It is our responsibility to ensure that, when we get to the other side of the current hiatus, the world game rises fitter, stronger and more united than it has ever been. Our source of strength will be our clubs and our community game and we will beat this thing together.
Yours in rugby,
Gareth Davies
WRU chairman
COVID – 19 Club Support
We would encourage all clubs to complete the Club Impact Survey sent to secretaries in the Information Update on Friday. This will enable us to better understand where clubs require support and advice and to allocate the correct resources accordingly.
To date, we have received more than 70 surveys and more are coming in by the hour, but it is vitally important that as many clubs as possible provide us with the right information.
That said, we fully appreciate that clubs may not be in a position to answer all of the questions posed at present. It is therefore requested that clubs submit the survey to us as and when possible. However, in order to allow us to interpret the data effectively, this survey will close on Friday 24th April 2020.
Any queries should be directed to the WRU Helpdesk clubdevelopment@wru.wales
Community rugby department activity
SOCIAL
For more of the same and to keep up to date will everything happening in the community game, as it happens, why not follow @wru_community on Twitter – this is an official WRU channel designed specifically for the community game. If you haven’t followed already the account is incredibly active and even more so in the present environment with hints tips and updates issued regularly as well as news from around the game shared. The channel is posting daily fitness #StayHomeStaySafe / #StayHomeStayActive content including recipes for healthy snacks, Garden Rugby videos for the whole rugby community to enjoy and activity packs for children covering topics of baking, crafts, educational and outdoors.
Also in the pipeline, we have recorded a series of Youth and Senior community coach webinars with coaches around Wales, these will be released on the Game Locker site (https://www.wrugamelocker.wales/) as part of the Continued Professional Development support for the wide network of coaches and referees that service our grass roots game at all levels. If you haven’t used this before there is a simple registration and login procedure to follow to open up a world of resources to help you in your weekly coaching lives and seeking to upskill everyone, no matter what their current level.
For example, this weekend will see the first of ‘Sunday Skills’ on the Game Locker which will be a series of videos covering techniques from the game including Base Pass, Catching the High Ball, Catch Pass, Body Profile etc. One video will be released each Sunday morning via @Wru_community
The performance department has begun regular online CPD webinars open to coaches working in our talent and performance pathways. This will be a weekly initiative with a particular subject or guest speaker lined up each week. The aim is to build on the collaborative network in relation to elite coach development in Wales and continue our support for coaches in their quest for personal development during this period.
A further 50 Elite Coaches from across the regions, including first team staff and academy staff, joined Wales pathways coaches (Men, Women, U20s, U18s & 7s) for an online presentation from Kirk Vallis the Head of Creativity Development at Google. Kirk’s topical theme was ‘how to harness creativity in times of disruption’. Kirk is a leader in creativity development and regularly supports us on our elite coach development programme and was also joined by professional coaches working outside of Wales in the English Premiership, as part of our quest to support exiled coaches.
Volunteers from grassroots clubs and WRU girls hubs across Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire have been helping to take food packages to vulnerable members of society who are self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 300 packages were delivered on Monday and Tuesday this week, with the initiative – like many others around Wales – highlighting that even without any action on the field, rugby clubs remain at the heart of our community.
Rugby
TOP TACKLER
WELSH ON THE UP
FLOOD FUND
Funding has been prioritised for 20 clubs who have been badly affected by Storm Dennis based around clubhouse and pitch damage and we are currently working with clubs to process the applications – to date £51,000 of more than £100,000 has been allocated.
We say more than £100,000 because donations have been gratefully received from a number of quarters including CRICC Caerdydd rugby club junior section, who raised significant funds, supporters who attended the Wales, France game at Principality Stadium in Ferbruary and the staff at Media Wales, who hosted and evening with Nigel Owens and James Hook in march to raise £1,000 for the cause.
We are continuing to liaise with our commercial partners to obtain preferential rates on equipment damaged by the floods.
Clubs have been sent information on a number of ways to access subsistence help including: Covid-19 Grants for Businesses in Wales linked to Non-Domestic Rates (NDR). Welsh Government Economic Resilience Fund – £500m. The Welsh Government and the Development Bank of Wales which has announced the £100m Covid-19 Wales Business Loan Scheme to support businesses affected by the outbreak and funding opportunities provided by Sport Wales Details on the newly launched Emergency Fund from Sport Wales
Any queries should be directed to the WRU Helpdesk clubdevelopment@wru.wales
Further initiatives outlined in recent communications include: The Music Licence, In light of the current situation with Covid 19, PPL PRS Ltd have taken measures to support businesses affected by the Pandemic; Business Update Incorporated Clubs – advice on filing Company Accounts; Furlough of Workers, information released by the Government updating the Job Retention Scheme; Institute of Groundsmanship Guidance for Volunteer Ground Staff
Clubs should also be aware that the WRU lottery has been suspended until further notice. Clubs will no longer have payments collected for lottery subscriptions and no prizes or commissions will be paid.
We were extremely disappointed, last night, to announce that the highly anticipated Nitro World Games Wales 2020 event due to take place at Principality Stadium on 23rd and 24th May has, unfortunately, been cancelled.
All ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase in due course to process a refund.
Work is progressing at pace on the 2,000-bed capacity hospital, which will soon have a new name of its own, to be sited at Principality Stadium as well as centre to be situated at the WRU National Centre of Excellence building in the Vale Resort Hensol.
To our own staff, some of whom have been furloughed and those left holding the fort, thank you for your sterling work and I’d like to mention in particular Chris Munro and the team who work to look after our members clubs.
Stay safe and a happy Easter to you all.
Martyn Phillips