-Credit:Huw Evans Picture Agency
The Welsh Rugby Union has proposed major changes to the way the community game is funded in a bid to create a prosperous future.
Community game director Geraint John and head of places Angharad Collins will be fronting a roadshow around the WRU’s nine districts to explain the new thinking and preferred plan. Currently there is £11.8m ringfenced to the community game.
This is topped up with an additional £2m of external funding made available from external sources the WRU has helped facilitate. As part of the new model overall funding to the community clubs will remain the same, but there are changes to the way it is distributed.
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The new model will involve clubs having to meet certain criteria to unlock different levels of funding. There are two options being proposed but the preferred one will see the funding split off the field (£1.421m) and on field (£1.421m).
The more a club aligns towards the strategy and the way the WRU believe a club should work moving forward the more cash it will receive.
The WRU have created a club accreditation scheme rewarding best practice across a number of different criteria including the rugby work force, facilities, governance and culture. It is essentially a five-tier off-field accreditation plan that will be linked to the money they receive each season.
Clubs can choose to be a standard-rated club or a silver, gold or platinum-rated club. They will get additional funding as they go up the ratings, while it also ensures no club can use WRU money to pay players.
The on field model will remain as a one-year retrospective model rewarding participation against the strategy. Off field will be an off field accreditation model on a two-year, a two- year and a three-year basis which makes it a seven year programme in total.
As it stands all clubs have to sign a statement of integrity that they don’t pay players which costs the WRU £990,000. But should this proposal pass the £990k used for the statement of integrity will instead be put into an accreditation scheme which is a more efficent way of ensuring no WRU money is used to pay players within the community game.
WRU community director John is confident this new model will help clubs attract new players, fans, volunteers and funding.
“What we are proposing is what we feel, after previous consultation, is the best and most manageable solution for our clubs,” said John. “They sit at the heart of their communities across Wales and we want them to be better prepared and better able to serve those communities.
“In the modern-day sporting world there are so many different aspects that need to be addressed. It is not merely about finding a team to play on a pitch.
“Safeguarding measures must be put in place, EDI policies must be applied, food hygiene needs to be adhered to, incorporation at clubs must be considered, gender balance on committees is becoming more and more important, recruiting more volunteers is vital.
“We are also looking to encourage them all to focus attention on recruitment and retention of their youngsters. There is no senior game without a pipeline of players. We want more girls and boys to be brought into the game, retained within the playing structure and given, along with their parents, a wonderful Welsh rugby experience.
“For the record, we’re not saying that that isn’t the case at so many of our clubs at the moment. But we feel that by addressing these topics as a whole, incentivising clubs to meet the new challenges they face with our support, that we can collectively enhance and improve that offering.
“It is important to understand that we are not reducing any of the core grant to the clubs. We want to move our game into a better position to push for greater financial support. We can only do that if much of what we are proposing is put in place. That is the way to unlock further funding from Welsh Government, local authorities and other grant aid bodies.
“We already tap into many financial feeds, but we want to do even more. With much of what we are proposing in place we feel we can bring in even more.
“We are seeking a renewed partnership with the clubs – one in which they give us the ammunition to more accurately portray Welsh rugby as a force for good. As the governing body of Wales’ national sport we are charged with doing what’s best for our members, our players, coaches, fans and volunteers.”
Three models were originally presented and following feedback, and ratification by the WRU’s club development committee, the favoured proposal will be presented to the clubs at the district meetings – which started with District B at Cardiff Athletic Club on Wednesday, January 8.
The WRU’s goal is for 95% of clubs to have a club development plan, 95% to have a equality, diversity and inclusion plan while they also want all clubs to have a rolling programme of self-assessment. Should the new proposals be agreed it will come into effect in a years time.