Play Together, Stay Together
The RFU has launched an adult participation campaign called Play Together, Stay Together to support the community game.
It’s been a challenging time for sport, especially rugby, with the nature of the game bringing a mostly fallow 18 months during the pandemic.
That’s why the Rugby Football Union has launched an adult participation campaign called Play Together, Stay Together as part of a wider programme supporting the community game which includes increased funding, resources and interventions for the season.
While the age grade game and women’s and girls’ rugby has bounced back, there are challenges in the adult men’s game which was really impacted by covid, adding to a trend already noted, partly due to changing lifestyles.
Match completion rates for social teams dropped last season and many second, third and fourth teams struggled to field enough players to fulfil fixtures. Play Together, Stay Together aims to make sure that those who have drifted away from playing aren’t lost for ever.
Getting men to return
This current campaign has been created to increase the number of adult male players returning in season 2022-23, specifically those aged over 30. The 17 to 22 age group is also a focus, with clubs being helped to make sure 17+ age grade players move on into adult rugby by encouraging school leavers and university students to stay connected with a local club.
The outcome for the men’s game will be measured by how many matches are completed by adult male teams in RFU leagues and in 60% of merit leagues and tables.
Growing the women’s game
For the women’s game the focus is on player recruitment and a targeted growth campaign will see Allianz Inner Warrior, aligned to the Rugby World Cup in October and November. Allianz Inner Warrior has seen 23,000 women attend Warrior camps since the programme began in 2016. Run by clubs nationwide they continue to be a great introduction or re-introduction to the fun of rugby.
Play Together, Stay Together will run at key times throughout the season, with Pitch Up For Rugby returning on the weekend of 17 and 18 September as a key focal point of the campaign. These events in clubs across the country will celebrate being back together and are a chance to thank players and volunteers for their work to increase playing numbers over the summer.
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RFU Director of Rugby Development, Steve Grainger, said: “During the pandemic we’ve seen a decline in the number of games being played in the adult men’s game, while the women’s game has stayed flat at a time when growth was planned. Both areas remain extremely important to us. While we are confident in our planned interventions in the women’s game through Allianz Inner Warrior player recruitment campaigns aligned to the Rugby World Cup, it’s really important that we act now to address the immediate challenges we are seeing in the men’s game.
“We have already announced the biggest changes in 30 years to the men’s league structure to better suit players’ lifestyles. The package of measures confirmed today are more targeted and immediate in nature, designed to have an impact on player retention in the first half of the season.
“We hope the whole rugby community will get behind ‘Play Together, Stay Together’ as the game works together to encourage more players back to their local clubs, and we thank The National Lottery players for again supporting our national participation campaign.”
Rugby benefits for all
There is a wealth of research on the positive effects of outdoor physical activity on people’s physical and mental wellbeing and the enjoyment and friendship rugby brings adds more health benefits.
With greater flexibility in rugby, including changes to the men’s league structure to better suit players’ lifestyles, flexible ‘Game On’ options to help get games played and different formats to suit everyone, Play Together, Stay Together wants to get more players back on the pitches, more people in clubhouses, and more fun and lasting friendships for all.
#PlayTogetherStayTogether
