunteering and championing their sport through teaching rugby in local primary schools, teaching wheelchair touch rugby, singing at Euston Station, playing ball games with elderly people, taking part in the sports relief mile and cupcake decorating workshops. Enthusiasm and commitment have ensured success, along with strong relationships with the local community.

Seal of Approval Club of the Year

Hitchin RFC is now the largest rugby club in Hertfordshire.  It aims to demonstrate to sponsors, community partners and future partners in the development of the club that it is a club of excellence and ambition.  It will help with Council negotiations on lease extension, sponsor negotiations and reputation with players and parents locally.