RFU top brass heading for Sussex

Rugby's rulers will be in the firing line in Sussex next weekend (March 26-28) when the Rugby Football Union's executive management make a three-day visit to the county.

Wednesday March 17, 2010
Issued by Hugh Godwin 
 
Every one involved in the game - players and coaches, referees, volunteers, administrators and supporters - will get the chance to question the RFU's top brass on the work of the Union and to provide feedback on the challenges faced by rugby at local, national and international levels.

Chairman of the management board Martyn Thomas, chief executive Francis Baron, community rugby director Andrew Scoular and chairman of the community game board Rob Udwin will launch their tour with a question and answer session at Seaford RFC on Friday March 26 (7.30pm).

On Saturday March 27 the group between them will take in four Sussex club matches: Lewes v Hove, Horsham v Crowborough, Plumpton v Hellingly and Holbrook v Burgess Hill.

On Sunday morning, the 28th, they will return to Seaford RFC to sample the county's vibrant youth rugby in the form of Under-14 and U16 finals at the club.

This is the fourth in a programme of "roadshow" visits this season, and the 21st overall, made by the RFU executives to CBs (constituent bodies of the RFU) around the country under a new format established in 2006. Under a previous format there were 36 roadshows hosted by clubs the length and breadth of England between 2001 and 2005.

"These county visits have been very successful in the past and we believe they are essential to our work in addressing issues at every level of the game," said Baron.

"We aim to meet as many Sussex rugby people as possible over the three days and to see what's going on at the adult and youth team levels.
"The question and answer session at Seaford is an integral part of this. Nothing will be off limits, from the mechanics of the grassroots game to the future of elite rugby and the England team under the manager Martin Johnson.

"We look forward to receiving everyone's feedback either during the formal part of the evening or informally over a drink." 

Friday March 26, Q and A pie and pint session hosted by the Sussex RFU, Seaford RFC, 7.30pm.
Saturday March 27, from 1pm, club matches at Lewes, Horsham, Plumpton and Holbrook.
Sunday March 28, youth rugby, Seaford RFC, from 11am.

For more information on rugby in Sussex, visit http://www.sussexrugby.co.uk 

Hugh Godwin
London and South East Press Officer
Rugby Football Union
+44 (0)7968 392688
hughgodwin@rfu.com