1. Capital Investment Update Area Facilities Manager
Herts Club Meeting
Jason Bowers
Area Facilities Manager

2. CB Facility Planning Process Natwest Rugby Force Programme
Overview of what we’ll cover in this session:
CB Facility Planning Process
Natwest Rugby Force Programme
Rugby Football Foundation Grants
RFU Capital Investment Programme
Questions & Answers

3. CB Facility Planning Process
Club identify a project to either the CB or RDO
Information shared between RFU staff and CB reps to ensure information is captured and understood
CB Facility Plan is updated as a live document and all facility projects are recorded.
CB Facility Plan reviewed quarterly between RFU AFM/RDO and CB Reps, to find funding solutions for projects
CB prioritise projects that are in a deliverable position and support growth. Invited on to the RFU Capital Investment Programme
Smaller projects may be eligible to the Rugby Football Foundation

4. Natwest RugbyForce 2017
NatWest RugbyForce 2017 launches on 23rd November
The programme, which is a partnership between England Rugby and NatWest, is unique and carefully crafted with the aid of experts to offer grassroots clubs across the country a wealth of advice and support to ensure that they thrive as strong and sustainable businesses away from just the on-pitch action.
Registration for clubs will be via sign up on

5. This year’s new and improved programme will offer clubs that register by 5th February 2017 the following:
• Support packages of £500 awarded to 200 clubs who are selected to attend one of the NatWest RugbyForce workshops.
• Invitation for up to 70 clubs to raise funds via a crowdfunding programme with NatWest RugbyForce contributing up to £750 as a booster towards the project and campaign.
• 60 pitch maintenance packages to include a visit from the Twickenham Head Groundsman Keith Kent (or one of his team of pitch advisors) to help devise a pitch maintenance schedule for the weekend.
• Support packages of £2,000 to help put Keith’s report into practice over the NatWest RugbyForce weekend.
• Support collateral to help promote clubs’ NatWest RugbyForce weekend event – set to take place on 24th and 25th June 2017.

6. Rugby Football Foundation (RFF)
The Rugby Football Foundation is a registered charity established by the Rugby Football Union.
The purpose of the Rugby Football Foundation is to promote and develop community amateur rugby in England.

7. How and What?
What can my club apply for?
Capital improvements to the club’s facilities which will support the retention and recruitment of players.
These can include pitch drainage, clubhouses (all areas apart from bars), floodlights, goal posts, pitch maintenance equipment.
The RFF will not fund works that would be classified as annual maintenance,
Matched against the club’s own contribution to the project (either from club funds, sponsors or external grants).

8. Helping Hand Grants & Groundmatch Grants
The 'Helping Hand Grant' provides a mechanism for clubs to apply for a small grant of between £500 and £1,500 for eligible capital projects.
The ‘Groundmatch Scheme’ provides Clubs at level 5 and below can apply for between £1,500 and £5,000 on a matched £ for £ basis.
Completed applications are considered on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Clubs may only apply for one grant per project and are eligible for only £5,000 in a 24 month period.
The 24 months are calculated from the date of the last payment of any previous award.

9. RFU Capital Investment
Within the RFU National Facility Strategy, projects are identified locally by Constituent Bodies based on their playing programme and the facilities needed to either retain or grow activity and players. Those projects that can demonstrate the readiness factors to deliver the project are prioritised for RFU capital investment which aims to deliver a network of clubs with the following outcomes;
Improved quality of experience for all users of the club
Improved financial sustainability of clubs
Improved retention and growth of players (ages 14-24) and volunteers within local club communities
4. A wider range of business and social users outside of rugby

10. What’s considered
Continued Investment in:
Floodlights
Natural Turf Pitches
Clubhouses
Changing Rooms
£1.5m Nationally for 2017/18 Financial Year to support the above themes.

11. RFU Artificial Grass Pitches Herts RFU Clubs Meeting
December 2016

12. Modernising the environment
AGP Strategy – Why Are We Doing this? 1
Natural Turf Pitches
Pitches overused with no excess capacity
Detrimental impact on the playing experience 2
Modernising the environment
Younger players are expecting more
Attract new participants 3
The Competition
AGPs are the biggest driver of participation in football
The FA is investing significantly into AGPs 4
Weather Conditions
British winters have got milder and wetter in the last 4 years
More games and training cancelled, reducing participation

13. 58,000 players exposed to rugby for the first time each year Impact
Artificial Grass Pitch Strategy: 100 AGPs delivered in 4 years………
To increase match and training capacity in areas where natural turf pitches are significantly overused
To improve the quality and consistency of training provision across the country
To create a positive transformational impact on the game
To broaden rugby’s reach and create a Rugby World Cup legacy 1 2
Why
The average training pitch in England is 58% overused 3 4
“Rugby Turf” AGPs 60
“Rugby Share” AGPs 40
Fully funded, owned and controlled by RFU
Built on rugby club land
Access to local clubs and education providers
At least 1 per CB
Part funded by the RFU at 3rd party site
Areas where there is limited access to rugby club land
Guaranteed proportion of usage dedicated to rugby
How
Currently only 1% of AGPs are located at rugby clubs
Generate over 15,000 participants playing at least once every two weeks
58,000 players exposed to rugby for the first time each year
Ensure over 20% World Rugby compliant AGPs in England
Impact

14. Rugby Football Union.  England Rugby is a trading name of the Rugby Football Union.  The England Rose is an official registered trademark of the Rugby Football Union.