Ulster Rugby - Annual Report 2017-18

Plex (Lisburn), cumulating in a celebration event and tour of the Kingspan Stadium. — ‘Walk to the Rugby World Cup’ involved fourteen groups who participated in the ‘twelve million’ step challenge (Belfast to Tokyo). To ensure sustainability of these groups beyond the life of the programme, fourteen participants successfully completed ‘Walk Leader’ Training. — ‘Health Stadium Campaign’ provided support for the ‘Take Five Steps to Wellbeing’ initiative, launched at the Ulster v Munster match in January 2018. All six videos were hosted within a dedicated section on the main Ulster Rugby website, alongside a page in the official Match Day Programme for the remainder of the season, in conjunction with a focused social media campaign. — ‘Get Active with Ulster Rugby’ used boot-camps and nutritional support to target participants from Include Youth, NI Alternatives (Restorative Justice), males aged over thirty five and mini-mums. It ran for six months with consistent attendance and very positive feedback on conclusion. In support of the continued development of Strength and Conditioning services within Ulster, guidance was provided to ten Schools and Clubs leading to significant facility enhancement and investment. Subway Ulster Rugby Camps were expanded into a full year programme of twenty-nine offerings across the province, involving Halloween, Easter and summer activities. A total of one thousand six hundred and forty two participants attended one of the Junior, School of Excellence, Disability or Digital Skills Camps. Season 2017/18 saw an increase in Disability Rugby Camp options alongside new Digital Skills Camps run at Rugby Operations staff members were responsible for all aspects of the administration of the game, supporting the various committees and working with Clubs and Schools to develop their off-field capability and capacity. Over the season members of staff delivered a co- ordinated programme of Club information seminars and workshops across a range of topics including:- — Volunteer Succession Planning — Volunteer ‘Best Practice’ — Anti-Doping — Goldmark Awards — CASC/Charity status — Officer Training (Grants Officer, Honorary Secretary) — IRFU Clubhouse system (GMS) — Safeguarding Kingspan Stadium. Rugby Operations

The Ulster Branch staff, in recognition of the burden placed on all Club volunteers, extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who continued to drive the game at a local, regional and provincial level. The content of workshops was designed to assist Clubs and Schools to improve their own practices and to share best practice experiences with others. During the season, 449 volunteers across 52 Clubs engaged in at least one workshop, with 37 Clubs engaging in three or more programmes. 2017/18 saw the continuation of the Club Development Programme, with nine new Clubs commencing a season long support project alongside the Club Services Officer. The Clubs involved were Ards RFC, Carrick RFC, Enniskillen RFC, Larne RFC, Limavady RFC, Lisburn RFC, Lurgan RFC, Portadown RFC and Randalstown RFC. The aim of the programme was to increase capability, capacity and functioning within the Clubs involved, and aid their future development through the creation and implementation of an effective three to five year Club Development Plan. Within the programme, consideration was given to each Club’s baseline position, operational structures, vision, core issues and challenges. The aim was to then establish a viable action plan to cover all areas of Club activity, from governance to on-pitch rugby provision. Additionally, the Clubs are all currently working to achieve the Sport NI Clubmark accreditation, with many also supported in their pursuit of grant funding for both capital and revenue projects. Alongside the Club Development Programme, a training scheme was also launched in October 2017 in the new Clubhouse Game Management System (GMS), designed to streamline various Club administrative processes, improve efficiency and reduce the burden on volunteers. Regional training workshops were delivered alongside one-to-one Club sessions, with 92% of Clubs now compliant in the mandatory Bronze level elements. A number of Clubs also attended further training in the optional Silver and Gold components of the system. As a result of work completed by Rugby Committee in previous seasons, part of the delivery of rugby has been directed towards modified versions of the game. After successful pilots in 2016/17, the programmes below were continued into the 2017/18 season:- — 20’s Programme – A flexible approach to the U20 concept, this programme developed in the current season as regional projects to provide more regular access to the game for young participants motivated to continue playing alongside their peers. Seven events took place across the province during the season, with six clubs in the Northern region committing to one additional U20 fixture each month. As a result, more than three hundred players took part in this form of the game, with many Clubs citing the positive effect of the programme in transitioning players into the adult game. — X7s (Cross Field 7s) – X7’s is a less demanding version of full pitch sevens, taking place on a smaller playing area. Five events, hosted across the province, saw seventeen Clubs participate in this form of the game, and offered two hundred

— Funding ‘State of Readiness’ — Child Welfare Officer Training — Safe Rugby

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18

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