SURREY RUGBY A.G.M. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
THE ECONOMY
It would be wrong not to start without mentioning the current economy. This
has had an effect on all of us one way or another. The R.F.U. which has felt
the squeeze, in the form of lost revenue from hospitality and merchandise.
Clubs throughout the Country have seen their sponsorship and other forms of
revenue dry up. Halifax have gone, Mounts Bay and London Welsh teeter on
the brink. Surrey Rugby is no different to any other organisation and whilst
we are currently financially very sound, we must take care over the coming
months until the recession abates as it surely will.
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
I remain disappointed that Surrey Rugby is not participating in the County
Championship. The R.F.U. has changed the structure of the Competition to
make it more accessible to Counties like Surrey which do not have the history
and passion that say, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cornwall do, but again we
are the only County not participating. The arguments are well rehearsed and I
am 100% satisfied that our decision to withdraw a couple of years ago was
absolutely right, but now there is a different opportunity and it is my view that
we in Surrey should again participate in this new and more sensible
competition.
I must also point out that whilst we do not participate in the County
Championship, Surrey Rugby remains England’s market leader in a whole
host of areas. Massive reserve team leagues, more youth and mini players
than any other County in England, a flag ship Under 21 Competition, now
being copied across the Country.
DOMESTIC COMPETITIONS
The main winners in the various Surrey Competitions are listed below.
PRESIDENT’S CUP
Winners
Chobham
RFU LEAGUES
London 2 S Runners Up (promoted after play off)
London 3 SW Runners Up (promoted after play off)
London 4 SW Winners
Surrey 1 Winners
Surrey 2 Winners
Also promoted
Surrey 3 Winners
Also promoted
Surrey 4 Winners
Also promoted
Dorking
Wimbledon
Weybridge vandals
Old Paulines
Teddington
Old Walcountians
Old Blues
Raynes Park
CL London
Old Radleians
SURREY INCENTIVE FM KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS
Surrey Cup
Surrey Shield
Surrey Bowl
Sutton and Epsom
Old Walcountians
Old Blues
SURREY JONAP RESERVE LEAGUES
Premier Champions
Alliance Champions
Conference 1 Champions
Conference 2 Champions
Conference 3 Champions
Conference 4 Champions
Combination 1 Champions
Combination 2 Champions
Combination 3 Champions
Combination 4 Champions
Veterans League 1
Veterans League 2
Chobham 2nd XV
O Wimbledonian Rams
Warlingham 2nd XV
Old Emmanuel 2nd XV
Raynes Park 2nd XV
Law Society 3rd XV
Chobham 3rd XV
Sutton & Epsom 4th XV
Cobham 3rd XV
Chobham 5th XV
Richmond Heavies
London Welsh Vets
SURREY SEVENS
Cup Winners
Plate Winners
Bowl Winners
Richmond
Weybridge Vandals
Old Alleynians
It would be wrong not to close this part of the report without mentioning Paddy
Ralston. Paddy has been the inspiration behind the Competition activity in
Surrey for a number of years but Paddy has decided to step down this
summer. A hard act to follow but there are a number of industrious and hard
working volunteers in his team who are taking on some of the tasks Paddy
has done so well over the last few years. The clubs of Surrey are hugely
indebted to Paddy and his team in the Competitions department.
CBRDP
The CBRDP is the delivery arm of all Surrey rugby activities in the 7 to 24
bracket. It is by far the largest constituent part of Surrey Rugby and rightly so.
The format has been in existence for 5 years and every year there is
inevitably some review and improvement activity.
The Schools of Rugby is now one of the main methods of talent identification.
Our RDOs working with school and club staff progress players through the
system which can see acceleration and deceleration of a player to match his
skills to the programme. But it is not just beneficial for the players. Coaching
is also subject to review and improvement. David McCloud, our coaching
chair has led a number of activities to help our coaches both in schools and
clubs. Next season a similar emphasis is going to be applied to refereeing
including the refereeing of youth and mini rugby.
Our two state maintained school leagues are now six in number, thanks go to
Leon Hogan and Damian Brady for their work in this regard. The Surrey
Schools Sevens goes from strength to strength and that may well be
increasing is size next season with an additional age group and girls
competitions. The senior Schools Sevens held a Richmond and sponsored
by The Daily Mail is now regarded as the most prestigious one day event of its
kind.
The list of players who have progressed from Surrey teams to Divisional
teams and then on to National teams this season is almost too long to print.
Suffice it to say, Surrey continues to identify and properly promote talent
through to the highest levels.
Our 20s had a whirlwind weekend in May. On the Friday night they were in
Belfast winning the Northern Ireland Floodlit Sevens and hurriedly returning to
win the National Sevens here in England on the Sunday.
Our youth leagues continue to grow and particular reference must here be
made to Derek Mugford. Without his patience, tolerance and understanding a
lot of youngsters would not enjoy the rugby that they do in Surrey.
Our Mini Festivals continue to grow and with that growth there is learning and
understanding. The growth has caused us to adjust our structures as we go
forward. The Surrey A festival remains a miracle of organisation of which
Dorking RFC are justly proud.
This season saw our first County Development Conference. All agreed that
this was a roaring success that enabled many people to exchange ideas,
learn new concepts and understand well trodden paths. It will be discussed at
our forthcoming planning meeting but is most likely to be repeated next year.
Peter Vernon and his team of volunteers, RDOs and CRCs have achieved a
huge amount this season and their industry produces our successes.
However, every silver lining has a cloud! My report mentions the problem in
“highs and lows” and it is something we all need to address and resolve.
Touchline behaviour is just not good enough and all the good work that our
young players do, can be undone by the stupidity and bad manners of their
parents/family/coaches/supporters. More of that later.
RFU HARLEQUINS ACADEMY COMMITTEE
This Committee has met regularly through the season under the
Chairmanship of John Douglas to agree and oversee the Academy and
School of Rugby programmes, including the movement of individuals in and
out of those programmes.
DISCIPLINE
I am pleased to report that our discipline operation continues to work well.
The Panel met 10 times using 6 people. 47 cases were handled which
compares reasonably with past years. The main offences were 22 cases of
punching, 10 of abuse, 6 kicks and 6 double yellows. Most were low entry
although one was top entry, and an average suspension of 2.86 weeks was
the end result. The cases came from across the range of teams, 21 from 1 st
XVs and 10 from 2nd XVs. Two clubs managed to make 4 appearances and
one individual made his fifth appearance before the panel. An unsung but
necessary part of the game, I am pleased to announce that John Raywood
has kindly agreed to give his wealth of experience to this group next season.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Probably the last ever report from the Marketing and Communications
Committee as with the progress being shown in the County Office, most of the
communication work emanates from there now. Paul Agate has rightly
identified in seasons to come the emphasis will move to marketing and
sponsorship.
There has been a slight drop in the number of our patrons but as this is not a
major income source it has not been a priority area to address. Our allocation
of International Tickets has reduced over the years so this may not be such a
bad thing after all. The county office is trying to establish electronic
communication with all our patrons which has to be the way forward for us.
Terry McCarthy steps down after four years as Sponsorship Secretary having
done sterling work in this area. We are pleased to announce that John O’Neill
& Partners, Thames Honda, Sweet Chariot and Incentive FM remain with us.
We are also pleased to see growth in our relationships with Land Rover and
The Daily Mail.
Our website continues to improve and the County Office will ensure that trend
is ongoing.
I would like to place on record my appreciation to Paul Agate for all the work
he carries out in what is currently a difficult market.
COMMUNITY RUGBY
Whilst it has been a good year for Community Rugby activities, it has also
been sad year. John Cox a tireless worker at Croydon RFC died suddenly at
the start of the season. John had been the driving force behind the rise of
Croydon RFC from the merger of Shirley Wanderers and Old Croydonians.
Not satisfied with helping his own club, he had also taken on the
Chairmanship of our Wandle Community. John will be sadly missed.
During the season a number of Community meeting have been held, covering
a diverse range of subjects including Pathfinders, Player Retention, Seal of
Approval, Player Welfare, The County Office and Safeguarding. These
culminated in a Club Development Conference held at Twickenham in June.
Attendees, organisers and participants were all in agreement that is was a
greatly appreciated success.
Next season will see our four Community Chairs, Terry Long, John Collins,
Robin Page and Keith Heal pursuing themes of Core Values, Senior/Junior
Club Integration, RugbyFirst and a Festival of Junior Rugby as well as helping
Old Emanuel celebrate their centenary, and Chipstead and Mitcham to
celebrate their 50th anniversaries.
Ian Thirlwall has kindly agreed to continue to Chair this crucial Committee and
is to be thanked for his endeavours.
ADMINISTRATION
Surrey Rugby has taken the bull by the horns and set up a staffed office in
Leatherhead. Supporting our RDOs and CRCs, Steph and Sarah are rapidly
grasping the administrative needs of Surrey Rugby and will soon be yet
another shining example of how Surrey Rugby has got it right. It would be
wrong at this stage not to mention the work that Trevor Sokell has put in to
this project and he is to be thanked and congratulated in equal measures.
The office is now the vital conduit in the RFU/CB/Club chain for facilities,
funding, coach development and the management of our RDOs and CRCs
and also our website.
FACILITIES
Surrey Rugby has again led the Country in regard to working with clubs to
improve their facilities. Cobham completed the building of their new club
house this season, Old Reigatians have just started, Farnham is looming on
the horizon. Lighting projects at Old Mid-Whitgiftians, Warlingham and Old
Emanuel have brightened up their training facilities. All of this has been with
the help of the RFU and Surrey Rugby.
SURREY CHARITABLE TRUST
Little is ever said of The Surrey Charitable Trust, fortunately they are not
called into action very often. However, this year I would like to place on
record my appreciation to The Trust for the support they have given to
activities relating to fund raising for the Ollie Skeens Trust. Their help is
greatly appreciated.
FURTHER AFIELD
Surrey Rugby is well represented at the RFU. Peter Vernon, Fred Batchelor
and Mark Lowe are all involved in the development of rugby for youngsters at
the highest level. Peter Moore sits on the influential International Rugby
Ticket Sub-Committee. Malcolm Caird and Liz Townsend have both been
variously involved with IT matters at Twickenham. Chris Kibble, a most senior
of coaches helps form coaching policies. Finally John Douglas and I have
both been re-elected to the Board of the RFU and we will both continue to
represent the interests of grass roots rugby in the game. Quite how we will
deal with the frailties within the IRB is another matter but we are working on it.
HIGH POINTS AND LOW POINTS
I must start with the low point and for me there has only been one, albeit not a
single and specific incident. It is the dreadful behaviour of parents and
supporters on the touch line. I sometimes wish I had a video camera so that I
could film some of them and then show the film to their work colleagues,
bosses, family or friends. I don’t know if that might embarrass them into
improvement, but something has got to be tried. I see perfectly normal and
reasonable people suddenly lose all control of themselves and behave quite
appallingly. What kind of message does it send to their children? The R.F.U.
is addressing the problem through a review of the Core Values of the game,
but until clubs grasp the nettle and take action against offending parents and
supporters, the game risks deteriorating beyond repair.
There have been numerous occasions during the season that could be
described as high points. The dinner was a success according to most
participants. The Surrey Cup Final saw my own club Sutton & Epsom win an
excellent final, what could be more satisfying as President than to present the
Surrey Cup to your own club? The Surrey Mini Festival saw some incredibly
talented children playing rugby for fun and enjoyment. I have no doubt that
some of the players I saw will feature in serious senior rugby in years to
come.
Kyle Sinkler attends Graveney School in Tooting, not a school renowned for
sporting achievements. Kyle started to play rugby at Battersea Ironsides RFC
and this year as an Under 16 he proudly put on the white shirt of England. To
play for England at any level is an achievement, but coming from a school
where there is limited sporting opportunity and no rugby makes that
achievement quite incredible. There are countless other achievements on the
pitch by our many clubs but for me the real high spot was the James Skeens
Memorial Game played at Dorking on a summery Friday night at the end of
May. Players from 15 community clubs, many of them playing against players
from their own clubs, playing the game of rugby, in the spirit that it was always
intended, in style with honesty and integrity. You are unlikely to ever see a
better advert for the game of rugby.
RÉSUMÉ
It would be wrong of me not to record my thanks to the many people who
have helped me in my Presidential year. The many people who have invited
me to functions, to lunches and to dinners. The many people who do work in
the background whether paid or as a volunteer. To all of them I express my
gratitude.
At the start of the season, I said that it was my hope that I would be able to
hand Surrey Rugby over to the incoming President, Fred Batchelor, in the
same outstanding condition that it had been handed to me by Gordon Hunt. I
think taking everything into consideration that I am able to do just that.
John Vale
President Surrey Rugby 2008/2009.