Ulster Rugby Annual Report

Rugby Committee At the start of the season the Rugby Committee established three priorities - 1. Strategic development of the domestic game 2. Age grade rugby structures. 3. Review of SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership & First Trust Senior Cup. Each of these priorities was facilitated by specific working groups, made up of a combination of Ulster rugby staff, members of the Rugby Committee and volunteers from Clubs and Schools. A summary of these working group outcomes is as follows. — Strategic development of the Domestic game With the launch of the IRFU Strategy & Women in Rugby Action plan in late 2018, the Rugby Committee would work alongside the Rugby Development department to align the Domestic rugby strategic plan with IRFU Strategy. This will ensure that the development of rugby in Ulster is consistent with IRFU strategic goals. — Age Grade rugby structures Built upon the work undertaken in 2018, as reported in last season’s Annual Report, a working group was assembled to review the recommendations produced by the independent ‘Inside Track’ age-grade rugby consultation. This group worked throughout the 2018/19 season to discuss the implementation of these recommendations. While this process has resulted in only a few actions being taken to date, it is anticipated that the recommendations will underpin the strategic development of the age-grade game over the next few years. — Review of SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership & First Trust Senior Cup The Rugby Committee established a Working Party to review the scheduling and format of the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership and the First Trust Senior Cup. The Working Party reviewed the format and scheduling of both competitions during 2018/19 and consulted with AIL Clubs on the future organisation of both competitions. The review concluded that there was no consensus for radical change to either competition although a small number of recommendations were identified to further enhance competition arrangements. Rugby Projects (Health & Well-being) Player welfare continues to be one of the most important issues within the game. In February 2019, the IRFU (Ulster Branch) reinstated the ‘Safety of the Game Committee’ to oversee player welfare in Ulster. The committee is made up of staff from across the organisation as well as representatives from Clubs and Schools. Over the course of the last three seasons the Ulster Branch has produced a Provincial Player Welfare Plan. This has linked various national and provincial initiatives to ensure that activities are delivered and communicated in a co-ordinated way. The plan is also

of any initiatives, the safety of referees is paramount, and our Clubs must be left in no doubt about their responsibilities in that regard. Governance A number of amendments have been proposed to the Ulster Branch Bye-Laws. Following a lengthy consultation process with Jones Cassidy Brett Solicitors, changes to ensure gender neutrality have been inserted and these will be considered by Council Working Parties Since the end of last season a number of Working Parties established by the Management Committee, have met regularly. The themes under consideration were Culture and Values, chaired by Simon Best, Relationships with stakeholders, John McKibbin, The Club game and participation, Stephen Black, The Professional game, Philip Rainey, Talent and the Academy, Hugh McCaughey and the business model, Ellvena Graham. Each of the Working Parties reported its progress at a specially convened workshop in November. Their findings have now provided a core platform for the CEO and have formed part of the business plan which has been shared with, and approved by, the IRFU. THE DOMESTIC GAME Domestic Rugby The 2018/19 season has been another busy year for the Domestic Game in Ulster. A significant number of Clubs have taken steps to address the concerning drop-off in participation of school leavers by engaging in a province-wide ‘20s programme’. Thirty seven Clubs were involved in a variety of initiatives aimed to encourage more players leaving School and Youth rugby to move into the adult Club environment to continue their journey in the game. The dramatic growth which female rugby has achieved over the last few years has been consolidated, with pockets of growth being reported in a number of locations around the Province. Mini rugby at Clubs and rugby in Schools remain the bedrock of age-grade rugby in the Province, with the majority of Secondary School aged players accessing the game through the thirty four Schools which regularly compete in Schools of Ireland competitions. To compliment this, the number of non-traditional Schools engaged in rugby activity continues to grow. The priority remains to migrate these participants into a quality, long term sustainable Club infrastructure at Youth level. Challenges remain across Youth rugby in the Province to provide the regular opportunities that we aim for. The Youth Committee has worked hard to review the playing structures and has drawn up recommendations to improve these for next season. This report will demonstrate the breadth of work undertaken within the Domestic game in Ulster, led by the many volunteers in Clubs and Schools who work side by side with Domestic rugby staff to provide countless opportunities for the playing of the game.

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