Proposed Staff cuts at Dorset and Wilts.
Below is a copy of an open letter sent to the RFU on behalf of Dorset and Wilts RFU. We publish this here because the proposed cuts will have a significant impact upon rugby in the two counties and members, supporters and friends of Minety RFC in particular, and rugby in the South West of England, deserve to be fully informed of what is being proposed and what the implications of those proposals may be.
DORSET & WILTS. RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION
Please note that a copy of this open letter will be posted on our website and social media feeds in order to keep our rugby community informed.
For the attention of
Mr. Stephen Brown – RFU Chief Executive Officer Mr. Andrew Cosslett – RFU Chair
Mr. Stephen Grainger – RFU Rugby Development Director Mr. Rob Briers – RFU Community Game Board Chair
Ms. Lucinda Pullinger – RFU Human Resources Director
Re: PROPOSED RFU STAFF RESTRUCTURING PROGRAMME
Dear Sirs/Madan
We are writing to express our grave fears relating to proposed staffing restructuring programme currently underway for all RFU staff, especially those within rugby development. We feel that this review should also include local representation, because the RFU is controlled by the clubs and not the other way around.
Currently we have two Rugby Development Officers (RDO’s) and four Community Rugby Coaches (CRC’s), one RDO and two CRC’s in each county; covering a total area of 2,370 square miles. Which makes Dorset & Wilts RFU the second largest CB not only within Area One but also within Areas Two and Three. To put that in perspective England’s largest county is Yorkshire which measures a total of 6066 square miles and is sub-divided by the RFU into five regions. Therefore, Dorset and Wilts in comparison is 40% of the size of Yorkshire.
Area 1Area 2Area 3CountyArea Sq/mlsDevon2590Dorset & Wilts2370Somerset1610Hampshire & IOW1602Essex1542Sussex1461Kent1442Cornwall1376Gloucestershire & Bristol1258Oxford1006Herefordshire833Bucks723Surrey642Berks487Middlesex285Total area920449365087
Our unique geographical and road infrastructure is a major factor which impose daily constraints on travel across our two counties. On average front line staff are travelling for up to 3-4 hours per day and on some days, this could be as high 6 to 7 hours to carry out their duties with our member clubs. Much, of this travelling being done during the late evenings because club or CB committee members/coaches are not available during the day, thereby, increasing the risk of a traffic incidents involving the RFU front line staff.
To travel from our most northern club (Cricklade) to our most southern club (Bridport) is 117 miles. The fastest route is via the M4 Swindon to Bristol and then by the M5 to Taunton and onwards across country, with a total travel time of 2hrs 24mins without any delays. To travel from our most western club (Bridport) to our most eastern club (Amesbury) is 64 miles. The fastest route is via “A” classified roads (Dorchester
Blandford – Salisbury), with a total travel time of 1hr 32mins without any
However, our limited number of north-south roads within the two counties are often congested by normal traffic. Holiday and weekend traffic exacerbate this congestion further creating routing delays especially around the A303/A350 area in Wiltshire and towards the main coastal locations in Dorset where many of our clubs are situated. For example, a journey from Bournemouth to Dorchester is a distance of 28 miles; and should take 48 minutes but can routinely take up to 2 hours with the additional holiday and weekend traffic.
Our front-line staff make a major contribution to rugby in our counties, focussing on retention and recruitment programs and the organisation and financial health of our clubs. Their work with clubs who are “at risk” is key to sustaining the game in our more remote areas. You will know from GMS that our RFU front line staff currently have a workload of 39 clubs (38 voting and 1 pending), and 3 Universities.
We currently have 16 Woman’s and Girls (W&G) teams established and 2 further teams are expected to emerge in the coming year. W&G team growth is one of D&W RFUs strategic priorities and both the RDOs and CRCs are instrumental to realising this potential.
With the current RFU staffing levels the travel burden is manageable. However, the impact of any reduction in staff would be exacerbated by the journey time constraints for the remaining staff; resulting in a substantial reduction in club visits and any development activity.
In conclusion, we foresee the following impacts arising from staff reductions and other efficiency changes:
Reduced morale amongst front-line RFU staff; regrettably, it appears to us that the RFU front-line staff throughout the whole country are already very dejected by the conduct of the current review and the lack of uncertainty about their
A drop in the overall number of people playing rugby in all forms of the game, once these cost cuts are implemented due the lack of support
The overall standard of rugby being played at grass roots level will
The Twickenham management team will become more distant and disconnected from grass roots rugby.
A negative impact on the Targeted Delivery
A decrease in the performance of the remaining front-line
An increase in front line staff
More anti-social working hours for the remaining front-line
An increase in front-line staff illness due to the extra work load (i.e. stress, mental health issues like depression etc).
There will be an increase in costs to manage the game due longer travelling times, replacement vehicles and possible of overnight stops
There will be an increase in-house meeting’s, resulting less time being spent on the
A greater lack of support from the top clubs within the
There will be a sharp decline in players progressing to top flight rugby from the grass root
Smaller clubs will not get the level of support they currently receive and
More clubs will be put at risk, with some of the smaller clubs Which will result in the reduction of numbers playing the game.
The larger clubs will take all the support available from the front-line staff, leaving little to none for smaller or at-risk clubs.
Clubs that are close to the staff’s home location will receive the majority of
Less funding applications due to unavailable staff, if not a total withdraw of funding in its current format.
Less Club Accreditation being processed due to unavailable
Higher level of support will be needed from the CB’s without an increase in funding
Less volunteers at both club and CB level due to the increased work load, or illness caused by the increased work
Less opportunities for training courses, both on and off the
An increase in player injuries due to a lower standard of coaching
An increase in insurance claims due to more major injuries, which will result an increase in insurance premiums to the
More outsourcing of resources, resulting in higher
Possible moves to combine CB’s (i.e. like Devon and Cornwall – Somerset and Dorset & Wilts) to reduce funding costs (PFR) and the level of front-line staff needed ever
Increase in international ticket costs to clubs, which will result in lower numbers of genuine supporters attending international games to meet the growing cost of managing the
Yours Faithfully
Stuart Murrow
President – Dorset and Wilts RFU
George McElroy
Management Board Chair – Dorset and Wilts RFU
Cc Gerald Burden – Dorset & Wilts RFU General Secretary Dorset &Wilts RFU Webmaster
All members of the Dorset &Wilts RFU Management Board Ron Jones – Dorset & Wilts RFU Council member
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