Rugby Blindside magazine - Autumn 2021 issue

RUGBY BLINDSIDE AUTUMN 2021 - ISSUE 16

Contents Features

In Focus

Opinion: Will Roberts 'Rotting from the core?' ...................................................................................................02

GoLo .....................................................................................................17

Featured: Rugby and the Law 'Premiership Rugby’s Agent Fee Dispute' ...................................................................................................06 Interview with Dan Cottrell, Head coach and editor at Rugby Coach Weekly ....................................................................................................10 Featured: Prenton RUFC 'Heartbeat of their community' .....................................................................................................14

News Commercial news .....................................................................................................12 Club news ....................................................................................................30 From the professional game .....................................................................................................32

Featured: Old Illtydians RFC 'Building for the future' .....................................................................................................18 Featured: Fill Your Boots 'Fill Your Boots launch new grassroots rugby social network' ....................................................................................................28

....................................................................................................21

See page 18

See page 06

See page 10

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Opinion: Will Roberts

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Rotting from the core?

A look at whether the RFU should be held responsible for the decreasing participation numbers in rugby.

When speaking with people who volunteer in the rugby community there is one issue that always crops up in conversation - player recruitment and retention. There is a growing (and justified) fear that fewer and fewer players will turn up at rugby clubs up and down the country. Is there anyone to blame for this concern or is the wider popularity with the sport the problem?

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Opinion: Will Roberts According to an ongoing study, participation in rugby in the UK has decreased consistently between 2016 and 2020. The survey reported that in 2016 there were 259,600 people who were playing rugby at least twice a week. In 2020 this number was at 195,000 which means there was a near 25% reduction in participation over that 4 year period.

This reduction is not only felt with players on the pitch but all throughout rugby clubs. Fewer players playing rugby means fewer membership fees paid to clubs, decreased revenue from bar sales and merchandise as well as reduced participation in club revenue generating events, and thus less growth.

Why is this? And what can be done to halt this decline?

In my opinion there are a few reasons for this trend and they affect both the top and bottom sections of the community game. One is the growing opinion that rugby is becoming more and more dangerous as a sport and there has been a balance shift in the risk/reward decision making by players. Even at the grassroots level players are bigger, the impacts are larger and major injuries are frequent. The increased risk of injury might potentially threaten someone’s income which affects many people’s decisions of whether to keep playing rugby or not.

This, however for me, is not the principal reason why the game is not growing at the grassroots level. In my opinion Rugby Union has a serious issue with making new ground in areas of the country where rugby is not commonly played. Rugby Union has its popular regions which are the South East, London suburbs, West Country and the Midlands. Rugby Union is also popular the northern part of England but is outweighed by Rugby League in popularity.

Where the game struggles to make in roads are urban areas such as the inner boroughs on major cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester. This is where the RFU has to take some responsibility for declining numbers of participation. Playing rugby in heavily urban areas does present natural challenges such as the lack of playing fields/facilities but there certainly are alternatives and ways around this issue that can help develop rugby in these areas. For example, utilising facilities that already exist in these areas such as schools and leisure centres would be a good start. Investment would be needed to help grow the game in urban areas but using available infrastructure/facilities would overcome a major stumbling block to growth.

The way Rugby Union in England is constituted is also a contributing factor. For historical reasons rugby in England has been organised by counties. This may have been the best way to go about things when the RFU was founded in 1871 but it has not adapted and kept up with urbanisation in England. It has resulted with areas in major cities such as London and Birmingham being governed by multiple county unions rather than one dedicated union. Clubs rely on the expertise and advice given to them by their unions and with no dedicated union for inner-city rugby clubs I feel their needs for

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growth may not be met. This is because challenges faced by an inner-city club will be completely different to the challenges faced by a club based in rural areas.

The RFU’s failure to adapt to urbanisation in England will have hindered club growth and player participation.

In my opinion though, this is not the only way in which the RFU is hindering growth and participation. My other bone of contention is with the RFU Regulation 7 which applies to the payment of players at varying levels of rugby. Although introduced to curb the effects of professionalism below the Championship these rules make it difficult for clubs to attract and more importantly retain players.

RFU Regulation 7 states: ‘For clubs whose men’s first XV team plays at Level 3: the threshold is £250,000 of Gross Payments paid or payable to players and including the payment of Player Coaches save that only £12,500 of the costs of each of the first and second Player Coaches will be excluded in calculating whether or not the threshold has been exceeded. (b) For clubs whose men’s first XV team plays at Level 4: the threshold is £125,000 of Gross Payments to paid or payable to players and including the payment of player coaches save that only £10,000 of the costs of each of the first and second Player Coaches will be excluded in calculating whether or not the threshold has been exceeded. (c) For clubs whose men’s first XV team plays at Level 5: the threshold is £50,000 of Gross Payments paid or payable to players and including the payment of Player Coaches save that only £7,500 of the costs of each of the first and second Player Coaches.’

Let’s look at Level 3 as an example, this includes clubs playing in National 1. They are competing in a nationwide league which has its demands on players.

You’re essentially asking players to commit to a league which is structured the same as the Premiership, but without anything like the remuneration. Players are asked to travel up and down the country weekend after weekend for two thirds of the year. Clubs at this level have average playing squad sizes at around 40 players which means for this commitment the average remuneration per player is £6,250 per season. A nice top up to your regular income for a young and upcoming player with no parental/family responsibilities, but for the more senior players at this level they have to ask themselves if it’s worth it. This league structure put in place by the RFU creates the problem where some players will question playing or not.

If Regulation 7 is in place to prevent mass growth of professionalism in rugby then the RFU need to look at restructuring things to make the leagues below the Championship more community focused and regionalised, or increase the allowed remuneration in a national/semi-national league. At the moment there is no balance between the two and clubs/players at this level are stuck in limbo and its causing issues in the game.

The bottom line is rugby in England is facing challenges with growth and participation and its core governing body needs to learn, adapt, change to stop the rot.

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Feature: Rugby and the Law

Premiership Rugby’s Agent Fee Dispute Ben Cisneros discusses the recent dispute regarding the payment of agents’ fees in English rugby.

Premiership clubs (the “Clubs”) are reportedly in a dispute with agents over the payment of agents’ fees. Traditionally, these have always been paid by the Clubs on behalf of players but, in June this year, the Clubs agreed to end this practice. Moving forward, according to the Clubs, players would have to pay agents themselves.

However, agents working in the Premiership have now reportedly downed tools, refusing to recommend that their clients agree to any new contracts with the Clubs. Given that the Clubs typically aim to finalise their recruitment and retention for next season before Christmas, and with the lure of France and Japan ever stronger, tensions are high (yet again) in English rugby. The Clubs now find themselves locked in a dispute with the Association of Rugby Agents (the “ARA”) and the Rugby Players Association (the “RPA”), with the matter set to go to a mediation next week.

This article will try to explain the dispute and will consider the relevant legal arguments.

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Feature: Rugby and the Law 1. How do agents’ fees work in rugby?

In rugby union, agents will typically earn 5-10% commission from each playing contract signed by a player they represent. Therefore, each time a player signs a new deal with a Club, their agent will earn 5-10% of the total value of that contract (likely to be paid over the course of the agreement). Sometimes, the agent will negotiate their fee directly with the Club.

This commission has traditionally always been paid by the Club, on the player’s behalf. Therefore, if Player X signs a one-year contract worth £100,000 and the agent negotiates a commission of 10%, the Club will pay Player X’s agent £10,000 (plus VAT), in addition to the £100,000 paid to Player X. The £10,000 (plus VAT) will be treated as a benefit in kind for income tax purposes, such that Player X will be taxed in respect of the £100,000 plus the £10,000 (plus VAT). Of course, as players are employees, the payment of income tax in respect of these sums is primarily their employer’s responsibility. This is uncontroversial.

Agents’ fees are also included under the salary cap.

2. Why are the Clubs refusing to pay agents’ fees?

According to reports, the agents claim that the Clubs are refusing to pay their fees in order to cut costs, because of the pandemic. They also suggest that the Clubs’ longterm motivation is to exclude agents from negotiations altogether. The agents claim that the Clubs have used HMRC’s recent guidance on the taxation of agents’ fees in football to justify their approach.

On 31 March 2021, HMRC released new guidance on the tax treatment of payments made to football agents. This guidance focuses primarily on the practice of “dual representation” whereby an agent acts for both a player and the acquiring football club, under a tripartite agreement. In such a situation, the club pays all of the agents’ fees and these will typically be split 50:50 between fees paid in respect of services rendered to the player and services rendered to the club.

Previously HMRC had accepted this as being best practice. However, the new guidance makes clear that HMRC does not necessarily accept that this is always appropriate and will scrutinise arrangements to ensure that there is a “commercial justification for payments that have been made”. HMRC’s primary concern is that the dual representation model may be exploited to artificially reduce the amount of income tax payable on behalf of the player (i.e. by treating 50% of the fee paid as being in respect of services rendered to the club when, in fact, more than 50% of the services provided by the agent were to the player). The new guidance thus encourages parties to such arrangements to keep thorough records to evidence the commercial justification for the deal. This guidance will, presumably, apply to rugby transactions in the same way.

For their part, the Clubs insist that their aim is to eliminate a “real conflict of interest” and to “put the

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player at the centre of the arrangement”. They say that, as the agent is providing services to the player, the player should be responsible for payment of their fees, and for the payment of any tax. According to Premiership Rugby’s Phil Winstanley, the new approach would “avoid any risks in future any tax investigations [sic] or tax issues that impact on the club”.

HMRC have reportedly been investigating Clubs’ treatment of agents’ fees in light of the new guidance, as dual representation agreements do exist in rugby (though perhaps less commonly than in football). After all, and as the agents have pointed out, agents do provide services to the Clubs in securing the services of the players. The Clubs are evidently of the view that the need to consider the structure of transactions more carefully and to keep detailed records is not worth the hassle – or, more cynically, perhaps this is a convenient excuse to stop paying agents’ fees altogether. Yet, when agents provide (recruitment) services to Clubs, they will (rightly) expect to be paid by the Clubs for those services.

Of course, the main advantage to Clubs of not paying agents’ fees would be to save costs, or to save salary cap space, which could be used to pay players more or to increase squad size. The reduction of the salary cap (discussed here) has squeezed Clubs and players, and this is a result.

3. What does this mean for agents?

Clearly, this development is bad news for agents. If Clubs are not paying agents’ fees, players will become responsible for paying them, out of their own pocket. In those circumstances, it is likely that some players will feel that they cannot afford to pay for an agent or may not wish to pay as much as agents were otherwise receiving from the Clubs. Players may also be less reliable when it comes to making agreed payments.

Towards the top end of the market, one would imagine that players would see the value in having an agent and would be able to afford to pay them at the usual rate but, at the lower end, agents may be squeezed out altogether. The larger agencies are likely to weather the storm, but smaller agencies and individual agents may struggle. That said, even a top player earning close to £1 million a year might think twice before paying £50100,000 out of their own pocket to their agent each season.

If the current agency model is deemed to be too expensive for players – i.e. if they do not feel that they would be getting value for money – it may be that agents turn to a fixed fee model for their services, or that players turn to lawyers (whose fees would typically amount to less than 5-10% of the value of a player’s contract) for assistance with contract negotiations, instead.

4. What does this mean for players?

The RPA is concerned about agents being squeezed out because of the important role agents play in

representing players’ interests. Agents are players’ voices in negotiations with the Clubs and there is a real concern that, without them, players (particularly those who are young and commercially inexperienced) will be taken advantage of. Ultimately, it is an agent’s job to ensure that the player is getting the best deal possible, and that they are being paid their market value.

Further, if players do continue to pay agents, it will come out of their own pockets, reducing their income by 510%. After the Covid-inspired pay cuts of 2020 and the subsequent reduction in the salary cap (which is rumoured to be extended), the burden of agents’ fees would amount to yet another suppression of players’ earnings. Whilst Clubs could use the money saved to pay players more, this seems unlikely given the cost-cutting climate at present.

Indeed, this may have a detrimental effect on the Premiership as a whole, as it will become a less attractive destination for top talent (both because of the cost implications and because agents will be less incentivised to recruit talent to the Premiership).

According to reports, the position in relation to agents’ fees was a factor in South Africa World Cup-winner, Duane Vermeulen, signing for Ulster in spite of interest from the Clubs.

Nonetheless, there may be some benefit to players by virtue of the elimination of any conflicts of interest.

Whilst players and agents’ interests are typically aligned in a negotiation, there may be a conflict of interest if agents are negotiating their fee with the Club independently of the player. Such an arrangement sits somewhat uncomfortably with agents’ fiduciary obligations to their clients.

However, this potential conflict could be eliminated by capping agents’ fees, or by regulating dual representation more closely. Clubs refusing to pay agents’ fees altogether in order to eliminate such a conflict of interest would be throwing the baby out with the bath water – and would not be in the best interests of the game.

5. What are the legal arguments?

competitive conduct could be justified as being a proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aim of promoting financial stability. However, given the negative effects outlined above and the modest costsaving for Clubs, it is in this author’s view doubtful that such an approach would be proportionate (and, in any event, merely saving costs may not be a legitimate aim).

Alternatively, the RPA and ARA may argue that the longevity of the Clubs’ practice of paying agents’ fees has resulted in a term being implied by custom and practice into the Premiership Standard Playing Contract such that they are obliged to do so, unless it is agreed otherwise. According to the relevant case law, a custom or practice will be deemed a binding implied term where it is “reasonable, notorious and certain” and is followed “because there is a sense of legal obligation to do so”. Notably, the Premiership Standard Playing Contract refers to agents’ fees having been paid by the Club.

6. Conclusion The dispute between the Clubs and rugby agents is just the latest fractious episode in the messy history of English rugby, which has undoubtedly been made significantly messier by Covid-19. Indeed, it is not the first time that this issue has reared its head. In 2003 the Clubs also refused to pay agents’ fees but were ultimately unsuccessful. Whether the Clubs will prevail this time around remains to be seen.

If English rugby had a proper collective bargaining mechanism in place, this type of proposal would have required consultation prior to its implementation but, as it is, the Clubs’ unilateral decision has very quickly resulted in a stand-off with agents – and players are caught in the middle. This helps no one and pushes the case further for true collective bargaining.

In this author’s view, Clubs not paying agents’ fees is not good for the game – even if lawyers might stand to benefit (!) – and may well be legally challengeable. It is likely to have (if it has not had already) adverse effects for agents, players, and the Premiership as a whole.

From a legal perspective, players and agents may be able to mount competition law arguments to undermine the Clubs’ decision. As the Clubs are acting collectively and hold a monopsony over the professional rugby market, the decision not to pay agents’ fees will inevitably distort competition in the market for agents’ services and between players, for the reasons set out above.

The RPA and ARA may therefore argue that the policy amounts to an anti-competitive agreement or an abuse of a dominant position (contrary to sections 2 and 18 of the Competition Act 1998, respectively). The lack of consultation, in particular, may make the latter more attractive. Likewise, it might be argued that the decision amounts to a restraint of trade.

The Clubs would likely argue that any prima facie anti-

Article by Ben Cisneros. Ben is Trainee Solicitor at Morgan Sports Law. This article was first published on his blog, Rugby and the Law. Please email ben.cisneros@morgansl.com with any enquiries, and you can follow him @rugbyandthelaw.”

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Game development - Interview: Dan Cottrell

Interview with Dan Cottrell, Head coach and editor at Rugby Coach Weekly Rugby Blindside recently spoke with Dan Cottrell who told us about his background in coaching and advice for any aspiring coaches.

We hope to speak to the grassroots game, using good practice from all over the world. This year we launched the Women’s Rugby Coaching and relaunched the weekly magazine. We have online courses too, something we would like to develop further.

What are your core philosophies / coaching fundamentals?

This is a great question because I think they are changing all the time, so it is difficult to give an exact answer.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got involved in rugby?

I played rugby for Bath and Bristol in the 90s, though mostly for their 2nd teams. I went into teaching eventually ending up as head of Economics and Business Studies at a large private school in Surrey. From there, I was made Director of Rugby. I did my coaching badges, took the 1st XV and helped coach Surrey U16s, U18s and U19s. In 2003, while still teaching, I launched “Rugby Coach” with a publishing friend. In 2005 it had grown enough to leave teaching. From there, I moved to Swansea, where I coached the Osprey U16s, Swansea Schools U15s and did a three year stint with the Wales Women team as assistant coach. I also coached my son’s team from U6s through to U16s. All of this helped my develop my understanding of coaching and help share my experiences with the Rugby Coach Weekly audience.

I’m now in Bristol, my home town, coaching every night of the week, with University of Bristol Women, Bristol Bears DPP and Broad Plain 1st XV. Tell us about Rugby Coach Weekly and its role within the grassroots game.

Rugby Coach Weekly is both a weekly magazine and a huge website with over 3000 pages of drills, activities, games, videos and advice. But, I would like to emphasise, it is not the Dan Cottrell show. While I do have a number of ideas, the aim is to share as much of all the great coaching content from the widest range of coaches possible.

What works for one coach with one team might not work in many other circumstances. If you are coaching more than one team, it might mean you need to find different solutions to the same problem, because of the variety of situations you might face.

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Currently, I think that players often lack understanding of why they are doing certain things on the field. If it works at a moment in time, if they don’t know why, then they are unlikely to be able repeat that.

My current philosophy is to embed knowledge through building up a strong understanding of the game in front of them. They need to know how to win the game. That leads to some principles and ways to use those principles.

My coaching fundamentals are to go to a game first if I can. However, the players cannot guess their way to the answer. That needs a careful balance of challenge, information and reinforcement.

I would love to think I get this right most of the time. I know I don't, so I'm constantly trying to find ways to make my coaching more substantive and relevant.

In the past, I’ve been guilty of trying to embrace the newest, shiniest ways. In the end, through 25 plus years of teaching and coaching, the fundamentals remain the same. Connect with your players, have an excellent knowledge of the game they are playing and use a range of teaching styles to impart that knowledge. You are helping the player understand their pathway. They may know themselves or need guidance. Your interventions need to recognise when to say something and when to leave it.

What are the common challenges you hear from rugby coaches at the grassroots level?

On the what to coach: poor tackling, poor handling, poor rucking skills. On the how to coach: our players won’t listen, our players don’t seem to grasp the concepts.

However, a good leader sticks to their principles. If your measure of success is to keep a group together, you might have a rotation system for games. Leaders keep to that even if a stakeholder suggests differently.

Finally, to succeed, you have to be prepared to lose.

Again, acknowledge that. “I got that selection wrong.” Or “That activity in training didn’t achieve what I think we needed.” I suppose the last “L” I should state is “Life”.

The main challenges often happen because there’s a disconnect between the coaches’ perceptions of the problems, the players’ own perception of the problem and, what you might call, the game problem.

The game problem is about how to “win” a game moment. For example, in defence, how to get the ball back, or in attack find space to go forward. That means that the coach will know that they need to improve passing, but don’t connect it fully to the game problem.

It’s the same with the players. The connection might be there, but it’s weak.

Then both the coach and player expect to solve their own problems with some easy fixes. Yet, we don’t bend our solutions to suit our players or our own strengths. For example, there are lots of excellent YouTube videos out there to show how to improve tackling or rucking or passing. The better coaches adjust this content to their players.

Often the challenge is rooted somewhere else. Teams will struggle to play an expansive game if their catching and passing is poor. One very simple solution is to make sure you have the best ball for handling! For the youngest players, I will even take a little bit of air out of the ball to make it softer and smaller.

In your opinion, what are the key attributes that a rugby coach needs to succeed?

The clever answer questions what is meant by success?

Getting a full team out at the weekend is a good starting measure post-pandemic.

In which case, I think you need to model the behaviours you would expect from your players. The RFU TREDS is a pretty useful guide: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

You can’t let it become all-consuming. You have to be able to step back. Much easier said than done. If you can, think that there’s always another game next week.

What words of advice would I have for someone who is considering taking their first steps in rugby coaching?

Coaching is many things to many people. You could be helping out for 10 minutes for your child’s team on a Sunday or leading the U9s for a new season.

My advice is this: Coach something you know to start with.

If you don’t know much, ask the players what are their favourite games, ask them to set it up and let them play. Encourage them. Enjoy their enjoyment.

Watch other coaches. Take from them things you can do.

Week two should look like week one, but with only a couple of small adjustments.

And finally, what are your future plans for Rugby Coach Weekly and how it can help the game grow and develop?

We are going to get out on the road more. We want to listen and connect with coaches and help coaches connect with each other. When an U9's coach and U10's coach chat that creates an enormous amount of rugby capital. We are also keen to spread the net far and wide for contributors. Sometimes it is the same “game” but with a wrinkle that gives you a new angle.

For example, I saw a two-player knee touch warm-up the other day, but the players were either side of a line.

The players were only allowed to have one foot over line at any one time. Clever wrinkle.

My own mantra is that you need to listen, lead and lose.

Make sure you know what others think. You don’t need to do what they say, but you do need to acknowledge their contribution. “Thanks for that input on who should play 10 on Saturday. This time I’m going to disagree and go with another player. Let’s review this after the game.”

And that sentence includes leadership. You have to be bold and make things happen. Leading means doing. It also acknowledges that you will make some tough decisions. You can’t cover everything, or select everyone.

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Commercial news

Richmond renews RHINO partnership

Greenmount Carpets sponsor Redruth RFC

The club is pleased to announce it has renewed its partnership with Rhino as a club sponsor and official supplier of training equipment and pitch kits to Richmond Rugby for another two years.

Greenmount Carpets Owners, Jeremy Stephens and partner Michelle Rowe have committed to a 3-year sponsorship agreement with Redruth RFC. In addition, the company has also recently provided the club with new flooring throughout both of the ‘home team’ changing rooms, and replaced the ‘band hut carpet’, in preparation for the new season of rugby ahead.

Rhino recently completed its fourth consecutive British & Irish Lions tour in this role and is also an Official Supplier to Wales, France and England.

Rhino CEO and former Richmond player Reg Clark commented: “We are very proud to be associated with a club like Richmond which embodies all the best qualities of a community club – aspiration to play at high levels, a strong junior and mini-rugby section and a very strong social rugby base and club spirit.”

Jimmy Wallace, Group Commercial Director for Richmond Rugby, commented: “Rhino have been a great partner of ours for several years, their equipment is ‘best in class’ and we are delighted that they are continuing to supply both the club and the ground with some much-needed rugby equipment. We look forward to welcoming Reg and his guests as Ball Sponsor for the Jersey fixture on Saturday 30th October.”

Richmond Rugby were the winners of the 2020 Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award in recognition of its efforts in the community during the pandemic.

Billingham Rugby Club announce new sponsor Billingham Rugby Club and Unitel Direct are excited to announce a new sponsorship agreement.

Unitel Direct and Director Chris Wilkinson have been long-standing supporters of the club. Their branding will now be seen all around the club as part of our new relationship.

Speaking about the new partnership deal, Chairman Mark Armstrong, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Unitel Direct as the club’s new principal sponsor. Chris is excited to be able to support his club as this underlines his family ties with the club. Unitel Direct have a strong community ethos and we very much look forward to working together in the coming year at a venue that is at the heart of the local community.”

Marketing officer Mike Brown “One of the visions for the club when it was built was for it to be the catalyst for sporting success in this town. It has also provided so much more than that and has developed a reputation for hosting international rugby games and producing some of the regions top talent. With the help of Unitel Direct and our other partners this will help the club continue to grow and help us give back to our local community. We look forward to working with the Unitel Direct.”

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Jeremy commented, ‘For as long as I’ve ever known, those changing room floors have always been the same, so they were well overdue a makeover, and this new flooring is actually what they have down at Bath Rugby.

Theresa Parr of Redruth RFC, approached my General Manager, Amy and since January 2021 we have been working with Redruth RFC to come to a collaboration – something that is very long overdue! We have both had past associations with the club in varying roles and have some great memories there. It’s important for the community of Redruth that local businesses support the future of a club that is steeped in so much history, and Greenmount are pleased to be able to help out’.

Director of Rugby, Nigel Hambly commented ‘Greenmount have always been a long-standing sponsor of our youth section at Redruth RFC and their recent decision to support the club as a whole has been greatly welcomed. Redruth RFC is proud to work with a highly successful local business who are at the heart of our community.

Greenmount MD, Jeremy Stephens also has a family association at the club where his late father, Michael dedicated many years of outstanding service to the club, so having Jeremy on board is something I’m sure Mike would have been very proud of’

Propel Finance become principal partner of Clifton Rugby Clifton proud to announce local partnership ahead of season.

On the eve of the start of their National League campaign, Clifton Rugby is proud to announce Propel has become the club's principal partner for the forthcoming season.

South West head office based Propel was established in 1996 to provide flexible and accessible finance to SMEs across the country. Now, more than 25 years on, Propel has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent finance houses, helping more than 45,000 businesses to access finance to purchase business critical equipment and vehicles quickly and easily.

At Propel, they live their values. Through their personal values - they care, they are positive, they support one another and are there for their customers. Through their progressive values - they are ambitious, forward thinking and always striving to improve. Through their partnering

values – they build and nurture relationships; and they invest for the long term.

player, captain and volunteer for 69 years - will cost in the region of £140,000.

In line with these values, Propel is proud to be supporting a local initiative through becoming the principle sponsor of Clifton Rugby Club. The sponsorship enables the continuous growth of Clifton’s squad and help boost the club’s ambition to challenge for promotion from National League 2.

The donation will support the stand’s rebuilding costs and comes as part of Persimmon’ Homes’ Community Champions initiative, which sees 64 good causes across Great Britain awarded up to £1,000 every month.

Propel are delighted to be supporting Clifton which not only benefits the rugby club but also the local community, leading to opportunities for so many people to get involved in rugby. As part of their support, Propel have helped finance Clifton’s recent investment in ground care equipment which has helped contribute towards improving the club’s state of the art facilities.

Jon Maycock, Commercial Director at Propel commented “Propel have been delighted to partner with Clifton Rugby Club. We have a passion for supporting small, ambitious organisations & are delighted to support the club as a principal sponsor as well as directly support the club through what we do – i.e. providing first class service to help businesses acquire the assets they need to grow their business. We wish Clifton every success in the season ahead & to building a long term partnership for the future.”

Les Robinson, Treasurer of Clifton RFC adds “We really appreciate the financial support of Propel for the forthcoming season. Their support has enabled us to prepare the first class training facility we have here at Clifton, including best in class grounds and a premiership quality gym. Our elite performance training facility, coupled with the security of the sponsorship has enabled us to attract some great talent for the season ahead”.

Propel are happy to engage with Clifton Rugby Club members or affiliates to support their businesses towards investment in vital assets. Propel offer SME customers benefits from individually tailored solutions, ranging from Hire Purchase to Asset Refinance services; enabling businesses to preserve their capital, raise cash from their existing owned assets and boost their cash flow conveniently, quickly and easily.

York RUFC's new stands gets builders support York Rugby Union Football Club has received a £1,000 donation from a local housebuilder towards its planned new 150 capacity stand.

The Clifton Park club is currently awaiting planning permission for the stand to replace its current facility, which desperately needs to be repaired due to wear and tear and being vandalised.

Jonny Frank for the club said: “This support from Persimmon Homes is wonderful news for the club. It will help to get us closer to providing a stand and facilities that both our players and supporters deserve.

“We are hopeful of securing planning consent and our designs for the Wood-Butler stand will make it accessible for all. It will feature accessibility ramps, a specific area for wheelchair users, catering facilities for match days, toilets and storage areas.”

Scott Waters, managing director for Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “Community sporting clubs provide a very important role in the local area, and we are very pleased to support York RUFC’s impressive new stand.”

Weston-Super-Mare RFC Girls U13'S get new sponsor Weston-super-Mare RFC are pleased to introduce their new U13 girls team with huge thanks to their sponsor Keyhole International Travel.

George Sparks of Keyhole International Travel kindly offered to sponsor the girls, who being newly formed were in need of playing kit.

Keyhole International Travel is your locally based travel specialist. They can help you build a wide range of trips from a UK staycation, right through to the most incredible bucket list adventures.

George said "I place my customers at the heart of my service and I strive to do as much of the planning and paperwork as possible so that they can just concentrate on having the very best trip possible."

Nazcot Mortgages renew sponsorship with Bracknell RFC Bracknell Rugby Football Club are delighted to welcome back Nazcot Mortgages as a sponsor of the club.

Nazcot Mortgages have generously decided they will donate 25% of their commission to Bracknell Rugby Football Club when any members use them.

Nazcot Mortgages are a locally based company with connections to the club through the Mini & Junior section.

The expected new Wood-Butler stand - in honour of both Jack M Wood, a former player, captain, president and Lord Mayor of York and Donald Butler, former

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 13

Club development - Prenton RUFC

14 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

Heartbeat of their community Prenton RUFC recently told Rugby Blindside about the work they are doing to become a hub for their local community.

Rugby has been played at Prenton Dell for over 60 years since Old Rockferrians Rugby Club took on the site in 1957. The clubhouse has been home to amateur rugby ever since.

In 1992 the Old Rocks amalgamated with Old Instonians Rugby Club, when the latter was on the point of closure after losing their playing field. Prenton Rugby Club was created as a result and has continued to provide rugby to the local area for the last 28 years.

Prenton is a suburb of Birkenhead on the Wirral, where over recent decades local leisure facilities have been replaced by housing. Community hubs, such as the local youth club and community hall, have been closed, leaving residents without anywhere to gather as a community. That’s why Prenton Rugby Club are intent on becoming the heartbeat of their community and giving everyone a base at the club.

They have created an impressive community garden, with a huge amount of work from club volunteers and help from the local council's community fund. They have also completed and launched the Paul Lavelle Foundation Nature Trail, with support from a male domestic abuse and survivors’ charity. The picnic area

and nature trail are in memory of a local man Paul Lavelle, who sadly lost his life to his abusive partner As part of the goal to build and create an outdoor community space, the club has plans that have already been passed to build four new self-contained changing rooms for men and women and two referees’ rooms.

This will allow for major internal works to include a new commercial kitchen, new ladies and gents’ toilets, accessible toilets, a gymnasium and a community space that can be used for a variety of events and group activities.

The club has one eye on the future and how they do their own little bit for climate change with being more energy efficient, with this in mind they will be looking to use renewable energy with an 80 panel PV solar installation along with using ground source heat pumps to power the building without the use of gas.

With RFU and Sports England’s help along with funding from partners, the club intends to knock down the current damp and inadequate and dated changing facilities and build new modern and adequate changing areas this will then allow us to increase the current footprint of the existing main function room area which can be designed to allow the room to become multi use during the week.

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 15

Club development - Prenton RUFC The club has also been working with nearby Birkenhead School to provide an extra pitch onsite for use by the club, school and local community. It’s hoped that permission for the overall project will be granted in the new year. At the same time, Wirral Heartbeat charity will be fitting out the gym for their use from 9 am to noon and then made available for club members and residents at very affordable prices.

With the new facilities, we hope to reinstate the women’s rugby team along with a new Minis section. We have also been a host to an all-inclusive rugby team the Chester Centurions. We are a really diverse and an open grassroots community club, but we believe that we can be more widely engaged and accessible with the muchneeded improved facilities.

The Clubs Committee have realised that for a club like ours we can’t just rely on rugby any longer and understand that people are looking for more from their local sports clubs to help their communities. with this vision in mind several volunteers have stepped up and really driven this vision and project and hope that along with the now completed Community Garden and nature trail that they can bring a first-class facility for all to enjoy for many years to come.

The RFU CEO Brian Sweeney got wind of the project when Brian Elkerton of Prenton was being recognised for his outstanding voluntary contribution at the RFU Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition dinner at Twickenham and decided to pay the club a visit last year

16 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

after the national lockdown to see what had been going on. The RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney, a former pupil at Birkenhead School, visited Prenton RFC and was very impressed by their plans.

“I was incredibly inspired by my visit to Prenton in August of this year,” “This is an area that has suffered badly in recent times from a reduction in investment in local facilities and despite being surrounded by many other rugby clubs they decided to take matters into their own hands and do something to support their community.”

“It’s a familiar part of the country for me and I’m sure that when their ambitions are realised, they really will be the heart and soul of the area. They have already made a tremendous start and are helping the health and wellbeing of local people at a time when it is very much needed. What they are doing is testament to their vision, commitment, and a passion to make things better,” said Bill.

Bill continues to be in touch with Brian checking on how things are progressing and if there is anything he can support with. We are now working alongside Sports England to hopefully become a flagship club to show others what can be done with hard work and commitment. Prenton hope to start work on the new changing facilities at the end of this current 2021/22 season with aim of phase one being complete for the 2022/23 Season.

In Focus

GoLo was founded during a Covid 19 lockdown by Danny Lambe. Danny is a decorated rugby coach and has won the Munster Junior Cup with Rockwell College. He is a dedicated coach and continues to coach at School and Club Level in Cashel Rugby Club.

These specially internationally patented tackle pads are designed to be durable and perfect for all training scenarios. GoLo tackle pads are designed to be worn throughout a training session and are easily interchangeable between players.

After years of coaching Danny has constantly struggled to get players to tackle lower and more accurately. He believes the game of rugby has changed over the last number of years and there is now a huge emphasis around safety and tackle height.

These pads are made of special materials to ensure they can withstand all rugby sessions.

Dannys vision is for every player to have access to a GoLo to ensure that they are easily able to drop the height of tackles and overall improve the game of rugby. The creation of such a product means that coaches can now easily help players of all ages identify the correct tackle height.

If you observe any underage rugby session you will constantly hear coaches encouraging their players to ‘Go Lo’. With this new products players will be able to easily remember the correct tackle height and position in game situations.

Main features are: 4x Padded Leg Areas 1 Large Waste Padding Area 2x Large Targets 3x Easily Adjustable Velcro Straps High Density Tackle Foam Military Grade Material Zero Friction Velcro Straps

For more information contact GoLo via their website: https://golorugby.com/

If you are a club/school looking to bulk order any of our products please contact them today for a quote: Tel: +353 87 654 3708 Email: info@golorugby.com

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 17

Club development: Old Illtydians RFC

Building for the future Old Illtydians RFC tell us their story about the impressive and exceptional growth of the club's mini and junior section.

Our club's mini and junior section had largely died off for a variety of reasons, with only sporadic teams and no youth team for 10+ years. Fearing for the clubs future, we put in place an action plan to re-establish the mini and junior section. We received support from Cardiff and the WRU to help promote a get into rugby event in October 2015, working with local schools and using social media to drive engagement. The event was a success, with about 22 kids with ages ranging from 4-14 turning up. With contact details taken from all the parents, we established weekly sessions on Sundays. The older kids mainly left to move to established clubs, but as the weeks went by we continued to grow through social media promotion and word of mouth. We managed to play our first tag matches in January 2016 with our u7 and u8 playing against Canton.

18 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 19

Game development: Old Illtydians RFC The teams that played that day are now our oldest age groups (U14s and U13s) who we hope will progress through to our youth team in a few years time. When we started the new season a few weeks ago after the prolonged break due to COVID, we had 8 teams playing on Sunday (u7 to u14s) with over 150 players representing the club.

our playing base, ensuring that there are no barriers for local children and has also driven real loyalty and goodwill amongst our players and parents. We operate a boot exchange and sell old and unused items of kit for a £1 donation to provide affordable training kit for players.

We have to had to work hard on fundraising and sponsorship to fund this, but it has been well worth it.

There are a few elements that have been key to our progress, with the first being our proactive approach, we have always gone out looking for potential players rather than waiting for them to come to us. For the first 2 seasons, we ran after school rugby club in a local primary school for a 4 week block, with lots of the kids engaged going on to join the club. Each year we have built on this, trying to develop our relationship and network with local schools.

The final aspect to highlight has been our ethos and approach to coaching and games. We focus on enjoyment and development of the kids, not on results or on the most “able” children. We fully support the WRU “Half a Game Initiative” but go beyond that for our primary school ages, ensuring as far as possible that all players get equal playing time wherever possible. We believe that this focus has done so much to generate a positive atmosphere, which generates happy parents who recommend us to friends, creating a virtuous circle that we will look to continue.

Our coaches use a combination of shift patterns and holidays to run rugby taster sessions in a variety of local schools, we have been to 5 different schools in the area and are hoping to deliver sessions in a couple of new ones before the end of the year. We also have a hub officer at the local high school who has been excellent in both helping us to recruit school players without clubs and offering continuous development and improvement for our coaches through CPD courses and other coach education and support.

Another key aspect has been the efforts we have made to remove barriers to playing. We took the choice as a club not to charge any fees whatsoever. Whilst this is difficult for the club financially, with winter training costs now totalling hundreds of pounds per week, this has been another important factor both in the growth of

20 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

What's next for us on our journey? On the proactive theme, we have established a partnership with Sports Xtra who provide coaching for children too young to play matches, starting at 3 years old. This will hopefully provide the pipeline for Old Illtydians Mini Players for the future. We have been frustrated that a number of talented girls we have had have dropped out around year 6/7 and have been lost to the game as there is no girls only rugby provision on the east of Cardiff. We ran a successful girls only pilot during the summer, and we are now hopeful of establishing girls teams to sit alongside our mixed programme to fix this issue. We aren’t where we want to be as yet, but we know we are heading in the right direction!

Summer 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 19

Clubhouse Directory

Catering & Hospitality CocoPro Studio 2.05 - Food Exchange New Covent Garden Market London SW85EL Rory@drinkcocopro.com 0207 0423235 We offer a range of high protein coconut waters perfect for everyday or professional athletes. Low sugar, high protein, natural and using only the best ingredients CocoPro is perfect for recovery or snacking for hydration and a hit of protein. The All Blacks and Manchester United are amongst our customers.

www.drinkcocopro.com

GL Events Station Road, Castle Donnington, Derbyshire DE74 2NL 01332 498128 https://www.gl-events.com/en

Rapid Retail Unit 1 Goodwood Road Keytec 7 Business Park Pershore Worcestershire WR10 2JL info@rapidretail.co.uk 01386 555044 Rapid Retail has established itself as Europe’s leading supplier of bespoke modular retail solutions and kiosks. We have a proven track record of providing the world’s largest brands with unique & customisable customer experiences. Over the past decade, we have facilitated retail solutions for brands. Our broad range of products varying from mobile displays to modular buildings provides an all-encompassing, onestop-shop for retail merchandising, catering and matchday experience.

Bespoke customisation and branding options allow for maximum brand emphasis and coordination throughout our client’s venues, increasing fan engagement

22 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

and brand awareness. Our industry knowledge and expertise have fundamentally changed the on-site brand and shopping experience.

www.rapidretail.co.uk

Coaching iSportAnalysis The Beehive, City Place, Gatwick, West Sussex RH6 0PA anadi@iSportsAnalysis.com 07508 874706 iSportsAnalysis help your teams win! We help you get the best performances from your teams and players by providing you with performance analysis software at an affordable price. You can film your games, upload them to iSportsAnalysis, tag the actions and events you think relevant to your coaching styles, and share the results with your coaches and players. You can draw on the video, communicate with your players online, easily create playlists of clips from your game, and download playlists and clips for offline coaching and social media. iSportsAnalysis are used to great effect by rugby societies, and teams all over the world.

www.iSportsAnalysis.com

Pro Sport Analysis 74 Meridian Point 445 Southchurch Road Southend on Sea Essex SS1 2EB scott@prosportsanalysis.com 07825185633 Pro Sports Analysis provides a cost effective solution to clubs who do not have the resources to undertake their own video analysis.

Our team will be able to take your footage and using cutting edge technology analyse it into the areas that you require so that your coaches and players can review it prior to your next training session or match.

Once the footage has been analysed it will be uploaded into an online platform where coaches can review it and add their feedback.

Players will be able to view the footage at any time using this platform along with seeing comments and feedback from the coaches.

www.prosportsanalysis.com/

Sportplan WeWork, 131 Finsbury Pavement London EC2A 1NT info@sportplan.com 0207 1936 564 Never be short of ideas with our ever growing collection of over 1100 drills, techniques & coaching plans plus powerful tools to help you become a better coach. All demonstrated with high quality videos and easy to understand animations. Browse rugby drills by category or use the search bar to quickly find what you’re looking for.

Over 1100+ rugby training games and drills. Create professional coaching plans. Or access our tried and tested plans

www.sportplan.net/rugby

Commercial & Sponsorship SNAP Sponsorship 5 The Parade - Burden Way Guildford Surrey GU2 9PB Mark.Covington@snapsponsorship. com 01483 617888 SNAP Sponsorship Ltd was launched by CEO Mark Covington with the support of Chairman Simon Pennock. Mark identified a methodology to enable rugby clubs to grow through sponsorship.

Initially working with local businesses in a range of different fields, with the aim of identifying and nurturing long-term

partnerships based upon mutual benefits.

The demand for SNAP’s services quickly outgrew the manpower resources SNAP had at its disposal and in 2014 the decision was taken to automate the methodology, to enable all clubs, from any sport, at any level, to benefit from the approach to sponsorship which had been refined in the consultancy business.

Development of the platform has resulted a fully integrated, one of a kind, sponsorship portal. to take themselves or their organisation forward through sponsorship.

www.snapsponsorship.com

Events & Tournaments London 9s Rugby & Music Festival East London RFC 71 Holland Road West Ham London E15 3BP graham@rugbyfestevents.com 07889 534 999 The largest Rugby 9s festival in Europe. 100 games – 36 teams - 6 pitches - 3 bars - 1 AMAZING PARTY The LDN9s is a unique festival in the annual rugby calendar as it welcomes both amateur Rugby League & Rugby Union teams from across the world, to showcase their skills. Featuring open-age Men’s and Women’s rugby clubs and 7s and 9s touring teams. All together; all in one amazing day!

www.london9s.uk

family-run company that has been creating tailor-made, international tours for groups since 1965.

Specialising in school sports tours, we’ll use our years of experience and excellent contacts to create a tour that’s completely tailored to your team.

With a host of worldwide rugby tour destinations to choose from, you can enjoy evenly-matched, competitive fixtures against local and international teams, as well as unforgettable excursions, professional coaching and epic tournaments.

Rayburn House 37 Brunel Parkway Pride Park Derby DE24 8HR info@rayburntours.com 01332 347828

Whitlenge Farm Whitlenge Lane Hartlebury DY10 4HD Ros@arcgroundcare.com 01299 253118 We build sports pitches from scratch and renovate and maintain existing ones to improve and enhance performance. We have decades of experience and many successful projects, some of which you can view on our website.

www.arcgroundcare.com

www.rayburntours.com

Audience Systems Sports Tours Ltd 37 Brunel Parkway Pride Park Derby DE24 8HR info@sports-tours.co.uk 01708 565014 Sports Tours Ltd is an independent family run business. It all started with a passion to help sports teams enjoy great touring experiences in the UK and abroad – and that passion still remains over 30 years later! Today, Sports Tours Ltd is one of the UK’s leading specialist sports tour operators, helping almost 20,000 players, coaches and their families enjoy unforgettable experiences in the UK and around the world every year. And your team could be next!

www.sports-tours.co.uk/

Groundcare & Facilities A S Sports Systems

Rayburn Tours

ARC Ground Care Ltd

Wyton Lodge Farm, Kirklington Road, Hockerton, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0PH

19B Washington Road, West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 4JP 01373 865050 www.audiencesystems.com

Barriers International Cullivers Leaze, Foxley, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0JJ 01666 829100 https://barriersint.com/home/

CCGrass Meridian House, 2 Russell Street, Windsor SL4 1HQ 01753 201601 https://www.ccgrass.com/

Empower Energy 8 Pintail Business Park, 165 Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3AL 01425 461 461 https://empowerenergy.co.uk/

0800 9788 140 https://www.assportssystems.co.uk/

Rayburn Tours is an independent,

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 23

Clubhouse Directory

Lightwood Sports Groundcare Marsh Lane, North East Derbyshire 07803 120837 http://lightwoodsgc.co.uk/

RT Machinery Brackwell Farm Estate, Winchendon Rd, Nether Winchendon, Aylesbury HP18 0DS 01844 299037 https://rtmachinery.co.uk/

Matchsaver 8 Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley Business Park, Stokesley, North Yorkshire TS9 5JZ 03458 721800 https://matchsaver.com/

Modulek Modulek House, 19 Bessemer Close, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6AZ 01202 813 121 https://www.modulek.co.uk/

Ritelite (Systems) Ltd Meadow Park Bourne Road, Essendine, Stamford PE9 4LT sales@ritelite.co.uk 01780 765600 Ritelite Systems manufacture and supply a range of LED lighting towers uniquely designed for sports applications. Key products are the K65 Quad Pod Lighting tower which extends to 6.5M and the Sports-LITE Training kits. Used by many clubs for Rugby training both products enable clubs to continue to train through the winter months on any pitch. The K65 Quad Pod is mobile and compact for storage through any standard door size and can be powered by any generator or mains supply. The Sports-LITE Training kits are easy to carry and transportable in any standard car.

The Sports-LITE's are battery powered and fast to set up and put away. Both products offer fantastic high power LED light to easily illuminate the playing surface.

www.riteliteportablelighting.co. uk

24 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

SISIS Ashbourne Road, Kirk Langley, Derbyshire DE6 4NJ 01332 824777 https://www.sisis.com/

Kit & Equipment Aramis Rugby Newtown Industrial Estate, Newtown, South Molton, Devon EX36 3QP 01769 550284 https://www.aramisrugby.co.uk/

Catapult Sports Calls Wharf, 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU 01769 550284 https://www.catapultsports.com/

Gilbert Rugby Station Road Robertsbridge hello@gilbertrugby.com 01580 880357 At Gilbert Rugby, the community game is the heartbeat of why we do what we do. Without the pride, passion and support we have running throughout our wonderful community game, rugby simply wouldn't exist.

As a proud UK family owned brand, since we started in 1823 and continuing to today, it is important to us to do what we can to support the game at all levels. As rugby in the UK begins to return to Schools and to community rugby clubs, we have created some bespoke

Community Rugby Clubs Promotions featuring offers of up to 40% OFF the key kit and equipment required for the restart of community rugby.

www.gilbertrugby.com

Lovell Rugby Stadium House, Aspen Way, Yalberton Tor Ind Est, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7QR https://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/

Mark Harrod Limited Unit 40-42 Ladfordfields Industrial Estate Seighford Stafford ST18 9QL sales@markharrod.com 01785 594421 Mark Harrod is one of the leading sports equipment manufacturers in the UK and has been supplying schools, colleges, local authorities, contractors and sports clubs nationwide for over a decade. We manufacture and supply a vast array of sports equipment, much of which we’ve designed to withstand heavy use. Our range includes football, hockey, rugby, cricket, netball, badminton and much much more… We have supplied many high profile teams and organisations including: - The Welsh Rugby Union, Chelsea FC, Leicester City FC, But we are also at the heart of local sport, supplying sports equipment to grassroots teams across the country, something that has been at the heart of Mark Harrod Ltd since day one is our commitment to quality products and outstanding customer service.

www.markharrod.com

MyoMaster Handlers Close Molesey London KT8 2PA

Joe@myomaster.com 07894489776

craighenson@paviliongroup.co.uk 07866707973

At MyoMaster, our aim is to support the recovery of athletes everywhere – making the best in sports recovery available to everyone, whatever their goal. We are proud to provide the latest cutting edge recovery products at exceptional value to make this a reality.We work with only the best suppliers and with a team of advisors that include a number of professional athletes and leading physiotherapists, coaches and strength & conditioners.We specialise in all aspects of sports recovery from the latest tools to compression clothing to support you as you strive to achieve your goals.

Pavilion Promotional specialise in branding Rugby sports products, from Rugby balls, kits and equipment. There is no longer a need to scrum down and brace for the tackle with every marketing campaign. Convert your next one with ease with a selection of customised rugby balls and gear.

www.myomaster.com

Newitts Claxton Hall Malton Road York YO60 7RE frank@newitts.com 01904 468551 The company moved four times within York to progressively larger warehouses until it was decided to move to a green field site at ClaxtonHall. This new headquarters with its ample space for warehousing, deliveries and parking was very necessary for the continued growth of the company which had been restricted by the increasing pedestrianisation of York’s historic centre which made delivery and customer parking a problem. The wholesale side of the business moved to Claxton Hall, the 60,000 sq foot warehousing was perfect for deliveries and distribution.

www.newitts.com/

Unit B The Loddon Centre Wade Road Basingstoke RG24 8FL

Unit 8 Cavalry Park, Peebles EH45 9BU 01721 726920 https://www.rugbystore.co.uk/

www.pavilionpromotional.co.uk

SAI Sports Unit 4, Court Road Industrial Estate, Cwmbran, Torfaen, NP44 3AS

PREDATOR!

Hello@saisports.co.uk 07858648556

Higher Wampford Kings Nympton Devon EX37 9TG sales@predator.co.uk 0800 0183706 Since 1982 PREDATOR! has been the brand name for the high quality rugby equipment produced in Devon by Richter Engineering.

Today we supply Rugy clubs, schools and professional teams with Rugby equipment all over the world.

www.predator.co.uk

Pro:Direct Torre House, Shaldon Rd, Newton Abbott, Devon TQ12 4PQ https://www.prodirectsoccer.com/

RAM Rugby Unit D2, Send Business Centre, Tannery Lane, Send, Surrey GU23 7EF 0208 123 6812 https://www.ramrugby.co.uk/

RHINO.DIRECT

Pavilion Promotional Ltd

Rugby Store

Unit 9, Waterside Business Park, Lamby Way, Cardiff CF3 2ET https://rhino.direct/

At Sai Sports, we view each customer as an individual. We will provide a full end-to-end service, from initial concepts through to finalised designs, and will keep you apprised during manufacture and delivery. All designs will be presented as 3D models and will be faithfully recreated in the 2D fabric prints to ensure fidelity in the production of the final design. We employ state of the art design software that will allow us to match designs between your team products, ensuring consistency across your entire range. We use a range of the highest quality fabrics and manufacture processes ensuring that all items are comfortable and durable.

Included in our service is: A choice of a guaranteed 3 or 4 week delivery service on all our bespoke clothing, from sign off of final artwork.

No minimum reorder requirement Products manufactured by a UK family business. The option of a Team Measurement, with all clothing sizes available to check fitting and provide peace of mind.

www.saisports.co.uk

Spartan Activewear 24 Clos Coed Bach, Highfields, Blackwood, South Wales NP12 1GT info@spartanactivewear.co.uk 07545 980572 At Spartan Activewear, we view each customer as an individual.

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 25

Clubhouse Directory We will provide a full end-to-end service, from initial concepts through to finalised designs, and will keep you apprised during manufacture and delivery.

We employ state of the art design software that will allow us to match designs between your team products, ensuring consistency across your entire range.

We use a range of the highest quality fabrics and manufacture processes ensuring that all items are comfortable and durable.

Included in our service is: A guaranteed 4 week delivery service on all our bespoke clothing, from sign off of final artwork.

No minimum reorder requirement Products manufactured by a UK family business The option of a Team Measurement, with all clothing sizes available to check fitting and provide peace of mind.

No minimum reorder requirement Products manufactured by a UK family business. The option of a Team Measurement, with all clothing sizes available to check fitting and provide peace of mind.

www.titanteamwear.co.uk

UK-RUGBY-SHOP Harwood Old Mill Bonchester Bridge Hawick TD9 9RZ info@uk-rugby-shop.co.uk 01450 860831 UK Rugby Online Shop has a massive selection of Rugby Boots, Rugby Shirts Kit, PRO 14, Premier Rugby, Super Rugby, NRL international Shirts.

Media & Marketing Base 8 Innovations Pera Business Park Nottingham Road Melton Mowbray Leicestershire LE13 0PB enquiries@base8innovations.com 07850 573771 Base 8 love to support businesses and sports teams with their digital needs.

We have developed several sports websites as well as the Wasps Rugby App. Give us a call to see if we can score a goal, try, point or basket for you!

www.base8innovations.com

www.uk-rugby-shop.co.uk/

Francourt Events

Titan Teamwear

Voodoo Mouthguards

14 rue l' eperon Laon 02000 FRANCE

Unit 4 Court Road Industrial Estate Cwmbran Torfaen NP44 3AS

30 High Street Roydon Essex CM19 5EA

www.spartanactivewear.co.uk

hello@titanteamwear.co.uk 07809737145 At Titan Teamwear, we view each customer as an individual.

We will provide a full end-to-end service, from initial concepts through to finalised designs, and will keep you apprised during manufacture and delivery. All designs will be presented as 3D models and will be faithfully recreated in the 2D fabric prints to ensure fidelity in the production of the final design. We employ state of the art design software that will allow us to match designs between your team products, ensuring consistency across your entire range. We use a range of the highest quality fabrics and manufacture processes ensuring that all items are comfortable and durable. Included in our service is: A guaranteed 4 week delivery service on all our bespoke clothing, from sign off of final artwork.

26 | Rugby Blindside - Autumn 2021

voodoomouthguards@ gmail.com 01279 792022 Bespoke custom mouth guards , Blazers and Ties. Voodoo Mouthguards provide a professionally fitted custom made mouthguard in bespoke designs.

Our team at Voodoo will assist in the impression process of your teeth to create a unique mouthguard that perfectly fits your mouth. Our designers will work with you to create a design that you love. Our designers will work with you to make your idea a reality.

Every detail is customisable.

Striped, Tipped, Tweed. Colours, buttons, embroidery. A beer proof finish protects the fabric. Why not design the lining to match you tie.

All our fabrics are made from British Wool for a premium finish.

www.voodoosports.co.uk

johndennison@francourt.org +33 78440 7013 Event and Festival based on rugby.

Special projects include the creation of the World Rugby Memorial in France. Annual events include the Armistice International Youth Festival in Compiegne, France. Crowned Mountain Junior Festival in Laon, France.

www.francourt.org

Pitchcare Rutherford House Nottingham Science & Technology Park University Boulevard Nottingham NG7 2PZ kerry.haywood@pitchcare.com 07973394037 Pitchcare was conceived by a Professional Groundsman to provide an independent website and magazine to pass on information in an educative way.

The information that we publish is

designed to help everybody involved in grass care. We provide a complete and unique service so that members, both on the website and our readership for Pitchcare magazine, can see and understand working operations, and also be able to purchase products, equipment and machinery from our online shop and through our industry partners at discount prices.

We help to raise the awareness and profile of our industry by showing practical solutions. Pitchcare involves many clubs and professionals in the provision of information and analysis of market innovations.

www.pitchcare.com

mental health are becoming more commonplace among men, we understand and appreciate that it can be difficult to vocalise thoughts and feelings sometimes. Via the blOKes forum, we aim to offer men the chance to share experiences, stories, guidance, tips and advice with likeminded individuals, as well as connecting men from across the world.

time? If you are without a fixture, why not see if other local clubs need extra bodies for their matches.​ Together, we can #MakeGamesHappen by offering our services to other clubs.

https://www.blokes.life/

Grosvenor House Central Park Telford Shropshire TF2 9TW

Mindset Sport MHFA England 21 Prescot Street London E1 8BB contact.mindsetmhm@gmail.com

Vault-MCM 16 Moat Road Oldbury West Midlands jon@vault-mcm.com 07500 220 048 We believe ‘agencies’ need to offer more to their clients than creative ‘churn’. As we’ve already said we’re not your ‘typical’ marketing agency.

We’re a business partner. We operate in a grown up world. We share the pleasure, the pain and even the risk. We’ll ask searching, often, awkward questions, challenge your thinking and expect you to challenge ours. Most importantly we’ll tell it how it is.

www.vault-mcm.com

Mental Health & Wellbeing blOKes tom@blokes.life @_blOKes blOKes is a registered community interest company (CIC) that provides men (16+) with a safe, supportive and non-judgemental platform to open up about their mental health, connect with others and tell a #MaleTale.

While conversations surrounding

We believe that prevention is better then cure so always work with that in mind. Through a mix of lived experience and qualified instructors, we will deliver a variety of preventative measures into your business to help keep your teams happy and healthy. We can offer a mix of training and consultancy services to suit your budget, from simple Mental health awareness courses, delivered online or in house, all the way through to working with the directors and HR to create company wide programs, whatever your budget.

We also offer free support to amateur sports clubs looking to develop their players well-being and mental health.

www.mindsetmentalhealth matters.co.uk/

Recruitment Fill Your Boots – Rugby All over the place info@fybrugby.com 07590308623 Each week, lots of Rugby clubs around the country struggle for players. Games are always being cancelled due to lack of players available. What happens to those players that do not get that game

www.fybrugby.com

The Rugby Agents

jamie@therugbyagents.com 07805230658 The Rugby Agents connect players, coaches and clubs all around the world at every playing level. If you’re looking to play rugby at a better level, play overseas or just challenge yourself in a different environment then please get in touch!

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Software Open Solutions Unit 2 Morley Business Centre Morley Road Tonbridge TN9 1RA info@opensolint.com 01732 367 227 Managing clubs successfully and profitably is now far more challenging, complex and datadriven. Our business solutions offer clubs fully integrated packages that enable managers to manage their membership and subscriptions with comprehensive reporting.

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Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 27

Featured: Fill Your Boots

Fill Your Boots launch new grassroots rugby social network London-based grassroots rugby platform Fill Your Boots has launched a brand-new social network, designed to help clubs across the UK find players, fixtures and resources – bringing together the grassroots rugby community like never before.

Each region within England, Wales and Scotland has been assigned a ‘Rugby Finder’ group, which allows both clubs and players to network in order to make more rugby matches happen, whether that be via searching for fixtures or connecting with local players looking for a game.

Through the platform’s ‘Find a Club map’, men and women interested in joining a club can view what’s available in their local area and sign up to partake in upcoming training sessions.

The platform also provides a space for volunteers and coaches to interact and share advice via a dedicated forum, which has the capability to host Zoom meetings and catch-ups.

The Fill Your Boots platform also contains an archive of mental, physical and emotional health-related content from contributors who are passionate about growing the

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game. From Fill Your Boots’ ‘Rugby Round Table’ series to Fill Your Boots’ ‘The Hard Line’, the platform’s programming features a plethora of resources for men, women and children of all ages to utilise.

Sean Phelan, Founder of Fill Your Boots, said: “Over the last six years, it has been incredible to see Fill Your Boots go from strength to strength via Facebook and Twitter, but I now feel that it’s the perfect time to launch our own social network platform.

"The combination of both the RFU’s cuts over the last few seasons and the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated that there’s a real DIY attitude within the grassroots game, and this new platform is the perfect place for everyone to come together, learn from one another, and make more rugby matches happen.

“Everyone can sign up for free and create their own Fill Your Boots profile at www.fybrugby.com, and an app is currently in develop to be released in early 2022.”

For more information and to create your profile visit: www.fybrugby.com

"I now feel that it’s the perfect time to launch our own social network platform"

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 29

Club news

Darlington Mowden Park partner with LooseHeadz Darlington Mowden Park RFC are delighted to announce a new partnership with LooseHeadz, which will see the club become an official part of the LooseHeadz Partnership Project. The new partnership comes days before World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10th October.

Founded in 2017, the team behind LooseHeadz are keen to start a conversation that inspires a global movement towards better mental wellbeing. The mission is simple; use their platform to find new and innovative ways to advance the dialogue around mental health. The solution, however, is much more complex.

They believe that by building a community, united around a shared mission, then we can all begin to turn the tide against poor mental health. As part of the new partnership, DMP players Ollie Hodgson and Tiana Gordon will become official ambassadors for the foundation to promote the importance of mental health.

Asked about the new partnership, Men’s 1st XV Captain Ollie Hodgson said: “I’m delighted that the club will be working with LooseHeadz. Mental health is hugely important and hopefully this new partnership will help us spread the word to promote better mental wellbeing.”

DMP Durham Sharks back row Tiana Gordon added: “I'm really excited to be a LooseHeadz ambassador. Mental health is a big passion of mine, so I'm looking forward to utilising this partnership to improve mental health and wellbeing for individuals at our club, in our community and beyond.”

LooseHeadz Co-Founder Rob Shotton said: "We're delighted to form this partnership with both clubs. It's important for us to widen our reach and strengthen our presence in the North East and through this partnership, we are able to do that. We're excited to get started."

Mitcham & Carshalton announce new charity arm of the club Mitcham & Carshalton Rugby Club has announced the launch of their new charity arm of the club, the M&C Community Foundation. The foundation will be aimed at working with local charities and causes, committing time and effort into various outreach programmes to give back to local communities.

The club was thrilled to launch the initiative and this week have begun with a partnership with the Weir Archer Academy across their wheelchair rugby sessions.

The Weir Archer Academy provides athletic and coaching support and expertise across all levels and abilities including working with schools in South London, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire; working with clubs and coaches from the South East and providing

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access to the Academy for international development for under-resourced countries.

Over four days, starting on the 19th August, M&C volunteers have been hosting an introduction to wheelchair rugby for disabled children that are members of the Academy.

M&C's Community Foundation President, Emily Harrison said; “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to represent the club as the Community Foundation President and I’m proud to be able to start the season in such a positive way. Our first collaboration project with the Weir Archer Academy shows our ambition and how we are committed to supporting amazing local projects.

The volunteers have all been brilliant and the first week was a major success. The kids had an incredible time, which is what it’s all about and I’m confident this will be the start of something special with the Weir Archer Academy. It’s a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase the values and ethos of our club, but more importantly to inspire and build confidence in those that take part. Disability should not define opportunity or success."

Stockport Rugby Club appoint new Director of Rugby Stockport Rugby Club announce the appointment of Keith Young as Director of Rugby.

With the club sitting proudly at the top of RFU North 2 West, having a 100% record following the seasons first six fixtures, Keith who has been with the club as Director of Coaching since 2019 and now takes on the new role as Director of Rugby. His goal being to create an environment that allows players and coaches of different levels and aspirations to maximise their learning experiences for lifetime participation in rugby.

Keith’s rugby coaching is impressive. From 2017 to 2019, he was Head Coach at Varsity College in Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal in the Premier division with players representing the province at U20 & U21 levels. During that time he successfully coached Natal Sharks Junior clubs at U18. Previously he spent considerable time as Assistant Coach to the Brazilian national team and Development Officer at Banderanties Club again in Brazil. Furthermore he knows our area well having been Head Coach at Heaton Moor Rugby Club between 20062009.

Whilst the club have enjoyed success at many age groups and particularly at Ist XV , Keith’s vision gives fresh dimensions to both players and coaches. It is intended that his role will extend to continuing the strong relationship the club have with local schools.

Someone who has coached at all levels even in prisons in Venezuela and shanty towns in South Africa is a considerable boost to the game of Rugby in our region and the club are privileged to have access to his services.

London Irish Amateur RFC announce new lead sponsor

Pontefract RUFC awarded funding grant

London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club is delighted to announce Connaught Care as lead sponsor for the new season 2021-2022.

PRUFC has recently been awarded a grant from the Neighborhood Improvement fund.

Connaught Care will appear on the front of playing shirts for Wild Geese (Men’s 1st team), Emeralds (Ladies’ 1st team), U21/U23, Colts, and on the rear of all new Mini and Youth shirts. In addition, it will appear on training shirts, hoodies, leisurewear, and advertising around Hazelwood.

Connaught Care design, build and operate care homes across the Southeast of England and are one of the UK’s leading Care Home operators.

Seamus Halton, Chairman, Connaught Care said “As a lifelong London Irish supporter I am delighted to become lead support partner for the Amateur club. As someone who both played and refereed in the amateur game, I am conscious of the vital role that clubs like this play in attracting not only youngsters into the game but to make community rugby thrive in this post-pandemic world. I am really excited to be part of it and particularly wish great success to the Wild Geese and Emeralds this season.”

Kevin Flynn, Chairman of London Irish Amateur RFC commented “Following a difficult 18 months, when rugby ground to a halt, we are successfully rebuilding rugby at London Irish across mini, youth, adults and vets.

It is fantastic to have the support of a leading partner such as Connaught Care. I look forward to welcoming Seamus pitch side and to the success that this support will deliver across the club.”

Corinthian Sports sponsor Wimbledon RFC Corinthian will be the official shirt sponsor for Wimbledon RFC 1st XV and Wimbledon RFC 2nd XV during their forthcoming 2021/2022 season. As one of the oldest clubs in the country, we are extremely excited to be part of a well established community and look forward to this long lasting relationship.

Gavin O’Callaghan, Managing Director at Corinthian Sports, said: “As an official sports hospitality provider who specialise in creating quality VIP packages worldwide for the Guinness Six Nations, Autumn Internationals at stadiums such as Twickenham and Murrayfield, Rugby is a crucial sport in our offering.

Personally, as a player of rugby for 25 years, I am extremely excited in starting this new partnership and supporting our local teams.

This new sponsorship is just the beginning of our investment in Wimbledon RFC, a relationship we hope to develop in the future to include the wider club teams.”

The club would like to record their thanks and appreciation to the council and particularly to councilors George Ayres and David Jones for their help and support of the grant application. The Grant is operated by WMDC and will enable the club to buy new pitch barriers for the junior section.

Brentwood announce new Director of Youth Rugby The club are delighted to announce that Jamie Howard will be our new Director of Youth Rugby for Brentwood RFC. Jamie started off playing rugby in Essex, playing for Basildon junior section, through the years he played for Brunel University, Saracens , Essex & Eastern Counties, London S/E and England Universities.

Jamie will bring his coaching experience to the role where his be involved at Brentwood for a number of years as well as being Essex DPP and Saracens DPP/ PDG Lead Coach.

Jamie's Director of Youth Brief will include driving the development of participation and performance of rugby working with club coaches if required, developing coaching programme across all sections of the club and coordinating the implementation of club playing philosophy throughout all teams and create a player pathway to move into senior Rugby.

Bangor RFC appoint Child Welfare Officer Bangor RFC would like to introduce and welcome our new Child Welfare Officer, Maggie Townsley.

Maggie will be a familiar face to many as a parent in Mini and Youth Rugby for a number of years. She has been ever-present at Upritchard Park since her son joined as a Mini some years ago. With a background in childcare and a passion for Bangor RFC she will be a great asset to the Club. We thank her sincerely for volunteering for this important role.

In her role as Child Welfare Officer, Maggie will act as the main point of contact for all safeguarding matters for players, parents and volunteers with the best interests of Age Grade Players at the forefront. As Club Welfare Officer she will be pro-active in creating a supportive and positive environment in which Age Grade Players can enjoy rugby safely.

Autumn 2021 - Rugby Blindside | 31

From the professional game

Saracens announce new consortium of investors

Philip Browne to retire as Chief Executive of IRFU

Saracens has announced that a consortium of investors has agreed term to acquire a majority controlling stake and that the club’s shareholders will invest significant new funds by means of a capital raise.

Philip Browne, in conjunction with the Management Committee of the Irish Rugby Football Union, has announced that he is to retire as Chief Executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union, as and from December 31, 2021.

The capital raise results in a total investment of GBP 32 million of new funds into the club. Aside from maintaining the club’s position at the top of the men’s game, the new funds will be used for a variety of other purposes, including completing the redevelopment of the West Stand; further investment in women’s sport; and the establishment of a high performance training centre. The consortium will form a new non-executive board to enhance the existing board. It will continue to be chaired by Neil Golding with Lucy Wray remaining as chief executive.

Philip joined the IRFU in July 1992 and assumed the role of Chief Executive in 1998.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Philip said: “It has long been my intention to retire from the role of Chief Executive to coincide with reaching the age of 60.

"I delayed my decision, given the recent extraordinary pressures on Irish rugby, as a result of the Covid pandemic."

Premiership Rugby appoints new Chief Executive Premiership Rugby has confirmed the appointment of Simon Massie-Taylor as their new Chief Executive. This is a key moment for Premiership Rugby as the business moves to accelerate development of the full potential of the league, for the benefit of the players, the clubs and our fans. The Gallagher Premiership Rugby plan is to continue to build live TV and stadium audiences whilst significantly increasing the league’s digital presence, with investment in quality and digital fan engagement. These are key steps on the path to grow commercial revenues, for reinvestment back into the sport, ensuring the longer-term success of our clubs and players in the Premiership, in Europe, and on the world stage.

Simon’s experience places him strongly to lead Premiership Rugby in this phase, joining from the RFU where he is Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer. At the RFU, he was responsible for the organisation’s revenue-generating and marketing activities including broadcast, brand partnerships, fan engagement and digital and data transformation projects. Prior to the RFU, he was Commercial Director at the British Olympic Association and Commercial Director at Tough Mudder in New York.

Simon Massie-Taylor said: “I’m very proud to be joining Premiership Rugby at such an exciting time for the Gallagher Premiership. Last season was an incredible one to watch as a fan, particularly the unforgettable final at Twickenham, and the current season has already provided some hugely entertaining rugby”

The RFU and CBRE renew partnership

Betfred extend Challenge Cup sponsorship

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and commercial real estate and investment firm CBRE have renewed their partnership for another four years.

The RFL are delighted to welcome a two-year extension to Betfred’s partnership with the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Challenge Cups – which will include an historic Final at the superb Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May 2022, before a return to Wembley Stadium in 2023.

The agreement will see CBRE continue to provide property consultancy and advisory services, as well as significant upgrade and improvement works to Twickenham Stadium. These works include the replacement of the East Stand roof and the development of the RFU’s long-term sustainability and energy management strategy plus its facilities management services.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with CBRE for another four years,” said Simon Massie-Taylor, RFU Chief Commercial Officer.

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The 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup Final will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday May 28 – the 121st Challenge Cup Final, marking the 125th anniversary of the first in 1897, and the first to be played in May since St Helens beat Wigan in Cardiff in 2004.

It will be the first Rugby League match at the state of the art, 62,850 capacity stadium – the third largest football stadium in England.

RUGBY BLINDSIDE