Annual Report
Season 2021-2022
The Annual Report for our 68th season reflects our efforts to arise from the ashes of COVID and renew our efforts to provide activities for schools. All events were re-instated and all ran to very successful conclusions thanks to the efforts of our committee members.
Sadly, the season also saw the loss of another stalwart, Jon Harries, who managed the U18 Sevens for 20 years despite moving to Dawlish when he retired. Jon died in March and, in accordance with the wishes of his wife we made a donation to Cancer Research.
Awards
Jon Harries received an ERFSU VIP Award and Bill Burton an ERFSU Services to Schools Rugby Award.
Web Site / Information System
RFU’s GMS (Game Management System) will soon become the community game wide system and, if we are to keep our own Information System to enable in-house administration the feasibility of an interface with GMS will need to be investigated. So far, alignment of data has proved impossible and that held on GMS is insufficient for our needs, so we continued to use our system and merely flag the schools that had registered on GMS. Our frustration with the functionality and access to GMS reflects the widespread concern amongst many CSUs.
Player Safety
Increasing focus on safety, at adult and youth levels, has led to reduction in tackle height and current research is likely to lead to further change. Various forms of semi-contact and no-contact rugby have been introduced.
External appointments
David Turner continued in his post as an ERFSU Officer (Company Secretary) and Trustee. David Bowers continued to sit on ERFSU Nominations and Awards Panel.
The "now and future"
In common with many organisations we strive with little success to achieve a succession plan, although recent years have seen some new faces, keeping the committee strength at 12, which is likely to be as large as many Schools Unions in the country. Our thanks go to all of those who agreed to run events or who supported us in other ways. Special mention should be made of Pete Ebbage who at short notice took on the task of running the U18 Sevens when Jon Harries was unable to do so. We may feel under pressure but it is clear that we are in much better shape than many Schools’ Unions - and that is a tribute to the support we have internally and externally, from ourselves to clubs, to ERFSU and the Education Department at RFU. However, we are not working closely (“aligned”) with the CB and this is likely to frustrate development.
A time of change
All in all, running rugby is changing from being one of a number of curriculum activities offered to youngsters, to unpaid delivery of the increasing expectations of RFU. No-one can know what the medium term consequence of that will be for schools’ rugby. What is clear is that ERFSU and RFU seek major functional changes at County Schools Union (CSU) level.
ERFSU wants CSUs to provide more opportunities whilst acknowledging that lack of resources encumbers that aspiration. Wider opportunities for girls’ development and events focussing on semi-contact rugby are challenges we need to consider.
Re-structuring of ERFSU at the centre is almost complete; there is a Board including independent appointees that will be formulating policy, guided by RFU, leaving the Executive Committee to ensure implementation. Discussion has already taken place around increasing the recruitment / involvement of girls and whether this could be a focus for CBs, highlighting the need to align CSU and CB
Age Grade activities.
In the meantime, our experienced Committee, led by its Chairman, Pete Ebbage, continued to work tirelessly and give time generously. We will continue to do our very best to support rugby in our schools and work determinedly to continue to provide a programme of rugby activity for young people.
David Turner
Administrator