Leinster Rugby’s Post

Let’s Get Behind School Rugby Throughout the course of this week, the National Schools’ Rugby Sevens will see over 14,000 players in over 1000 teams compete in a variety of competitions. Some are here to win it, some aiming to progress further than before and others participating for the experience. Whilst Rugby is addressing legitimate challenges, it is also a game that continues to capture the imagination of large numbers. The era of compulsory rugby is long gone, and these children are participating because they love the game. It never was a sport for everyone, but continues to be one which enriches the lives of many, providing lifelong memories and friendships. There is something captivatingly attractive about Rugby, though its leaders are curiously reluctant to articulate its benefits more widely. Those of us who have been positively impacted by the game have to be more vocal in our support: the modern game is a niche experience, with unique benefits and challenges. But, those who love it, love it as much as they ever did. Let’s get behind school Rugby - and lifelong friendships

Well done Bernard . Giving back is essential.

#4 of 4 on the future of Welsh Rugby - The most important. Bring Passion Back to Grassroots Rugby Welsh rugby’s soul lies in its grassroots. Every village, school, and community club is a seedbed for future talent and fan engagement. Yet, for years, grassroots rugby has been neglected in favour of top-down initiatives that fail to resonate. I would redirect significant funding and attention to grassroots rugby, ensuring clubs have the resources to thrive. This means subsidizing coaching, improving facilities, and fostering inclusivity—not as a politically correct tick-box exercise but as a genuine commitment to growing the game. The WRU must inspire the next generation by investing in youth programs that are visible, accessible, and aspirational. Rugby in Wales should be a national movement, not a corporate monolith. In addition, it is a national disgrace that, even now, there are no Welsh coaches being considered to replace Gatland. Surely this is the most glaring failure of Welsh Rugby. They have spent nothing on bringing through Welsh coaches, mostly in favour of NZ solutions. Look at Scotland and what Gregor Townsend has achieved and where they sit in comparison to Wales, oh and they only have 2 pro teams. But hang on Welsh parochialism would insist on more not fewer teams. Therein lies the difference.

We've all been buzzing since winning a Rugby Black List award and feel more than ever that serious discussion and action needs to be taken around this fundamental question: "If rugby in England wants to engage with diverse communities how will this be achieved if diverse communities have no access to rugby?" In highly populated urban areas the required space for schools and clubs to play rugby on doesn't exist in sufficient amounts. Interesting fact - 50% of the total BAME population in England live in 3 cities. London, Birmingham & Manchester. Any thoughts? Also consider that you can't start to fudge the game (which is something the powers that be are currently working on) to create 5 a side touch and call it rugby. The beauty of rugby as we know it is that all shapes and sizes have an equal and important part to play on the pitch. Without this element it simply isn't rugby.

I've written 3 suggestions for fixing Welsh Rugby #1 Reimagining Welsh Rugby's Professional Game Welsh Rugby is at a crossroads, and bold reform is needed to secure its future. The current structure has diluted resources, fractured fan bases, and struggled to compete on the global stage. It's time to return to their roots while building for the future. Imagine a professional system with three historic clubs—Llanelli, Cardiff, and Newport—at its heart. These iconic names carry decades of tradition, pride, and a deep connection to their communities. By focusing on quality over quantity, this streamlined model can create stronger teams capable of competing internationally, reignite local passion, and offer clear pathways for young talent to succeed. But it’s not just about the pro game. These clubs must be the cornerstone of their districts, (see #3) supporting grassroots rugby by funding development programs, coaching initiatives, and community engagement. Strong pro clubs can be beacons of inspiration, but their success must ripple through every level of the sport. Welsh Rugby’s future depends on honoring their history while embracing the changes needed to thrive in a modern game. It’s time to unify behind a vision that works for players, fans, and communities alike. Wales can build a rugby system that reflects their values, supports their talent, and secures their place on the global stage. #regionsarefinished #focusonfuture #nosoftoptions #itstime

What do you do with the sheep after you get them over the bridge.

Nelson College is seeking intervention from New Zealand Rugby (NZR) after an "unjust, discriminatory, and inconsistent" decision by Tasman Rugby Union, NZ (TRU) will mean it will be the only boys' school in the country excluded from playing age group rugby. The school has sent an urgent request to NZR asking it to establish a new, fairer, independent club status application process. It is in response to a proposal from the Tasman Rugby Union to no longer permit Nelson College to participate in Saturday rugby, because it is not a club. Instead, the TRU asks that U14, U15, U16 college players play exclusively for local rugby clubs. Nelson College has been told that TRU’s rationale includes fostering club rugby to support senior rugby pathways and concerns about the perceived decline in services within the college’s junior rugby programme recently. Nelson College Principal Richard Washington says he is extremely disappointed with the "poor process" for how TRU arrived at its "incorrect assessment of the college’s junior programme" and the rationale that fielding Nelson College teams is detrimental to regional rugby. “Rather than stopping Nelson College playing, in my view clubs have an opportunity to work closer with the schools that don’t have a rugby programme, like the collaborative partnership we have with FC Nelson for football. I would be happy to share with the other schools how we work with FC Nelson if this would be helpful.” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g9ECC6Uc #NelsonTasman #NelsonCollege #TasmanRugbyUnion #ClubRugby

As another England Rugby community club season closes the spectacle of club successes and disappointments across the leagues as clubs celebrate or commiserate performances. However, while England Rugby struggle to solve the Premiership Rugby vs #ChampionshipRugbyClub financial debate, failing to establish a fair playing field at the top of the sport a similar battle is being played out throughout the leagues! Sport is based on fair competition, playing by rules/laws, being compliant with policies and conditions of competition… apart from in the England Rugby “amateur” leagues that is! While some clubs celebrate their youth policies, publicly stating which senior players come through their youth section (see Wetherby RUFC), a champion of true community sport, a few clubs, choosing to pay ‘professional players’ to bolster playing squads, denying they do so (once they’ve been successful) makes a mockery of ‘fair sport’. Being successful, gaining reflective glory, with an unfairly stacked squad is cheating! No one would praise the ‘playing of over-aged players’ in youth rugby (then pretending such players weren’t older just because the team was successful)! So why are coaches happy to do so in adult rugby? Those who bask in such ‘fake glory’ of winning, after fielding stacked teams should, at worst, hang their heads in shame or, at best, admit they are cheating and honestly state they pay players. Maybe England Rugby & Yorkshire Rugby should follow Wetherby RUFC example requiring clubs to indicate, in match programs, which senior players come from clubs junior sections (**) and which players are paid professionals (##)🤔 #HonestOpenGame

 I understand that World Rugby's supporters, players, coaches and pundits are happy and proud when their team wins. But is it not in the interest of these very people and the game itself, that poor and inconsistent officiating is recognised, improved and ultimately eradicated? Is winning a game of rugby really more important than ensuring that an equal contest and a fair result ensues by applying the officiating system and its processes the way it was designed and intended? How has this issue been so prominent in world rugby for the last decade without referees or the World Rugby Board being held accountable? Is it not obviously evident that it's ruining the sport? 

With the start of the Autumn Internationals, we have 3 exciting matches this weekend, all with potential impacts on the World Rugby rankings: • Sep 6: Scotland vs Wales (BBC iPlayer/RugbyPassTV) • Sep 7: Barbarians vs South Africa (TBD) • Sep 7: England vs France (BBC One/RugbyPassTV) Here’s how the rankings could shift: • England vs. France: England can’t boost their rating but stays #1. A 15+ point win for France could leap them to 2nd, ahead of 🇨🇦 and 🇳🇿! • Wales vs. Scotland: A win could move Wales to 6th, while Scotland may drop to 9th with a big loss (15+). • Scotland: Even with a win, they remain 6th, still trailing 🇦🇺 by 1.22 points. More: https://bit.ly/4dSz2nH