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Rationale
The Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) has spent a considerable amount of time looking into the various options for the senior regional programme. In planning this season’s senior programme, the RFUW has considered feedback provided from players and coaches from last season, therefore we are implementing a Senior Regional Cup competition for senior teams,
We are committed to providing opportunities for both development and competition, with the aim of establishing a flexible, sustainable, successful senior regional programme in for this and future seasons.
Following the implementation of the Senior regional programme in 2003/2004, the RFUW are placing added value onto this and future senior regional rugby and in doing so the senior programme will conclude with a match between the two successful regions as a Senior Regional Cup final and ‘curtain raiser’ before England vs. South Africa Women’s international in May
Objectives
- To provide a high level of competition for senior players
- To increase the standard of women’s rugby whilst providing further promotion to the women’s and girls game
- To provide an environment at regional level, which supports player development as well as performance at a high standard, utilising appropriate facilities, competition and coaching.
Format and details
At this stage we are unable to determine the number of senior teams that will wish to and are able to, participate in the regional programme.
The structure of the competition will be influenced and determined by the number of teams involved. By having the first competition date toward the end of February, the RFUW shall be able to establish the competition format (i.e. the number of teams) and inform the participating teams accordingly.
- Regional trials shall take place on 30th January, alongside the junior trials
- A squad of up to 25 players shall be selected following the trials
- 2 training sessions based on skill development and team organisation and will run alongside junior regional training.
- Competition day 1 will take place on 27th February – venues and format to be confirmed
- Team training will take place on 13th March and will run alongside junior regional
- Competition day 2 will take place 20th March - Venues and Format to be confirmed
- Competition day 3 will take place on either 14th or 15th May and will consist of a match between to previously successful regional teams – playing for a Senior Regional Cup.
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Date |
Activity |
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30th January |
Trials |
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6th February |
Training |
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12th or 13th February |
Training |
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27th February |
Competition day 1 |
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13th March |
Training |
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20th March |
Competition day 2 |
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24th April |
Competition day 3 or Training - optional |
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14th or 15th May |
Regional Cup Final - International ‘Curtain Raiser’ |
Flexibility
The RFUW acknowledge that during the months of February and March, club games are be cancelled and re-arranged due to bad weather. Therefore we are keen be flexible in the delivery of the programme for senior players and clubs, in that if teams based in a region that has regional squad players involved, needs to play a re-arranged league fixture on a training date they are permitted to do and will liaise with the RFUW competitions director in doing so. However, once the competition format has been determined, the competition dates will remain fixed.
If there is a need to hold a club game on a regional training date, the re-arrangement of the training date (if required) will be determined by the regional staff
Competition day 3
Competition day 3 will be an optional competition or training day for the regions teams. Any competition played on this date will not affect the teams who will participate in the Regional Cup final on 15th May.
Key Dates
England will play France in the Women’s Six Nations Championship on Sunday 13th February 2005 at the Stoop (NEC Harlequins, Twickenham). The RFUW will be making a provision for all regions to receive an allocation of free international match tickets, to be divided between the regional squads. Therefore Regional squads will be permitted to train on Saturday 12th February to allow regional players/staff the opportunity to attend England Vs France.
England will play Spain in the Women’s Six Nations Championship on Saturday 12th March 2005 at the Stoop (NEC Harlequins, Twickenham). The RFUW will be making a provision for all regions to receive an allocation of free international match tickets, to be divided between the regional squads.
Regional Cup Final
Following the completion of the previous competition days (format to be confirmed), the RFUW, will invite the 2 most successful regional teams to compete in the Regional Cup Final. To be played prior to England Women play South Africa Women on 15th May.
Regional Splits
The RFUW is structured in accordance with the Sport England regional split. The counties listed below are dictated from Sport England.
For geographical, logistical and performance reasons, the RFUW has split some regions, i.e. South West - South and North
Other than the London & South East regions, all senior regions will mirror the Junior Regional Programme. All regions are outlined within the Junior Regional Programme Rationale - Junior Regional Programme Rationale
For the Senior Programme, the London and South East will be split into 2 individual regions.
London & South East (A): This area includes Hampshire, Kent, Sussex Surrey, IOW. It will also include schools/colleges/universities located ‘south’ of the River Thames’ and located in aforementioned counties.
London & South East (B): This area will include clubs in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex. It will also include schools/colleges/Universities located ‘north’ of the River Thames’ and located in the aforementioned counties (i.e. Middlesex)
The above names of the London & South East teams (A & B) are temporary whilst we finalise appropriate names for the squads. The RFUW welcomes suggestions for names of the 2 London & South East Senior Regional teams, please email RFUW@therfu.com with your proposals*
If any senior club is unsure of which region they are in, please contact Richard Tamplin on 0208 8316761
Staff
The Regional Programme manager will oversee the delivery of the senior programme (along with the junior teams). The programme head coaches will liaise with the 2 senior coaches and the senior team manager to ensure that
Requirements for Senior Regional Programme
2 x Coaches
1 x Manager
Physiotherapists will also be appointed centrally. Please see Roles and Responsibilities information for each position.
Junior Regional Programme - News Story (Including Roles and Responsibilities)
Venues
All Regional training venues will be booked centrally through the RFUW. The RFUW will liaise with current Regional Administrators, County Representatives and RFU Rugby Development Officers (RDO’s) to ensure good quality, suitable and accessible venue are used for regional training and competition days
Regional Staff Familiarisation Days
A further Regional Programme Staff Familiarisation Day will be held on 28th November 2004 for all regional coaches and support staff and will include workshops surrounding:
· The coaching syllabus for regional level including key outcomes
· RFUW player pathways
· Trial and selection criteria for players
· Player feedback process following trials and participation in the Regional Programme
· Talent identification processes (junior)
· RFUW Coach Development and Management pathways
· Regional Programme 2004-2005 Budget and Financial Information
· A opportunity for regional staff to meet and discuss the forthcoming programme
A Coaches education day will be held on one day (TBC) over the 18th and 19th December 2004 for selected coaching staff involved in the Regional Programme 2004-2005. Two senior coaches from each region will be invited to attend a Team England training weekend. The weekend will give coaches an opportunity to shadow Team England coaches and given an insight to coaching at the top level of Women’s rugby in England.
Funding and Finance
Combining RFUW Regional Programme with both seniors and juniors participating forms the largest programme in central operation, in terms of volunteer staff, players, training and matches. In order to deliver a quality, well managed, Regional Programme, the financial commitment from the RFUW is substantial. However, we would be unable to deliver the programme without contribution from the players involved.
The contribution from players will assist in payment for
- Venue hire (Trials, training, triangular matches)
- Staff costs
- Medical staff costs
- Team travel for matches
- Match officials
1. All Senior trialling players will be required to pay a trials fee of £5
2. All selected squad players will be required to pay a registration fee of £10
3. All selected players for matches will be required to pay a £10 match fee
Total contribution from each selected regional squad player = £35
The collection and banking of monies will be overseen by the team managers and the Regional Programme Manager
Once the contribution has been made by the players, they will not be required to make any further payments to the regional programme.
Distribution of funds to regions
It has been recognised that teams who are required to travel greater distance for Triangular matches were required to contribute more financially than teams who were closer to the venues.
To remove these inconsistencies and the ‘penalising’ of players due to their geographical location – all monies collected will be paid into an RFUW central account – all costs (venue hire, staff costs, medical staff costs, team travel) will be paid from this account.
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What happens next?
All trial forms will be available in December – they will be sent to all clubs, and will be available to download from the RFUW web pages
All staff wishing to be involved with senior programme should complete the Regional Staff Application form and return it to the RFUW.
All officially appointed staff will be invited to attend the Regional Staff Familiarisation day at Coventry RFC on Sunday 28th November.
Between now and the commencement of the Senior Regional Programmes, we shall be liaising with Regional Administrators and senior clubs to gauge the participation levels within the regions. Once the levels of interest in Senior Regional Programme have been determined, the format and venues for the competition will be confirmed.
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Any queries regarding the Senior Regional Programme please email RFUW@therfu.com or telephone 0208 831 7996 |
