Age Grade Rugby in Kent continues to grow, with the number of registered players increasing year-on-year. Young people are therefore a major group within the County’s rugby community. The KCRFU is keen to ensure that those, especially 14-25-year-olds coming into the game begin a life-long involvement both on and off the pitch by developing as players and, over time, helping to run their respective clubs as volunteers and administrators.
We are already doing a great deal in this area to bring rugby to all communities in Kent. Our work with The Rugby Project is a great example. The Project encourages younger players to become more deeply involved in all aspects of rugby, giving them their first insight into refereeing, first aid, coaching and mental resilience, while also giving them the skills they need to build the confidence to support their clubs and their local community with volunteering and fundraising.
The KCRFU (supported as necessary by the RFU) wants to build on this, to create an environment that meets the needs of those who are playing the game now and are the future of the game. However, we can do this only by engaging with those, whether through their schools, colleges and/or clubs, who have many years of rugby ahead of them, listening to their views and to develop ways that we can bring young people into the decision-making process.
As a first step, YOU can help us by completing this short survey (Link below). The deadline for doing so is 30 September 2024.
And who knows where your rugby journey will go? It’s never too early to play a part in helping to administer the game, be that at your club, for Kent, or even nationally.
The RFU’s National Youth Council is a group of 18–24-year-olds from across the country, who act as a consultative body for the RFU at a national level. Involved in all aspects of the game, the Council provides a youth perspective and helps shape the development of the game. The KCRFU is considering whether a similar group in Kent will help us take forward this work and to this end, we plan to co-opt one its members, Will Disbrey (of Tonbridge Juddians RFC), onto the Executive Committee, with effect from 2024-25. Will’s input will be invaluable. As he says,
“The National Youth Council (NYC) has offered me the opportunity to be involved in rugby in a way which best uses my skills and experience. I am typical of many players of my age, playing from minis through to senior school and local academy and now local club. I have experienced all the positive things rugby offers; fitness, camaraderie and teamwork, a sense of community and the positive impacts that has on your wellbeing. Volunteering and working as part of the NYC has only broadened these positives. It is an incredibly valuable experience to represent the youth voice to further improve the game we all love. I am able to be more closely involved in looking at sustainable models for a community game that support young players to get involved in playing safe rugby. It is always great to see young people involved in influencing, even making decisions which impact their participation and youth volunteering in Kent would only improve this. Drawing in a wider and younger group of people into this sport which I consider to offer so much is so important to ensuring its success, sustainability and longevity.”
Don’t forget to complete the survey!!
