President's XV Recognition Young Volunteers Award 2010 Presentation

Jason Leonard OBE, 2003 World Cup Winner and England's most capped Rugby Union Player, was at Welwyn RFC last Friday Evening (June 4) to present the RFU President’s XV 'Young Volunteers' Category Award to Oren Blindell and Rachel McCullough, both of whom are Welwyn Saints Under 18 players.

The pair came up with the idea of the Herts Rugby Awareness Week which ran in more than 40 of the county’s schools last November.

The annual RFU President's XV Awards, supported by specialist business insurer QBE, recognise and celebrate innovative thinking aimed at promoting and developing rugby. There is a trophy and prize money of £500 in each of 15 categories and £100 each for 30 runners up.

Leonard, the former prop forward who is now a National Member of the RFU Council, was on the 2010 awards judging panel led by John Owen, the RFU President, along with Immediate Past President Brian Williams, Senior Vice President Richard Appleby, Junior Vice President Willie Wildash, Rugby Football Union for Women President Gill Burns and Paul Morgan, editor of 'Rugby World' magazine. QBE was represented on the day by Senior Underwriter John Warwick.

The creation of Hertfordshire's Rugby Awareness Week by two 15-year-old rugby playing girls, Oren and Rachel from Welwyn RFC, proved an outstanding initiative which grew into a major boost for the game in their area.

They were successful in applying for just under £10,000 of funding from The Big Spend (Youth Opportunities Fund) and with support from Amanda Bate, Herts RFU Volunteer Co-ordinator and the Hertfordshire RDO Peter Engledow, the idea became reality when Hertfordshire Rugby Awareness Week took place between November 16-20, 2009, with young rugby players speaking about rugby at assemblies in schools throughout the county, supported by leaflets, posters and a 'This is Rugby' DVD.

Leonard's visit formed part of Welwyn RFC’s Girls Section end of season Presentation Evening.

RFU President's XV Awards 2010: Young Volunteers vRugby Category Winner

Winner: Welwyn RFC

The creation of Hertfordshire's Rugby Awareness Week by two 15-year-old Rugby playing Girls, Oren Blindell and Rachel McCullough, from Welwyn RFC proved an outstanding initiative which grew into a major boost fo the game in their area. They were successful in applying for just under £10,000 of funding from The Big Spend (Youth Opportunities Fund) and with support from Amanda Bate, Herts RFU Volunteer Co-ordinator, the Hertfordshire RDO Peter Engledow, the idea became reality when Hertfordshire Rugby Awareness Week took place between 16-20 November 2009.

The Category Winners Award plus prize cheque for £500 will be presented by a Panel Judge, Jason Leonard (England's most capped Player) at the Welwyn Girls Rugby Presentation Evening on Friday 4th June.

President's XV award: Last chance to enter

Letchworth Girls and Welwyn Girls have been successful in the past - can you make it a Hertfordshire hat-trick?

With only three weeks left before this season’s President’s XV Awards close, there is still time to put your club/rugby organisation forward for this year’s awards.

Ability on the pitch does not govern who will win the 15 categories for which the £10,500 in prize money will be awarded - clever ideas, big or small, from any quarter which promote and support the game will be recognised and celebrated. With £500 prize money for the 15 winners and £100 for each of the 30 runners up, the PXV Panel is keen to hear about your imaginative ideas and good practice that continue developing our grassroots game.

The RFU recently launched the promotion of its CORE Values, with the focus on Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship and to highlight this, the first of this season’s 15 awards will go to the organisation with an initiative which best promotes these values. All categories embrace the key areas which together contribute to a successful, vibrant club and help to deliver opportunities in all areas of the game; from fundraising and improving facilities, to increasing member numbers and linking with the local community:

1. This Is Rugby
2. More Volunteers
3. More Referees
4. More Coaches
5. Better Facilities
6. Girl Power
7. Social Inclusion
8. Community Links
9. School's Development
10. Play On
11. Veterans
12. Technology
13. Fundraising
14. Young Volunteers (vRugby)
15. Seal of Approval Club of the Year

“The brilliant ideas and schemes that organisations come up never cease to amaze me.” says RFU President John Owen: “Entries for this competition have previously underlined not only the quality of the work being done, but also the extraordinary level of creativity and imagination which is being applied.

“The President’s XV Awards give organisations the opportunity to showcase their good ideas, earn recognition for these ideas and, more importantly, help deliver those benefits to a wider audience.”

The judging panel will be:

• RFU President John Owen
• Immediate Past President Brian Williams
• Senior Vice President Richard Appleby
• Junior Vice President Willie Wildash
• Rugby Football Union for Women President Gill Burns
• England’s most-capped player Jason Leonard
• Paul Morgan, editor of Rugby World magazine.

For full details on the President’s XV schemeand the online nomination form, visit www.rfu.com/presidentsxv. Closing date for this season’s awards is February 2, 2010.

Herts Sports Partnership: Service to Sport Awards 2009

For the 4th year in a row Herts Womens and Girls Rugby Clubs won accolades at the Annual Herts Sports Partnership Service to Sports Awards:

Coach of the Year (Male)

2nd: Greg Maxwell (Welwyn Warriors).
3rd: Ed Knighton (OA Saints).

Community Club of the Year:

Winners: OA Saints.
3rd: Welwyn Warriors.

Herts man named RFUW Volunteer of the Year

Hertfordshire and Welwyn Girls RFC’s Peter McCullough has been named the Rugby Football Union for Women’s Volunteer of the Year.

McCullough is the first winner of the new ‘Sue Garnett Volunteer of the Year Award’ which recognises the contribution made to improving standards and levels of participation in women and girls rugby.

McCullough has several and many varied role within girls and women’s rugby, including Welwyn Under 15s Coach and Manager, Hertfordshire Under 15s Manager and Chair of the Hertfordshire Women and Girls’ Development Group. Although he is linked with Welwyn he also works with other clubs to ensure everything in Hertfordshire is well coordinated, including publicity, fixtures, training sessions and administration.

McCullough was presented with his award by RFU President Brian Williams at the RFU’s Constituency Bodies’ Leaders Conference dinner this month. The contribution and hard work of two further volunteers, Paula Brotherhood of Leicestershire and Steve Lumb of Barnsley, was also recognised when they were named as runners-up.

The Sue Garnett Volunteer of the Year Award has been created to remember and acknowledge the work of Sue Garnett, who passed away in October 2007. She committed 20 years of her life as a rugby volunteer in Lancashire, particularly at her club Vale of Lune.

Sue carried out many different roles during her involvement in rugby, including chairing and attending various committees, team management and working on regional and national development. One thing that remained consistent throughout her rugby career was the real difference she made to sport in her club and county through her hard work and commitment.

Sue’s family have kindly agreed to allow the RFUW to name this award after her to honour those who show the same winning qualities.

In the first year of the ‘Sue Garnett Volunteer of the Year Award’ 11 individuals were nominated. They also included: Mike Lord (Cheshire), Vicky Muir (Cheshire), Jedda Taylor (Kent), Sharon Evans (Hampshire), Annie Parker (Thornbury RFC), Steph Wilson (Lancashire), Mick Kemp (Notts, Lincs and Derby), Ken James (Notts, Lincs and Derby).

Rosie Williams, RFUW Managing Director, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to acknowledge the contribution of our volunteers and show how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication with this award. I hope that this is the first award of many and we can continue to celebrate the success of our volunteers for many years to come”.

The RFUW would like to thank all those who were nominated for their continuing input to the women and girls game in England.

Awards for Herts Girls Rugby

The annual Herts Sports Partnership's Service to Sport awards were presented at the University of Hertfordshire on Wednesday Night and included the following Award Winners for Herts Girls Rugby Clubs:

• Young Community Volunteer : 2nd place - Katie Alcock (Letchworth Girls)
• ClubTeam of the Year : Commendation - Welwyn Warriors
• Volunteer of the Year (under 21) : Commendation - Natalie Threlfall (Letchworth Girls)
• ClubVolunteer of the Year (over 21) : 2nd Place - Peter McCullough (Old Albanians Minis and Welwyn Warriors)
• Club Service to Sport : Commendation - Dave Sharp (Letchworth Girls)

Peter Mccullough was announced as the Winner of the inaugural Sue Garnett RFUW Volunteer of the Year for 2008 at the RFU CB Leaders Conference Dinner on Friday Evening. Sue Garnett passed away in October 2007 after 20 years as a Rugby Volunteer in Lancashire, particularly at her club Vale of Lune. Sue carried out many different roles during her involvement in Rugby, from Chairing various Committees, Team Management and working on Regional and National Development.

Herts RFU AGM

At the Herts RFU AGM at Welwyn RFC on 25th June there were two significant events relating to Women's and Girl's Rugby in the County.

Firstly, the Herts Women's and Girls's Development Group have been elected Associate Members of the Herts RFU. The significance of this is that it raises the profile of Women's and Girl's Rugby in Herts and acknowledges the strength of the Game at Senior Level (Saracens, OA Saints, Hertford, Hitchin, Fullerians, Welwyn and Tabard) and Junior Level (Welwyn, Letchworth, Saracens and Hertford) plus others starting up or re-generating.

Secondly, Welwyn Warriors were presented with their RFU Presidents XV Runners-Up Trophy and Certificate in the 'Girl Power' Category. The Award was collected by Welwyn / Herts / East Region Players Hannah Marques and Hannah Gallagher (the latter on crutches, but who has the plaster removed from her broken ankle on 26th June). Letchworth Girls were also acknowledged for Winning the 'Modernisation' Category for the Letchworth Girls Blog and their Trophy and Certificate will be Awarded at a Presentation at their Club on 13th July.

President's XV Awards

In the President's XV Awards announced this week, two Herts Girls Club have been recognised in different Categories. Letchworth were Winners of the 'Modernisation' Category for the Letchworth Blog (winning a Trophy, £500 cheque and £150 towards a Presentation Ceremony) and Welwyn Warriors were Runner Up in the 'Girl Power' Category (winning a cheque for £100).

The full list of Winners and Runners Up in each of the 15 President's Awards are being announced in next months Rugby World Magazine. In addition all of the Category Winners and Runners Up will feature in a 'Models of Good Practice' booklet to be distributed to Rugby Clubs.

Valuing your volunteers

The RFU have published an excellent booklet summarising good practice and highlighting the many award schemes available to clubs and their volunteers.

These award schemes are open to all clubs, large and small, and designed to reward all ages, and both groups and individuals. The schemes work and are accessible to clubs like yours. Just ask Welwyn and Letchworth who have both picked up RFU awards this season, with recognition going to individuals (such as Luke Williams and Joe Randall winning the "Young Volunteer Plus" Awards) and to the club as a whole (with both clubs recording successes in the President's XV award scheme, for example).

Obviously not every nomiation will win, but the fact that a volunteer has been nominated invariably gives a boost.

The booklet also shows how clubs have introduced internal methods of recognising the contribution of volunteers - methods that needn't cost very much (or indeed anything at all) but clearly work.

So either download a copy from the website , or apply to RFU for printed copies - its well worth it!

Claire gets U14 call

Claire Shutler of Saracens has been selected to attend the CBs' School of Rugby from September - the only Hertfordshire U14 girl to be selected, and one of only three from East Region (the others being Claire Johnston and Charlotte Youngman, both from Diss).

Only 28 girls from across the country have been selected - so this is a trully elite group and Claire deserves every congratulation for getting in and "flying the flag" for Hertfordshire.

Well done Claire!

East Region Awards: time running out...

Have you voted yet in the East Region awards?

You do not have to be an East Region player or official. You do not have to be an official or player at your club. ANYONE interested in girls or women's rugby in East Region can vote.

Eastern Counties have now put the nomination details and voting form on the web - so you do not even need get one from your club. Just click here for the nomination detail and here for the voting form.

Don't delay - vote today!

Four top threes, but no winners at Herts Sports Awards

Girls' rugby just missed out on more silverware in four out of eight categories at this Herts Sports Awards, held this evening at the Herts Sports Village in Hatfield.

Joe Randall (Junior Coach) and Dave Marques (Administrator) were awarded second places in their categories, while Luke Williams (Male coach) and Welwyn (Club) finished third in theirs - but there were no overall winners this year.

All in all though it was a good performance for the sport - aided by the fact that Welwyn at least had not been backward in putting nominations in.

Because it does not matter how worthy you or your club might be in awards like these - if no-one puts nominations forward you or your club won't win anything. Nominations for Herts Sports Awards 2008 will open in the new year - don't miss out next time!

But meanwhile congratulations to our four "top three finishers" - and here's hoping that someone can go one better next year!

East Region end of season awards

Voting forms and lists of nominations for this year's East region awards have been distrbuted to clubs today. If you haven't had your form then contact your club secretary.

Note that the awards are NOT just for people who have worked in the regional programme, and you DO NOT have to be a regional player or official to vote. The awards are there to recognise the work people do to support women's and girls rugby across the region at all levels - so they are relevent to everyone, not just those who play for the regional teams.

There are quite a few awards on offer, and a dozen or more candidates for each one, so there isn't room to post the details here. Just ask your club for a form - and return it as soon as possible to the address given. You can vote by post, email - or even text message!

Apparently cunning schemes are in place to catch out cases of multiple voting, so don't even think about it...

Women's rugby - the place where young coaches get noticed!

In your late teens or early twenties? Interested in developing a career coaching rugby? Then contact your local women's or girls' team - because THAT is the place to go!

That is the subliminal message to come out of last week when the four of the country's leading young coaches - all recipients of the RFU's"Young Volunteers Plus" award - were invited to join the England (Men's) U20 side for their pre-match preparation last Tuesday and game against France on Friday (see here for the full report on RFU website).

Three of the four winners work in the female game - including two from Hertfordshire (Joe Randall from Letchworth and Luke Williams from Welwyn - or "Wilham" as the RFU call him...) which, considering the mismatch in the numbers of male and female teams in the country, is pretty unlikely to have happened by chance.

It is more likely to be the case that young coaches are given far more opportunities to take on responsibility and prove themselves - not just a club level but even at county and regional level - than in the more crowded (and, dare on say it, staid) atmosphere of the men's game. After all it is vanishingly unlikely that even the best teenage coach in the country would get to work with a senior mens regional or divisional team (as Joe has this season) or that someone in their early 20s would be a lead coach for any county team (as with Luke).

It is also possible that women's and girls' teams are more appreciative of their coaches efforts, and more willing to put them forward for awards like this.

But whatever the reason, the message is clear - if you want to make a name for yourself as a rugby coach then your quickest way to the top is to pick up the 'phone and contact your nearest women's or girls' team. They're waiting for your call!

RFUW launch female referee initiative

The Rugby Football Union for Women is launching a new national campaign entitled Women into Refereeing II.

The aim of the campaign is not only to help increase the number of female referees working in the game but also to look for the talented female referees of the future who have the potential to take to the national and international stage in both the men’s and women’s game.

The RFUW will be hosting an Entry Level Referee Award Course in eight of the RFU’s regions for women only during March, April and May. The courses will be discounted and cost just £20. Course dates and venues are to be confirmed but will shortly be posted on the rfu.com.

The RFUW’s National Rugby Development Manager Sam Marshall said: “From these courses we are looking to talent spot up to six female referees nationally to go on to a specially designed fast track Continuous Professional Development course.”

The RFUW have also appointed ten female Referee Ambassadors who all regularly officiate in refereeing societies at Level 8 and above. These include Somerset’s Clare Daniels and Gloucestershire’s Debbie Innes who both recently ran touch during England’s RBS Women’s 6 Nations international against Italy at Twickenham Stadium.

Marshall added: “As well as providing good role models for aspiring female referees, the ambassadors’ role will be to link up with local schools, universities, clubs and counties to ensure that women and girls are aware of the pathway available for female referees from grassroots rugby to the elite level.”

The RFUW will also be running one day ‘back to refereeing’ courses in June for women. Dates and venues to be confirmed on rfu.com.

Win off the field as well!

There are any number of awards out there which recognise of sporting achievement or the contribution of volunteers - and its always worth putting in an application or two because these awards not only benefit the winners, but also give great positive publicity to the game as well.

Often they are organised by local newspapers thus guaranteing great local coverage. The competition can be stiff at times, but even getting onto the shortlist can be a valuable boost to a club. It can take a few goes before taking the top spot, but its worth keeping at it. Welwyn have been there or thereabouts in the Welwyn-Hatfield sports awards for some years but this year finally broke through with the "Club of the Year" title, as well as getting short-list spots in three other categories.

National bodies like the RFU also run award schemes. These can appear quite daunting - surely, you may think, there are bigger clubs out there with better facilities? How can we compete?

Well, the answer is that you can - as Letchworth's U17 coach Joe Randall just found out when he picked up the RFU's Young Volunteer award a week ago.

The key thing is that you to be in these award to win them. Don't be shy, don't hold back. Take the latest initiatve from the RFU - the President's XV. £10,000 of prizes in 15 different cataegories. Surely every club has something to be proud of that deserves a nomination? Similarly there should be a women's or girls' rugby nomination in pretty much every category of the Herts Sports Awards - take a look today and get your entry in!

So many people are doing such great jobs in clubs across the county - but we never hear about it. Don't be shy about you achievements - tell the world and, like Welyn and Joe, win the recognition you deserve!

Herts Sports Partnership coaching workshops

The Herts Sports Partnership has the following courses and workshops taking place over the next few weeks. To enquire about or book onto either of these workshops please contact Graham Keen on:
Tel: 01707 281006
e-mail: g.a.keen@herts.ac.uk
or visit www.sportinherts.org.uk


How to Coach Disabled People in Sport
Tuesday 9th January 2007 7-9pm
University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus
Cost: £10

This workshop tackles all the frequently asked questions posed by sports teachers, coaches and participants about how to work with disabled sportspeople. This includes a whole spectrum of new ideas for inclusion.

The workshop will introduce and offer guidance to any coach involved with disabled people in sport, the emphasis being to introduce coaches to the inclusion spectrum and effective practice.


First Aid+ for Appointed Persons
Sunday 14th January 2007 9.30am - 4.30pm
University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus
Cost: £35

Delegates will receive the nationally recognised 'First Aid for Appointed Persons' certificate. This is the minimum level of training recommended by the Health and Safety Executive for those acting in an emergency and is accepted by all sport and therapy governing bodies for insurance and CPD purposes. It has a sport and exercise bias - not the standard 'bandage-and-sling' and will focus on the following areas:

• Aims and Principles of First Aid
• Action at an Emergency
• Basic Life Support
• Management of the Unconscious Casualty
• Assessment and treatment of a casualty who is wounded, bleeding or shocked
• Assessment and treatment of fractures, dislocations and soft tissue injuries
• Assessment and treatment of burns

Maggie on top of the world

England and Saracens flanker Margaret Alphonsi was last month named the Women’s Rugby Personality of the Year at the IRB’s awards ceremony, in association with Emirates Airline.

The dynamic 22-year-old was short-listed together with New Zealand fly half Anna Richards and France number eight Delphine Plantet. Alphonsi, who is a rugby development officer for Saracens, played in all of England’s five IRB Rugby World Cup matches this September in Edmonton, Canada, including the 25-17 defeat to New Zealand in the final.

Said Maggie Alphonsi “I am so pleased to have won this award. I have really enjoyed this season, being part of a team that won the Six Nations Grand Slam and finishing as runners-up in the IRB Rugby World Cup final has been terrific, though of course we would have preferred to take the title. This award has certainly capped off a great year.”

She continued, “The whole of the England team worked so hard to get where we are today and it’s a shame that we came so close in the final of the Rugby World Cup and didn’t come away with the prize we desperately wanted.

“Hopefully this award will go some way, for all the members of the squad, towards knowing that what we achieved in Canada has been recognised.

Nominate a volunteer for county awards

Amanda Bate writes:

"http://www.sportinherts.org.uk/article.asp?ref=SPORTSAWARDS2007&parent=CLUBMAIN
Above is the link to the nomination form and details of the categories for YOU, YES YOU, to nominate a volunteer for an award.

In girls rugby, I would like to see Clive nominated and I will be nominating him, but others can as well to strengthen the case, but John Birch could do with recognition, and Luke, and what about the youngsters in your club who have coaching/refs awards and are putting them into practice?

Dave Marques is a great administrator for girls rugby at Welwyn, Vicki Hopcroft for Tabard, Chris Fishlock has been coaching in girls rugby for a long time, Jacky Shutler seems to be a shaker and mover for youth at Saracens.....as you can see the list is endless and those I have mentioned are just the people who sprung to my mind...

Last year at the awards rugby did very well, lets clean up again with the awards in 2007!

Please pass this onto your club execs, and please take action, don't leave it up to someone else! and more than one person can nominate the same volunteer. "

New award scheme for community clubs

This month sees the launch of one of our new recognition schemes; the ''President's XV Awards''.
The President's XV Award scheme seeks to identify and reward best practice in community rugby clubs with 45 projects receiving recognition for making an outstanding contribution to the development of grassroots rugby.

There are 15 categories that have been specially selected by the RFU President, Bob Rogers, that clubs can nominate themselves for. Reflecting the four themes of Community Rugby; More People, Better Places, Access for All and Enjoyment, all rugby clubs within England are eligible to nominate projects, as long as they have been run in a voluntary capacity by the club within the past 12 months. The closing date for nomination forms is the 1st February 2007.

Rugby World, the world's biggest selling rugby magazine, will be the official media partner of the President's XV scheme and will highlight the best of the bunch in their pages this season.

The winning club in each of the 15 award categories will receive £500, with two highly commended projects in each category each receiving £100 for their club. The winners, judged by a Panel including the RFU President, will be announced during April, with a booklet providing case studies of the fifteen winning, and two highly commended, projects in each category will be published and distributed to the game in May.

We want to receive as many nominations from clubs as we possibly can; if you can advertise this new awards scheme to all the clubs in your area, directing them towards the volunteering section of the RFU website (www.rfu.com/volunteer); that would be great. If you want any more information on the President’s XV scheme, contact Carly Jackson (carlyjackson@rfu.com) on 0208 831 6742.