Lasting Legacy
By Dave Barton, RFU Regional Media Manager
The RFU is planning for the legacy of Word Cup success in 2003 to last until 2023. Victory in Australia will have major benefits in all areas of the RFU’s activities both on and off the field, from its commercial ventures to its community rugby programmes.
RFU Chief Executive Francis Baron said, “Winning the RWC is a great achievement for our team and shows what can be achieved by working together as a sport to achieve agreed objectives. We intend to use this success as a platform for growing and revitalising our game at all levels. Through our IMPACT strategy we have the plans in place to achieve this.”
The IMPACT strategy is designed to increase participation and retention in playing, coaching, officiating and administration.
Standing for Inclusion, Modernisation, Partnerships, Appropriate facilities, Club/school links and Training and coaching, IMPACT is a blueprint for grassroots rugby in England.
The RFU plan covers rugby in all its forms, from the XV-a-side version to the increasingly popular non-contact tag, touch and beach rugby to provide opportunities for players, coaches, referees and volunteer administrators.
The Union’s Rugby Development Officers and the sport’s army of volunteers in clubs and Constituent Bodies are holding numerous events to make the most of World Cup success.
These include a ‘RWC Come & Try It’ tour with 72 dates in 58 locations across the country between November and March. This gives youngsters aged 13 to 16 the chance to experience rugby union with specialist training from RFU qualified coaches.
Terry Burwell, RFU Community Rugby and Operations Director, said, “We are very confident that we can turn the success of the England side into long term success for the good and health of the game of rugby union.
“The challenge is not necessarily about attracting people to the sport - it’s about keeping them involved. After the 1991 World Cup (when England reached the final but lost to Australia) there was a huge uptake in the sport, especially at junior level, but in many ways that legacy had burnt itself out by 1999.
“We have to make sure that the legacy of 2003 endures into 2023. The World Cup provides the game of rugby union with a unique opportunity to widen the appeal of the sport to all sections of the community.”
Winning RWC 2003 will have financial benefits for the RFU and Commercial Director Paul Vaughan said, “Already our mail order and on-line retailing business trade has gone up dramatically.
“We expect an uplift of about 20 per cent in turnover but staggered, mainly because we have a lot of deals in place already.
“It will mean that we will be able to drive a commercial programme that will benefit the sport from grassroots to the elite game. The more money we get the more we can invest in the game at all levels.” |
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