Junior Rugby Review

JUNIOR RUGBY REVIEW UPDATE

APRIL 2013

 

Wellington Rugby Football Union- Junior Rugby Junior Rugby Advisory Team

 

Our Vision
"More kids playing rugby and enjoying the rugby experience"


Our Purpose
"To lead, support and inspire the delivery of rugby"

 

Dear Club Chairmen and Junior Club Convenors

 

It is time for an update on the progress that your Junior Rugby Advisory Team (JRAT) has been making.

Since the formation of JRAT, we have held several meetings with the view to advancing the recommendations and findings contained in the Junior Rugby Review. We have made steady progress whereby at the Club Convenors' meeting held at Johnsonville Rugby Club on the 18th Feb, we shared the draft Strategic Plan.

The Strategic Plan which aligns with the WRFU Strategic Plan has seven priority outcomes;

1. Game - a collaborative and coordinated "game plan" leading to increased capability, growth and greater
enjoyment for all.

2. Stakeholders- increased understanding, support and satisfaction from our partners leading to a "united family".

3. Governance- best practice- leading to a more professional organisation.

4. Culture- creating a safe, nurturing and values based culture leading to "one club".

5. Communications- enhanced awareness, clarity of purpose and direction leading to an "e connected family".

6. Funding- shared responsibility and empowerment leading to long term sustainability.

7. Infrastructure - extra turfs, better facilities and more resources - leading to increased capacity and greater enjoyment.

Having established the Strategic Plan we now have to develop an Operational (Action) Plan that will ensure the Strategic Plan's outcomes are met. To achieve this JRAT will set up some "action groups" to develop the respective Action Plans.

Once we have established the Action Plans for each of the priority areas there will be further communication and
consultation with the "rugby family".


Yours sincerely


Kevin Wilson (Independent Chairman)
WRFU Junior Rugby Advisory Team- Mark Leggett, David Forster and Will Caccia-Birch

To read the Strategic Plan Overview download the PDF here.

 

"More kids playing and enjoying the rugby experience"

This was the Vision adopted following the request in late 2011 by the WRFU Rugby Board to conduct an independent strategic review of the governance of junior rugby in Wellington.

We are pleased to advise that following a wide consultation process, the Review phase has now been completed, with the Report having been presented and signed off by the WRFU Rugby Board (see below the full downloadable version of this report).

 

The Review focussed on two key areas, namely:

  1. Governance Model
  2. Environment and Operations

The approach taken to consult included an online survey and face to face interviews. The response received was significant with 461 online survey responses and very strong contributions at all stakeholder group sessions.

Findings

In summary, the key findings from the Review included:

  • Kids motivations: fun with friends; aspirational (All Blacks); role model connection
  • Game strongly resourced, however some realignment, independence and greater stakeholder connection required
  • Volunteer base very strong and committed
  • Current governance structure committee based with multi layers - people issues and politics prevalent.
  • An opportunity to further enhance primary school-club connection
  • Best practice planning not clearly apparent - senior and junior clubs need to be working as ONE
  • Proliferation of representative rugby across multi levels 

 

Recommendations

The WRFU Rugby Board has now approved the following Review recommendations:

  • The formation of a Junior Rugby Advisory Team (comprised of the JRZE and GWPSRU Chairmen, Sport Wellington Development Manager and WRFU Amateur Rugby Manager), to facilitate:
  • Junior Rugby Regional Roadshow to consult on the merits of a best practice governance structure
  • Preparation of a Stakeholder Communications Plan
  • Preparation of a Junior Rugby Strategic Plan and Business Plan
  • Preparation of a transitional plan and timeline

It is envisaged that this Review will bring a clarity of purpose around the role that each of the rugby family members' play, ultimately bringing greater alignment between the WRFU, clubs and primary schools and an enhanced connection, leading to greater support for each other with improved delivery. There is a genuine desire for rugby to work together to make a difference; to make rugby fun for kids and more enjoyable for all involved, for the ‘good of the game'.

We wish to thank all members of the rugby community who contributed to this Review and look forward to you on the Junior Roadshow soon.

To read the full review download the PDF here.

 

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