contact
mattbray@rfu.com or call 07889601261.
Recruit and Retain funding
Following the success of the recruit and retain funding last season, Somerset RFU are once again offering financial support to clubs who are undertaking projects aimed to recruit Club volunteers, new players or encourage players to return to the game. Many clubs benefitted from this support last year and feedback from the Meeting of Clubs and previous recipients of grants recognised its importance and ease of claiming. Projects this season are able to receive a maximum of £250 towards the costs involved.
Successful projects last season included open days with a barbecue, leaflet drop, newspaper and radio advertising, community activity, summer touch rugby evening, Friday night lights.
Please contact your RDO or CRC if you would like assistance in completing the electronic application formand good luck with identifying different and fun ways of increasing your club membership!
All completed project formsand invoice, to claim the grant to be sent, by e-mail, to alison.bennett@somersetrfu.co.uk
Congratulations to Somerset’s graduates from the 2015/16 RFU Leadership Academy, 
Dan Ward & Frankie Robbins from Cheddar Valley and Tracy Evans, Sharon Sweet & Pete Woolacott from North Petherton all received their awards at a ceremony at Taunton in May, recognising their successful completion of the Leadership Academy. They have all worked hard at developing new skills and knowledge which will help their clubs on a practical level to develop.
The next Academy intake will begin next season 2017/18 across the country, 757 candidates have completed the course over the last 10 years.
Join Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar Valley, Gordano, Tor, Yeovil and Walcot in becoming a Kids First Rugby Club by taking the pledge at the link below.
A great opportunity to embed the Age Grade Competition Review changes in your junior set-up and ensure you have a player/child-centred approach to your offer.
Why not seek out your local paper and try and get some positive PR from the program?
Sign up to the program here www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/players/kids-first-rugby/sign-up
Find out more about age grade rugby here.
Download the full age grade rugby brochure hereand age grade progression leaflet here.
A reminder of the fantastic training resource at this page. There is a separate area for each person involved in the game to make it relevant, from a coach, to referee, to player. Please encourage all of your membership to complete to make the game safer and player welfare top priority
Presidents XV National Award – People Power – Coaches Gareth Waterfield, Winscombe RFC
Having started a girls U13s rugby team at Winscombe four years ago, Gareth has successfully produced players into regional standard, won the South West girls cup in only the second season at U15 level and introduced and maintained girls teams now at U18, U15 and U13 age groups.
aims to engage and communicate with all match officials who play a pivotal role in the enjoyment and well-being of players of all ages and abilities in our sport. Whether you referee for your club, school/college/university or other referee organisation, the England Rugby Referees Association will also help you develop your skills with up to date information on training and development, and player welfare. Please sign up below!
www.englandrugby.com/erra
Don’t forget to signpost any people aged 14 - 25 to the RFU Young Rugby Ambassadors programme. In return for supporting your club they can turn their time and efforts into prizes such as stash! For those who are active YRAs already, don’t forget to sign up to the celebration event at Twickenham - limited spaces available! http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/volunteers/young-rugby-ambassador/
Application and invoice form here– you have until the end of June to get your annual application in to support the recruitment and retention of players. We have had various successful bids from kit purchases to touch events to a contribution towards a minibus! Some clubs have been successful with a second application so if you have a worthy project you could always try again. Info on 16/17 funding will follow when confirmed by the county.
This excellent online tool searches all local and national funds to see what’s available for your club. From small amounts for equipment eg balls to larger contributions for facility development. After a quick registration you can filter the results for what you are looking for and hopefully start getting some financial help.
http://www.englandrugby.com/governance/club-support/facility-development/funding/grantfinder/