Rugby Union - Grass Roots.

AS and A Level Physical Education (Sport & Coaching)

Rugby Union

Grass Roots

Initially I feel the performer may start playing their desired sport as a recreational activity, nothing more than just playing for fun. This usually occurs at a young age and may involve throwing a ball around the park with some friends or joining a rugby club to play mini rugby. At this level the performer is known as a ‘novice performer.’ The facilities at grass roots level are usually very basic, but they can vary dependant on the region you come from.

At this level rugby schemes may be funded by the public sector e.g. local businesses. Attempts are being made to improve the scheme of youth rugby as the sports council has put forward a bunch of independent bodies known as the ‘Local Advisory Sports Councils.’ Rugby Union is quite popular throughout my region, which is Cumbria, so I feel it may be quite high up in the priority list. So I feel efforts are being made to improve participation in rugby union at grass roots level, especially from local clubs and local schools. Rugby union is one of few sports, which has made good use of the investments made by the government and administrated by the Institute of Sports Sponsorship, these schemes to improve sport at grass roots level are sponsored by Lloyds TSB and Ford Tag Rugby initiative.

‘The Wavell Wakefield Trust funds the employment of 54 Youth Development Officers and the Rugby Football Union is a major contributor to the Charity. The Y.D.O’s have coached around 250,000 young people in 2000. Mini Rugby is promoted in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football Union with over 10,000 mini teams playing regularly. Since the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Tag Rugby has proved to be very successful within Primary Education with 10,000 schools now participating.’ I feel that quote gives you an indication of the efforts being made to try and improve the game at grass roots level. I know that tag rugby is an ongoing progress to encourage the young into the game, and it has proven to be successful as it occurs at Keswick Rugby Football Union Club during the summer months. Sponsorship is also an important form of capital. Companies in the local area can provide new strips and equipment for clubs and schools, meaning they can invest more in youth development.

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. It is essential to improve the attractiveness of the game in order to increase interest of participants especially at grass roots level. If you can get people interested in rugby union at a young age it is far easier to maintain their interest throughout the older age groups. However I feel at this level you should make attempts to illustrate that rugby at this level is fun. As if competition is introduced to early ‘the win at all costs’ (Lombardian Ethic) can be introduced. This can take the fun and enjoyment, gradually out of the game. Therefor the number of participants at the older levels will decrease, as they will lose interest as the fun has been completely drained from the game, and they can forget the reasons why they play the game that they once loved. Therefor they get bored and retire far earlier than what they normally would.

Funding

Grants from the national lottery, and central governing grants along with local taxing provide funding for grass roots. With this funding we can improve the facilities and opportunities available. Clubs and schools can go on tour and they can have better equipment, which improves the attractiveness of the game. An example of the effectiveness of these types of funding can be proven on the West Coast of Cumbria. Various types of funding and grants from bodies all over England this has made it possible for people of both sexes to participate in various leagues which exists at the following levels: U7, U9, U12- This is the barrier from where rugby played within mixed sexes can no longer commence. From this level and upward females have to play separately to the males. U14, U16 and U18 leagues are also available. The interest in rugby union amongst females has also increased, as there are now female leagues, which is showing a booming interest. The reason for this boom in female rugby is that the attractiveness of the game has enhanced, and women as well of men want to be apart of it. All these types of funding aid the development of skills at grass roots level, which is increasing the attractiveness and therefor interest at grass roots level which therefor can be put into correlation to the increase in the interest of participants and spectators at the professional level. This is due to the game being made more attractive I feel evidence of better provision is the cause of this.

Local provision in rugby union is mainly assisted by the central government. However this is often not enough for the local and regional clubs, as they struggle to stay within their budget. This problem can be overcome by through support from organisations for extra funding. For example ‘Sport England’ is a body set up by the national lottery-funding group. Rugby Union is a sport, which is receiving high funding. Bonanza is also largely contributing to RFU funding especially at grass roots level

Female participation

Women's rugby, which started in 1983, is one of the fastest growing women's sports. It has over 230 clubs and 8,000 participants in England alone. The official governing body is the Rugby Football Union for Women which was formed in 1994 with the dissolution of the Great Britain Women's RFU. Each of the Home Nations now has its own union. The RFUW is recognized by the RFU and holds associate status. As there is now a Women’s Rugby World Cup. Evidence of increasing interest in female rugby can be proven at Keswick School. As a female rugby team has been organised under the active sports program and they have regular practices and matches. This has only recently occurred and it is upon for year 7, 8 and 9 participants for now. Although efforts are being made to organise a team for the upper school if there is enough interest.

Provision for the elite performer

Active Sports and Sport England have developed schemes to support teachers, leaders, coaches and adults in introducing the sport to the young especially throughout schools, this has also been aided from the Youth Sport Trust.

Rugby union is usually one of the main sports played by schools for the male participants along with football. There are a lot of schools that have rugby teams and therefor that are a lot of games and competitions that take place at school level especially throughout Secondary Schools e.g. Keswick School, Cumbria, England. Teachers are constantly on the look out for talented players within the schools and if they exist and if they have an interest in the sport they’ll be put forward for District or county trails. These are known as ‘elite performers.’ School provision of rugby union in Cumbria I feel is excellent and has been made possible by funding from mainly individual bodies. It also opens many more opportunities for the participant especially for the elite performer. If the elite performer is not fortunate enough to go to a school that has regular rugby fixtures, he/ she can still become noticed and reach a high level of participation by joining a rugby club. As I know through male participation there is the county clubs as well as schools. This is where you can represent your county even if you don’t play for a school team. Playing at this level provides the same opportunities as what playing for county schools has as in your are just as likely to play for your regional side e.g. North England or even England

Rugby for disabled participants

Disabled rugby has very limited provision. Only a few clubs in the UK provide the Facilities for disabled participants, However there is a disabled rugby league, which consists of, more than 12 clubs. This is known as the Great British Wheelchair Rugby Association this provides disabled facilities and makes it possible for people with disabilities to play wheel chair rugby. There is also ‘The British Sports Association for the Disabled’ which was founded in 1961 to help develop sport and recreation for people with disabilities. Unfortunately the RFU doesn’t invest any of its grants into the sport of disabled rugby which means the entire organisation is purely voluntary that puts it at a huge disadvantage. There may be many exceptional disabled performers in the UK but due to lack of provision the pathways are very limited.

Possible pathways: Grass roots

This diagram below traces the ladder of progression, from grass roots to Under18 to elite performer, which is open to the performer as excellence develops

Grass roots:

Recreation and play

Local school Local club

Area/ district

County Schools Level County Clubs level

Rugby academy (excellence)

Regional performer