HAVANT & SOUTH DOWNS COLLEGE (HSDC) selected to receive funding by the RFU to develop, support and increase their rugby offering.
Over the past three years, the RFU has delivered a range of targeted rugby programmes in over 200 colleges across England in order to further maximise rugby’s impact in the further education sector.
This season (2017/18) sees the RFU’s launch of a Focus Colleges programme, which will see the formation of robust partnerships with many colleges across the country to drive the development of rugby union for male and female participants in the sector.
HSDC has been selected as one of 21 Focus Colleges this season.
Daniel Roberts, Head of Sport and Creative Media and lead on the Focus Colleges programme, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for HSDC to expand our existing rugby provision for boys and girls at the college as well as strengthen links with clubs, schools and universities in the local area.
“By creating work experience opportunities and offering leadership qualifications and embedding the RFU’s Core Values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship, we will also be able to develop students’ employability skills.”
Mark Saltmarsh, RFU Head of Education Development, said: “Focus Colleges are a key pillar to the future of our work in the education sector.
“We will work in partnership and even greater depth with these institutions with the aim of ensuring that more of those in the key 16 to 19 year old age band want to continue playing rugby into their adult years.
“The prospect of achieving our joint goal of keeping more young players on their rugby journey is a really exciting one.”
The selected colleges, including HSDC, will partner with the RFU at an appropriate level for the institution, from participation to performance, with emphasis on increasing the player base and developing rugby in three main areas:
- Strength – Consolidating and continuing to develop rugby opportunities for college students
- Transition– Improving the pipeline of players into clubs from colleges
- Sustain – Improving player welfare, building capacity and improving the quality of coaches, referees and leaders in colleges
The RFU will provide support to Focus Colleges to assist them to deliver against pre-determined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned to the three main areas above. The Focus College will receive funding over three years depending on the successful achievement against the KPIs.
List of Focus Colleges for season 2017/18:
- Berkshire College of Agriculture
- Birmingham Metropolitan College
- Blackpool College
- Brooksby Melton College
- Chichester College
- Craven College
- Dudley College
- Exeter College
- Gateshead College
- Hartlepool College of Further Education
- Havant and South Downs College
- Henley College Coventry
- Hereford College
- Hills Road Sixth Form College
- Joseph Chamberlain College
- Loughborough College
- Reaseheath College
- The Henley College
- Tresham College
- West Nottingham College
- Worcester College