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#Post#: 129122--------------------------------------------------
O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: October 22, 2024, 3:04 am
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Governing body’s review found a perception that the sport is for
‘posh white boys’ and recommends introducing three forms of the
game
Daniel Schofield
Deputy Rugby Union Correspondent
21 October 2024 6:08pm BST
Daniel Schofield
The Rugby Football Union has launched a radical plan to save
school rugby, which introduces three forms of the game including
“reduced contact”, after an independent report predicted it will
become a “declining minority sport” without bold changes.
The report pulled no punches in its assessment of rugby’s
diminishing standing in the “marketplace” of schools sport,
stating: “This is an urgent issue approaching crisis point.”
The key recommendations from the report are:
There should be three versions of the game – non contact,
reduced contact, full contact – with consistent rules for all
formats.
Established rugby schools supported to keep a “compulsory rugby
term” in which a full contact alternative should be offered.
Clear communication on tackle height, the benefits of playing
rugby for young people and the marked differences between the
risks of playing at school versus professional rugby.
More steps to reduce and mitigate the risks of contact rugby
around coaching, officiating, medical support and contact load
limits.
A clear marketing and engagement strategy for established and
new schools for both boys and girls.
RFU should appoint a visible and credible “Director of Schools
Rugby”.
Securing alignment with community and professional clubs to
build a network of local leaders.
The RFU and Premiership Rugby clubs should promote the
behaviours and values of rugby.
The RFU should develop a data strategy to improve its ability to
identify trends and issues within the schools game.
The RFU should work to improve the evidence base on injury risk
in girls’ rugby.
The report, entitled “Changing the Game: the Future of Schools
Rugby in England” (read it here), was commissioned by the RFU
and has led the governing body to commit to implementing the
recommendations which include launching a non-contact form of
rugby which still features scrums, line-outs and the breakdown,
called T1, over the next four years.
The report also recommends that the RFU should formally codify
three forms of the game, including non-contact and reduced
contact, to remove some of the perceived barriers to entry for
rugby and alleviate parental concerns over the injury risk.
What the report, which was led by Sir Jon Coles, the chief
executive of national schools group United Learning, makes clear
is that without urgent action rugby union would be on the path
to irrelevance.
Less rugby in schools will weaken professional game
“In the schools ‘marketplace’, rugby is not winning,” the report
read. “It is losing out to other sports. Rugby in England cannot
rely on having the central cultural place in national life that
it has in Wales or New Zealand. Changing attitudes and values
coupled with greater risk aversion in the part of society which
once saw rugby as central to school life mean that rugby also
cannot rely on that any longer.
“This matters enormously to rugby in England, because without
rugby in schools, there will be much less rugby in the
community, a much weakened professional and national game and a
diminished audience. This is an urgent issue approaching crisis
point.
“RFU could pursue a strategy of a very small number of elite
schools populating the professional and national game; alongside
a ‘clubs’ strategy. They could not worry about getting people
playing in school but rather rely on the clubs to introduce the
game. The review group believe that this would be a major
strategic error, elitist in only allowing children and young
people from particular backgrounds to access rugby union and
lead to a shrinking game at all levels.
“To do both of these things well is to walk a fine line. But
both must be done boldly and with energy. Without (a), the game
will shrink rapidly in schools and in consequence in the
community and beyond. Without (b), the game will be a declining
minority sport, seen as upper class and elitist. You must always
change a losing game, and at the moment rugby is playing a
losing game in schools.”
Other recommendations include creating a director of schools
rugby position at the RFU and rolling out a “rugby flatpack”
which would enable a PE teacher with no rugby experience to be
able to coach a term of T1 rugby from scratch.
Concern over head injuries
One key factor behind falling participation, even among
established rugby schools, is the concern over head injuries,
which is why the report recommends offering alternatives to full
contact which can still be played within a “rugby term”.
However, the report also identifies a decline in rugby values at
the top end of the game as well as the perception that it is a
sport for “posh white boys” as other compounding factors.
“The once unquestioned place of rugby as the sport promoting the
best sporting values is increasingly challenged – partly because
schools see behaviour at the highest levels of the game which
once they would not and partly because they see [for example
from the England women’s football team] that other sports can be
played with excellent and admirable values.
“Finally, the game does continue to have an image problem with
some, who may see it as a game for the ‘posh’ or for ‘posh boys’
or for ‘posh white boys’. Rugby is a game which has inspired and
enthused people of both sexes, all skin colours, all social and
economic backgrounds and all shapes and sizes – but that is not
the perception everywhere in England.”
Some heads of established rugby schools have also expressed
concerns about the “macho culture” within male rugby and the
report has called on Premiership academies to better promote
rugby values within their communities.
The report does express hope that rugby can address its slide if
its recommendations are implemented. “We believe that urgent
action is necessary. However, we do believe that the situation
is winnable and the problems can be tackled.”
#Post#: 129123--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: October 22, 2024, 3:12 am
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Charlie Morgan
Why I am happy to let my child play rugby – and you should too
Love of rugby was passed to me from my father, and playing it
has given me friends – and values – for life
Charlie Morgan
Senior Rugby Writer
21 October 2024 2:35pm BST
Charlie Morgan
Our eldest son turned four on October 3 and we have already
given him a taste of rugby at our local ‘Try Time’ venture. I
say ‘rugby’; it should be stressed that this was really
glorified babysitting, with Heath – often dressed as Spider-Man
– especially captivated by a game in which he was tasked with
capturing as many dragon eggs (balls) as possible before his
beloved coach Tim counted them all up.
We are in no rush, but have been scoping out the local clubs for
mini teams and will no doubt head down at some point. I am
completely prepared to coach a junior side for a decade if they
will have me. Equally, Heath might not last anywhere near that
long. He might hate it. But we are pretty determined to give him
– and his younger brother, Mack, his partner in crime – a chance
to try as many sports as possible.
Rugby will be among those, chiefly, because of what it has and
continues to give to me. The V-word, ‘values’, has become
something of a joke because of how often it is accompanied by a
handshake emoji on social media and attached to a video of two
professionals on opposing teams enjoying a catch-up at the final
whistle.
The decline in participation is alarming and a big shame, but
proactive action from the Rugby Football Union in the shape of
the report into schools rugby released today, must be welcomed.
Inspirational coaches, such as Mr Stocks, who taught me at 10
years old that a 22-drop-out only has to travel 1cm, are hugely
important to break down those barriers to understanding and
appreciating what can be a complex sport.
Quite obviously, other sports foster character, courage,
camaraderie and help youngsters to create lasting memories. But
I know for sure how prolifically rugby union achieves this, at
least in part because of the risk of injury. The other day, I
messaged somebody I played with at the age of eight. My best man
and three of my four ushers were all school team-mates. My own
brother was the other usher. We played together for half a
season for the club closest to our parents. Mum once crossed the
touchline to check on an injury, which was horrifying.
When I moved down to London about 14 years ago, I Googled my
closest club and rocked up to pre-season training. Work
commitments caused an early retirement from playing, which I
still regret in all honesty, but I am hoping to meet up with
former team-mates at a lunch next month and this year qualified
to represent the Vets, which is sobering yet exciting. If one
finds enough like-minded people to play with, rugby floods you
with social and health benefits. Put simply, it is a rapid way
to make new friends.
As I have written about before, there was a degree of
inevitability about my own introduction to rugby union. My dad,
who grew up in Cardiff, was a huge supporter of Wales in the
1970s. Without being at all pushy, he engendered a huge passion
for the sport – and also ensured that I took its lessons
seriously.
I remember at the beginning of my under-16 year knowing that I
could be playing twice in a weekend for my club and my school.
Dad told me that I should make a commitment at the beginning of
the season. He did not mind if I did none, one or both – and
would drive me anywhere. But he made it plain that pulling out
of the Sunday games at late notice was seriously poor form.
In all honesty, it will probably take wild horses to stop Heath
from having some significant interaction with rugby – and not
just because of what his dad does for a living. He is a
rough-and-tumble lad who will need his boundless energy
channelling somehow.
Because of his parents, he is highly unlikely to end up much
taller than 5ft 10in or so. Smart money would probably go on him
becoming a hooker, an openside flanker, a scrum-half or maybe an
inside centre. Perhaps fly-half; that will give me motivation to
practise my passing off the floor again if the Vets are short…
For whatever it is worth, the RFU has my full support in this
initiative. I would love for Heath, Mack and others to have
their lives as enriched by rugby as mine has been.
#Post#: 129125--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: ChiddQuin
Date: October 22, 2024, 6:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Charlie Morgan's piece strikes a chord. When my kids were young
(now in their 30's) I wanted to instill a love of the game in
them. Both son and daughter went to mini rugby, my daughter only
for a couple of years from the age of 10, my son until he was 13
then he played for his school. Neither of them have played since
but both of them love the game - men's and women's. I had the
great pleasure of going with both of them to the opening England
RWC match in Marseille last year and we have bought tickets for
next year's WRWC final at HQ.
#Post#: 129132--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: Jedzi
Date: October 22, 2024, 3:23 pm
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Jedzi Junior went to a mid-ranked rugby school. Rugby numbers
have dropped and, for the last 2 years, more Y9 boys have chosen
volleyball than rugby. That does not augur well for the 2s in a
couple of years’ time.
Well – maybe that's just a one-off. However, I heard recently
that one of the top rugby schools in the SE had more Y9 boys
choosing non-rugby options over rugby for the first time this
season.
I spoke to the volleyball teacher at my son's school. He said
the boys choose it as it's indoors, non-contact, partly mixed
gender, games are played in the evening so they don't lose
Saturday afternoons and a significant number of parents don't
want their children playing contact rugby.
From what I see, beyond the 1s of the top tier schools, the
picture is bleak. The game badly needs these lower contact
forms of the game to succeed.
#Post#: 129136--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 23, 2024, 12:58 am
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Our experience with Ms Poorfour Maj has been that girls’ youth
rugby is going in the other direction.
When she first had to find a club with a girls’ youth section,
having aged out of playing mixed rugby, we could only find a
couple within range that had enough to sustain a team, and the
numbers in the club she joined were smaller at each age band
until there were only 7 or 8 U18s. Today, although there’s an
ever-shifting patchwork of clubs clustering with each other to
make up a squad, there several U18 sides with squads of 25-30
she could have chosen to play for in the local area.
When she started at senior school, we could only find two that
had a commitment to girls’ rugby, but by the time she finished
GCSEs there were several more local schools that had overtaken
the one we chose. Now she’s at a 6th form college playing in the
RFU’s ACE and AOC leagues (it has two teams) and although we
chose one that means living away from home during the week, she
could have gone to a new local AOC-level college that opened
over the summer.
Rugby definitely has to make a case to win and keep players -
including low contact formats and evidencing that the current
age grade structure equips kids to play safely by the time they
get to full contact. But there are bright spots as well as bleak
ones.
#Post#: 129142--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: Jedzi
Date: October 23, 2024, 4:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> Rugby definitely has to make a case to win and keep players -
including low contact formats and evidencing that the current
age grade structure equips kids to play safely by the time they
get to full contact. But there are bright spots as well as bleak
ones.
>
--- End Quote ---
Based on what I saw when I was a youth coach until recently and
now as a ref, I'd agree with that. Where there is growth in the
game, it seems to be in womens' & girls' rugby and low / non
contact versions.
Recently, I was at a club that has just lost its (mens) 2s. I
was told that a few decades ago the club ran 5 or 6 teams.
Given what's happening with boys' rugby in schools, you wonder
if, in 10 years, they'll be able to keep the 1s going.
#Post#: 129147--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: Camquin
Date: October 23, 2024, 5:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Traditionally Grammar schools played rugby, Secondary Modern
schools rarely did.
And the Grammar schools had Old Boys clubs, which were the
backbone of the game.
Those clubs went open 40 years ago to find more players.
Then they started mini and youth sections, which provided a flow
of players.
The RFU concentrated on an ever narrowing professional game -
and has repeatedly cut the number of development officers paid
to take rugby in Schools.
It needs to change, but unless the current executive have a road
to Damascus conversion, I cannot see it happening.
Cutting £100k from the funding to each Premiership side would
mean them losing one superannuated souther hemisphere player.
But could pay for 50 full-time coaches, or more sensibly 100
part-time ones, working in schools.
#Post#: 129148--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 23, 2024, 5:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Not sure you could find people who'd be prepared to work full
time as a rugby coach for just £20k/pa. And the level of RFU
funding to the pro game is essentially the price the PRL owners
have negotiated for access to their players - it's not something
they can easily cut.
But otherwise I agree that the cuts to RFU support for
grassroots has been dangerous for the game. Another issue I am
seeing is lack of interest from adults in keeping clubs going -
our kids' original mini and youth club folded in part because
no-one was prepared to step up and take on the committee roles
from people whose kids had aged out from the club - part of
which, I suspect is that there is now so much less support
available.
That said, the RFU's funding is in a difficult state -
essentially revenue has rebounded slowly and they are investing
from reserves at a point in the cycle where they should be
building them up - and they've made the choice to prioritise the
pro game over the grass roots game. That makes sense as long as
the pro teams are successful as that tends to bring players into
(and back into) the game.
#Post#: 129149--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: Boonie
Date: October 23, 2024, 10:36 am
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My daughter played touch and tag rugby until she went to senior
school, where the focus was on boys rather than girls. She used
to come with me to Quins back in the days when I could afford a
season ticket, and she still comes to the Big Game with her
husband every year. She's a huge fan of rugby in general, and
Quins in particular.
#Post#: 129152--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T RFU warned of existential crisis as drastic school rugby
changes are unveiled
DIR By: Quinky
Date: October 23, 2024, 11:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Lots of detail in there, apart from the headline grabbing "posh
white boys" comment, which barely gets a mention.
Maybe because that's the one point that comes across as
ludicrous.
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