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programmes have included:-
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Adult Age Grade/U20.
A flexible approach to the
U20 concept, played during three specific windows;
Pre-season, Christmas & Easter. The main objective
was to offer Youth players and School leavers an
immediate opportunity to experience the local
club. Twenty one clubs participated in various events
throughout the year.
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—
X7s (Cross Field 7s)
Rugby’s version of 5-a-side
soccer or Twenty20 cricket, X7s is a less demanding
version of full pitch 7s. It is also less attritional than
traditional rugby, requiring less numbers to play.
Nine clubs participated in two different events and
feedback from the players was very positive.
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—
Super Sundays.
A result of a meeting between the
south western clubs and the CMC at the end of last
season, events were organised in the south of the
Province to bring together ‘additional teams’ outside
of the traditional 2:30pm kick off on a Saturday.
Two events were held, each comprising four teams.
Interestingly three of the participants were new
teams in that they did not feature in any of the Ulster
Branch Competitions.
Overall the feedback from these pilot programmes has
been very positive. It is important to thank all of the
clubs that participated and to recognise the efforts of
volunteers in clubs and staff who worked extremely
hard to ensure that these activities took place. It is
anticipated that lessons from this pilot will be used to
underpin a co-ordinated programme next season.
Safeguarding
Following the implementation of a new IRFU
Safeguarding policy in 2016, every rugby club in Ireland
was required by the end of 2016/17 to have achieved
‘amber status’ as a minimum. We are delighted
to report that all clubs in Ulster have achieved that
status. By the end of 2018/19 all clubs will be required
to attain ‘green status’. Further support will be provided
to clubs over the course of the next two seasons. Over
the course of the year five safeguarding courses have
been delivered, attracting sixty one participants from
twenty three clubs.
Discipline
This season has seen a marked increase in the number
of red cards issued and cases dealt with by the
Disciplinary Committee. This can be largely attributed
to the directive brought in by World Rugby at the start of
the season which looked to punish high tackles. Even
though communication had been circulated to players
and coaches at the start of the season, it took a long
time for the message to get through. It is hoped that
we will see a decrease in the number of incidents of this
type brought before the Disciplinary Committee next
year as this directive beds in.
Overall the issuing of red cards related to a range
of offences with punching/striking being the most
common. Sanctions ranged from ‘red card deemed
sufficient’ to a twenty six week ban for verbal abuse of
a referee. The following table shows the number of red
cards issued in recent seasons.
Year
Adult
Youth
Total
2016/17
45(13)
10(1)
55(14)
2015/16
29 (1)
6 (1)
35 (2)
2014/15
41 (7)
13 (1)
54 (8)
2013/14
25 (4)
14
39 (4)
2012/13
28 (6)
10
38 (6)
2011/12
44 (7)
9
53 (7)
2010/11
30 (9)
17
47 (9)
Figures in brackets are cases of referee abuse
Rugby Development
Rugby Development staff are responsible for the
development of all on-field aspects of the game
including growing participation coaching.
One of the areas of growth this season was through the
deployment of various rugby participation staff within
schools. This was supported through our network of
twenty three Club Community Rugby Officers (CCROs),
four Community Participations Officers (CPOs) and
two specific posts in Belfast focusing on increasing
participation opportunities amongst females and
people with a disability. The posts in Belfast are funded
by Belfast City Council with our four CPOs being
supported by Antrim & Newtownabbey Council and
Newry, Mourne and Down Councils. The opportunity
to secure additional funding from local authorities for
development staff is currently being explored in several
other council areas.
The Aldi play rugby programme, delivered by our
participation staff, provided rugby opportunities to
both primary and secondary schools throughout the
2016/17 season: A breakdown of the numbers involved
is recorded in the table below.
Schools Number Male
Female
Supported Participants Participants
Primary 160
4990
3552
Secondary 120
6481
1336
Total
280
11,471
4888
(248 - 2015/16)
High Schools Competitions
During the 2016/17 season Rugby Development staff,
in conjunction with the High Schools Committee,
organised and supported the delivery of four
competitions to support rugby in High Schools across
the province. One hundred and twenty four teams
participated across the competitions at four different
age grades. This is an area of the game which
continues to grow steadily and it is also an important
means of growing our club youth structures through the
work of the CCROs and CPOs.
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IRFU ULSTER BRANCH
ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2016/17