The proposal for an ARC style competition is financially a gamble also but its the better gamble if it pays off. Its far more of a long term, mature approach to strengthening rugby.

Looking atthe big picture its quite a good point to expect a moderating force outside the ARU rather than letting these guys milk the last from the cow.

It is a bit disappointing, but volunteer organisations do survive off the time (and money) people can put into them, and at this stage we simply haven’t been able to reach that critical mass despite good early signs.

I suspect Andrew and I will keep discussing what might been done via this concept, and revisit it when we can.

Thanks for all your time and support.

RBS RugbyForce: does your Rugby Club need renovating?

As part of their sponsorship of the Six Nations, RBS have launched RBS RugbyForce to help grass roots rugby clubs improve their facilities – you may have noticed the banners on The Rugby Blog, and we are fully supportive of the scheme.

The RBS RugbyForce scheme encourages communities to give something back to their local rugby club by volunteering to undertake improvements to clubhouses and grounds.

The RBS RugbyForce weekend on the 5th and 6th June 2010 will bring together club members, family, friends and supporters in one big weekend of activity to help with the required renovations at their local club.

The sponsors will also help to fund renovations by offering a grant to three lucky clubs – one from each of England, Scotland and Wales – who make the most compelling case as part of their registration.

By registering on the RugbyForce page, not only will you enter the draw to win up to £5,000 for your club, you’ll also receive tips and planning documents on budgeting, organising resources and raising local awareness for the RBS RugbyForce weekend projects.

If you win, you may also be visited by one of the RBS RugbyForce ambassadors in Jason Leonard, Ieuan Evans and Andy Nicol, but there are lots of benefits even if you don’t claim the top prize.

The first 100 clubs to register will receive:
a) DIY / Supermarket online vouchers
b) 50 T-shirts
c) Posters and an RBS RugbyForce Plaque

Last year, 22 clubs entered, so you’ve got a pretty good chance of being in the first 100. Take a look at what the Big Fun Bus says about the scheme below, and then register your club on the RBS RugbyForce page before the deadline at 5pm on Friday 26th March

Here’s a tip for your application: we’ve been told that each entry will be assessed on the following criteria:
a) Planned club development and how this will benefit the local community
b) The need of the individual rugby club

Jason Leonard advocates the ethos behind the scheme: “In so many regions across the UK, we know that rugby clubs are the heartlands of their communities. Having come through the club system myself to go on to play for England, I know first-hand how crucial club rugby is for international development. The big aim of RBS RugbyForce is to provide much-needed resources for club rugby, and get communities backing their local side.”

Here are some other images from last year’s RugbyForce weekend:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/rugbyforce.php

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I know its not the same thing, but in spirit it is very similar and encouraging for rugby in Britain.

My mistake… Tipper and Dan were both good blokes and very quick.
Although I was never a mott …Tell him Chubb says G’day.

Quinnies97

These were not real uni / student clubs but community groups who had merely taken the UWS name to get access to facilities. The Uni purged itself of them in the early noughties.

Quinnies97

He explained to me where Tipper came from … Harsh.

My mate is Dan Wallis, but not sure if that was his nick name. Think you guys took a team to the Hong Kong Tens that he played in.

the distributed campus model, by which the university is offering now i ,nor do many of the staff contacts ive spoken to, will probably cease to exist at one stage with a split up, we’ll see what happens there

Really sorry to hear you won’t be involved with UWS RUFC in 2010. I will be speaking to Jim L at a later date about this matter.

Quinnies97

Happy to be in contact and we’re always keen to meet passionate rugby people. Hopefully GRA can make an impact as from what I’ve read there is a lot of positive feeling about the concept. If it’s “Tipper” your talking about he was a bloody good winger.

Quinnies97
UWS RUFC

Well said. Rest assured if you had insulted “me” I would not have responded……be sure to give us a call as training starts in only 28 days on the 2nd of February and yours is most definitely the first shout after training.

Qunnies97
UWS RUFC

RF’s heart is certainly in the right place, and I don’t think some of his comments were necessarily meant as they may have been (and could be) read.

Hopefully UWS rugby keeps on growing, and guys like RF can help do that with UWS rugby.

If the GRA can provide any help to UWSH, feel free to get in contact with me. I expect we will be conducting a survey seeking that type of feedback from clubs such as yours in the next few months, as part of getting rolling.

I’m certainly aware of the proud history UWSH has, as a mate of mine played for you blokes while studying there in the late 1990s. Before he betrayed you all and went to Epping Rams …

however, i don’t think you should insult the roar nor grassroots rugby australia, they have contributed to a great degree.

125sixpack was being polite but I’ll be blunt. You have no right to make out that you have any authority or ability to speak for anyone whatsoever within the University of Western Sydney rugby community. Who are you?

Your ill informed comments about the Hawkesbury Campus and UWS RUFC players are opinionated gibberish and (more to the point) if you really want to do something with Rugby within the UWS you can start by talking to the constituted and authorised committee members of the University of Western Sydney Rugby Club. Unlike faceless heroes like yourself & facebook groups and the Roar “we’re real” and actually play rugby!

The UWS RUFC is the legitimate rugby Club of the “whole” University and it doesn’t matter what Jim L’Estrange, Mark Bos, or any number of your anonymous & mythical supporters say. We are a constituted Student association which goes across all Campuses and it has been that way since 1991. The Hawkesbury connection goes back to 1891 and the “Hawkesbury” tag show a respect for 120 years of tradition and heritage & especially to the 14 Wallabies the Club has produced. The fact you call this a “burden” and your other comments just show that you are a just plain ignorant.

Since the creation of the UWS in 1991 the UWS RUFC has catered to students from all campuses and in 2009 fielded 4 teams. In 2010 we aim to field 4 teams and a colts. We play out of Richmond because it’s one of the best facilities in the west of Sydney and the Uni has spent $120K on the rugby facilities in the last 6 months.

You can start by giving us a phonecall via our contact details on the Club website & telling us who you are at least then we’ll know your real agenda. I’m also quite happy for you to put your money where your mouth is & work together for the good of UWS Rugby.

Better still get get your boots on and bring your mates to training @ UWS Penrith or UWS Richmond in the first week of February.

Qunnies97
uwshawkesbury@rugby.net.au
UWS RUFC

furthermore it was argued that the club had a higher emphasis on those living on the hawkesbury campus and the richmond community and that it seemed to exemplify a tertiary Joeys or Kings.

The NSWRU developmental officers and CEO, Jim L’Estrange, fully suppor the creation of a new club to help develop rugby within the greater western sydney area, and specifically penrith, without the burden of old traditions situated at Hawkesbury Ag, which can be considered more of a subsidiary than that of a campus.

There are also some lecturers and staff of the university involved in its development

Personally, I think GRA should have a short-term narrow focus on one goal in each state that it exists, perhaps. I mean there is a lot of moaning about clubs out in Sydney’s west, so I think something like trying to start a new club somewhere in the west where it’s needed, both seniors and juniors is a contained project that requires some dedicated individuals and is something that State Unions or ARU simply cannot do.

Also any assistance in running school teams in the tournaments that currently exist would be much appreciated I’m sure.

There have been numerous surveys of club and junior teams asking what they want. We could probably arrange for the results to be provided to GRA rather than having to reinvent the wheel.

(By the way, I was concerned about your comment in another thread that you didn’t get a development plan that you asked for from NSWRU, Bay. I have a feeling anything mentioned on the website such as development plans is old, old, old hat (there has been no budget to keep the website updated on development in NSW and basically everything there is from 2006). But there are development plans in place for NSW and I don’t see why GRA couldn’t be a party to them in due course. All the relevant sub-unions and junior bodies in NSW have had the plans presented to them.)

Okay. How do you plan to approach the ARU and state Unions ?

Happy to have you as a foundation member, and channel some of the great input you have provided on the Roar into the GRA if possible.

Drop me an email at bay35pablo@gmail.com!!

Personally the main objective of GRA should be the proliferation of Schools Rugby competitions similar to what Penrith has done and seeding programs/ kit program to assist in all areas in both establishing new and supporting existing clubs. The Schools systems are the best way to reach the greatest number’s of potential participants and by building relationships with clubs within community Rugby grow the club game from the very bottom up.

The other main program would focus on free coaching and refereeing course’s. Not GRA running the programs but though relationships with club set up funding to maximise the number of parents and player’s qualified to not only strengthen there individual clubs but GRA pool of volunteers.

Have you sent emails to the individual club contacts in order to begin to reach the greater Rugby community. And I’d happily pledge $100 to assist in getting GRA up and running if you will have me.

I would have emailed you these updates (as well), but your email is on my work PC, and I am doing this from home today.

Hope you can get on board and provide some input. Judging from your workrate over the break, you have plenty of ideas and passion!!!