Please note the above event will now be played at PENRYN RFC on Saturday 29th March.
Message from Sir Bill Beaumont
| Message from Sir Bill Beaumont and the RFU Board Over the last few months, I have been on a nationwide tour to hear the views of you, our members, who are the lifeblood of our sport. We’ve visited the length and breadth of the country holding meetings with over 500 people from 400 grassroots member Clubs, Constituent Bodies, Referee Societies and National Representative Bodies, with further meetings planned. This has been an incredibly worthwhile tour, and we have heard loud and clear that there are specific areas where you want and need more support from the RFU. As a result of hearing your feedback we are going to take action in the following areas: • Governance Reforms • Financial Sustainability • Continued Growth of the Community Game • Reducing Administrative Burden • Simplifying and Modernising Competition Structures • Investment in Community Club Infrastructure • Improving Communications More details on all of this can be found here alongside a reminder of our ongoing work and state of play here. Listening to your feedback the board has also instigated an additional resolution for members to vote on at the Special General Meeting on 27 March. This relates to the ongoing Governance and Representation Review, which will look at ways to support local areas taking more power of decision making. The additional motion is: Members believe the Governance and Representation Review should be expedited and this should include formal consultation with the wider game. Proposals (including to address feedback from the roadshows) should be shared before the RFU’s AGM and members are to be further consulted on actions later in the year. I urge member clubs to vote in favour of this resolution which can bring about meaningful governance change and against the motion that members have no confidence in the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Any decision relating to the employment of the CEO is the responsibility of the RFU Board and the Board unanimously supports Bill Sweeney remaining as CEO. This support is based on his achievements to date, highlighted in the document attached, as well as his ability to deliver the RFU’s strategy while being highly motivated to respond and react to what we have heard from you, our members. It is worth remembering that the call for an SGM initially came from the Rugby Football Referees Union and some Championship Clubs. The group who now call themselves the Whole Game Union (WGU) have called into question the integrity of fellow volunteers and suggested highly misleading statements about the RFU. From our conversations with you, our member clubs, our understanding is that the WGU do not represent the wider views of our game and that we can collaborate effectively to deliver the changes you want. A vote of no confidence risks sending the Union into paralysis and creating a costly leadership vacuum, especially at a time when we are recruiting a new Chair and when our CEO is spearheading vital commercial and broadcast negotiations that will play a huge role in safeguarding our future financial sustainability. Details on how to vote can be found here. I urge you to exercise your right to vote and to vote for meaningful proactive change in relation to governance, by voting against resolution one and for resolution two. The article here explains the facts and why voting for an expedited Governance and Representation Review would be the right vote for the community game and for rugby in England both on and off the pitch. Finally, it is clear from meeting so many of you, that you are all doing incredible work, giving up your free time to make a huge contribution to the English game – on behalf of everyone at the RFU my sincere thank you for what you do. Sir Bill Beaumont |
| READ ONLINE > |
Cornwall Under 20’s defeat Clubs XV
Cornwall u20’s concluded their warm up fixtures with a convincing win over an experienced Cornwall Clubs XV , at St Austell RFC, 38 – 5. This was a sterner test than the previous game v School of Mines, more physical, which was exactly what was needed.
U20’s started strongly going 19 – 0 up after half an hour with the first try scored by forwards pushing over the line . Prop Derry then added another shortly after, then Rigg on the half hour. Two conversions by fly half Kerry set the u20’s on a period of domination. A final score of the half by wing forward Symons was again converted by Kerry bringing the half time score to 26-0. It was not all one way traffic as the u20’s were called upon to do some stout defending in the final 10 mins of the half.
Shortly after the start of the second half the coaches emptied the bench bringing on all 10 subs. This had an effect on the cohesion and play became more fractured during the second period. However, it did give players an opportunity to show what they could do.
The u20’s managed 2 tries in the final quarter, Blyth and Kullich, the first again converted by Kerry. In between those scores Clubs managed a try after forward pressure, making a final score of 38-5.
The coaches have seen a number of players over the 2 warm up games and there will be some interesting choices facing the selection team. Numbers training on a Sunday morning at Truro College have been very good with over 40 players turning up for every session. There will be a further 3 sessions before the first County Championship game at Camborne at the end of the month.
Terry Williams
Assistant Team Manager
Result
Cornwall U.20, 38 – 5 Cornwall Clubs XV
Cornwall Under 20’s preview
Cornwall U20 v Cornwall Clubs XV
Wednesday 26 February @ St Austell RFC with a 1930 kick off time.
As part of the build up to the U20 County Championship campaign they play their second and final warmup game v a Cornwall Clubs XV on Wednesday 26 February at St Austell RFC.
Coaches Rich Kevern have used the opportunity to look at a few new players in the squad after their first warm up game against a competitive Camborne School of Mines side in January. A few new players have joined the squad transitioning from the U18 age group, along with players identified at club level.
The squad of 25 player includes players from 12 different clubs across Cornwall which is a great advert for this age group and club rugby.
Head coach Rich Kevern said: – This will be a stern test for these young guys facing a Clubs XV who will bring experience and game hardness with them. We want this to be that kind of test as in a few weeks’ time we will be facing other tough county sides in the championship.
Team Manager LJ Collick said; – We have had good numbers at training and over 70 in the enlarged squad. We cannot give everyone game time in two matches and, build for the championship. We have observed other players in club matches, and certainly all players are in contention for a spot come the championship games.
Jack Jenkin (Helston) has been named as Captain with Ted Kullich (Camborne) being named as Vice-Captain of the 25-player squad.
Entry on the evening is £2 with under 16 gaining free entry. So come along and support the future Cornwall players along with those representing several of their own clubs in the Clubs XV side.
Cornwall U20 Team
- Dan Bennett St Austell
- Jalal Bennett Truro
- Olly Derry Wadebridge Camels
- Charlie Knight Saltash
- Oli Wells Redruth
- Freddy Jordan Penryn
- Will Symons Wadebridge Camels
- Jack Jenkin (Capt) Helston
- Callum Phillips Wadebridge Camels
- Jowan Kerry Perranporth
- Harry Rigg Helston
- Billy Jordan Penryn
- Ted Kullich (V Capt) Camborne
- Rhys Bowery Newquay Hornets
- Ayden Earnshaw Helston
- Leo Armstrong Lever Helston
- Telio Jenkins St Ives
- Will Luscombe Redruth
- Rosko Troughton Helston
- Ben Smith Camborne
- Jarvis Lee Truro
- Barney Lewis Newquay Hornets
- Josh Blyth Hayle
- Luke Young Redruth
- Lewis Wiltshire Wadebridge Camels
Coaches – Rich Kevern, Brad Howe, David Mankee
Team Manager – LJ Collick, Assistant Terry Williams
Medical Cover – Hen Gard, Ronnie Bartlett
Kit – Paul Hurrell, Colin Hatch
Match recording David Burrows, Photographer Simon Bryant, Multi-media Kevin Bishop
Presentation of ties to recent Management Board appointees
CRFU Chairman Steve Murley recently presented new members of the Management Board with their committee ties at the meeting held at Suez UK St. Dennis. Above Adrian Bick (Club Development) is presented with his tie
Cornwall Under 20 v Cornwall Clubs XV
Next Wednesday at St. Austell RFC, kick-off 7:30 pm
Entry on the gate £2 adults, under 16 free.
Advance tickets available via Fanbase https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=9151
Update from our roadshow of English Clubs from RFU Board Interim Chair, Sir Bill Beaumont
Like me, I know you will have all enjoyed England’s thrilling win over France in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations last weekend and will be looking forward to the Red Roses participating in the Guinness Six Nations and a home Rugby World Cup. I also recognise that while our national teams always attract the most attention and are used as a barometer for the state of English rugby, the present and future of English rugby is as much in the hands of you – our club administrators and volunteers, our players, match officials, coaches and parents – as it is in the hands of the 23 players in white at Allianz Stadium. It’s been just over a month since I first wrote to you when I was appointed to the role of Interim Chair of the Rugby Football Union Board and addressed the call for a Special General Meeting (SGM). In response to the calling of the SGM, I promised to hit the road on a nationwide tour to listen to the concerns, challenges and thoughts of the community game. We are now around halfway through this nationwide tour. So far, we – myself, RFU President Rob Udwin; Bill Sweeney, our CEO; Steve Grainger, Executive Director Rugby Development; David Roberts, Chair of the Community Game Board; Malcolm Wharton, Chair of the Governance Review Group: Deborah Griffin, Senior Vice President and luminaries of our game such as Jason Leonard and John Inverdale – have held 11 roadshows, eight in person, three virtual and have attended five club visits between roadshows. Representatives of around 250 clubs have attended, and a further seven roadshows are due to take place between now and 20 February. I thought it would be useful to share some insights we have heard so far. There have been three types of challenges raised – ones that have re-enforced things we were aware of and are addressing; ones we can address easily; and some we did not previously fully understand. We have heard we need to improve our governance structures, to improve representation from the community game and ensure voices of the community game are heard and involved in decision making. This is something we want too and why we have a Governance and Representation Review underway, however, the feedback we have heard underlines the need for this work to be an absolute priority and for the work to be accelerated. We hear loud and clear that the communications from the RFU to the community game have not been as clear or consistent as they could be. This letter aims to start to improve that, and I will be providing further updates once the nationwide tour is complete to reflect our desire to engage with you on the big issues facing the community game. Many of you have mentioned competition structures. We recognise that clubs’ money and volunteers’ time are precious resources and that means there is a need for more decision making around leagues and fixtures at a local level. We will consider appropriate changes which do not compromise the competitiveness of the league system whilst giving greater flexibility around structures and regulations at local level. Challenges to adult male participation were also raised. This is not a problem unique to rugby as a sport, nor to England as a Union. However, you look to us to lead and it is only right that this is a priority and we want to work with you to address this ensuring our sport stays strong. You told us the Game Management System (GMS) is challenging and confusing for volunteers administering the game. We already have a significant improvement plan in train for this as part of our wider Digital Transformation strategy. However, we take on board this feedback and will accelerate this, re-enforce the importance of user groups and look to remove some of the lower priority functions within it. You told us we need to do more to promote rugby in schools and help clubs engage with them and to support more universities to keep players playing. In response to the first of these we have already embarked on a major programme to take T1 Rugby into schools, giving teachers the confidence and support to introduce more young people to the oval ball and ultimately to help them into our clubs, whilst also committing to an investment into School Rugby Managers, locally based people helping to manage this. We have also heard some great stories of clubs doing this for themselves and we commit to engaging more with them to support their work. On Universities we are expanding the network of activators on university sites and will look to promote this more widely. In respect of the pathways, we must allow young players to follow their dreams as far as they can through the player development groups and academy systems while also working with the Premiership to actively retain good players in the community game. Finally, we have heard questions about the governance of the Union itself. Some related to financial performance or executive pay. I promised we would publish the findings of the independent Freshfields review on the bonus award, and we commit to doing so in full. More often, however, we were asked: whether the RFU governance is fit for purpose, does the current system represent the views and concerns of Clubs. We have also heard the need to devolve more decisions – on competition structures, priorities, and resource allocation to a more local level, where the needs and solutions are best known. Bill Sweeney and his team have a strategy in place – signed off by the Board and Council- to address these challenges, long before the SGM was called. In my letter of January 10, I mentioned those who had pushed for the SGM had done so without setting out an alternative vision. As I wrote last month, “we all want winning men’s and women’s England teams, and this can’t happen without a thriving community game…If we work together, we will succeed.” The listening exercise which we are in the midst of will, I believe, lay the foundations for future success for both the elite and community game. Achieving a common understanding of a shared purpose and vision for the RFU we can all get behind – just as we would get behind the national teams – is as important for me as continuing the men’s first XV’s form into the Calcutta Cup. |
| READ ONLINE > |
Community Game Update February
| View in browser News | Tickets | Store |
 |
Please see the CGU for this month below. The CGU is available for everyone to read, so if you’d like to share it with others then please forward on the email or the link and they will be able to read it. |
 |
| 1. ACTION REQUIRED Big 5 Live! Have you ever reffed or watched a game where you’ve wondered how the match official got to that decision? We’re visiting 10 venues across the country with our panel of match officials, coaches, players and other key experts, to give you the chance to get inside the mind of some of the country’s best. Last chance to nominate your volunteer heroes The Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards are your chance to celebrate the incredible people who make rugby possible – on and off the pitch. Nominations close on Friday 14 February. Your chance to play at Allianz Stadium We want to hear about the innovative ways your club has inspired adult players to get on the pitch. Winning entries will be invited to the Allianz Stadium Takeover Day in April 2025. RFU Safeguarding Referral Form Update The RFU Safeguarding Team has launched an online Safeguarding Referral Form to report safeguarding concerns to the RFU, which replaces the previous method. Learn more in this section. READ ONLINE > |
 |
| 2. ACTION IF OF INTEREST Community Rugby Digital User Groups Our Community Rugby Digital User groups are looking for volunteers for 2025! The user groups facilitate two-way engagement, helping the RFU adopt a user centric approach to decision making. Coaching Resource – Developing England Players: Observation and Analysis This month’s U14-U18 coaching resource focuses on observation and analysis – inviting you to view some video footage and delve deeper into 3 key areas. Are you a member of the Rugby Club Business Network (RCBN)? Does your role at the club involve off-field business matters? The RCBN is completely free to join and brings together individuals from community clubs across the country to meet/discuss/share ideas & challenges related to the business of running a community rugby club. Gender Participation Policy Review Group (GPPRG) & Trans Participation User Group (TPUG) The RFU has recently conducted a series of engagement initiatives with the trans community to understand the impact of the Gender Participation Policy. Find out more about the next steps and how you can contribute in this section. Upcoming webinars & support available for your club! Find details and registration information for our upcoming webinars and support here. |
|
| 3. FOR AWARENESS Payment of Players Declaration 2025 update (Regulation 7) The 2025 Payment of Players declaration goes live on the 1 March 2025 and is open until the 30 June 2025. The declaration covers the period of 1 June 2024 – 31 May 2025. How the rugby family is supporting injured players Hear from Volunteer Liaison Officers about why they were so driven to support injured players in their region and understand more about the positive impact they can have on the lives of IPF Members. Community News – England Rugby partners with Girlguiding London and South East England – and more! Read this month’s roundup of the best community rugby stories, including how England Rugby have partnered with Girlguiding London and South East England to take the game to new audiences – and find out how to submit your own story. READ ONLINE > |
|
Cornwall Clubs XV v St. Ives
Cornwall Clubs XV squad to play St. Ives tonight in Feast Monday match.
