9:17am Thursday 19th July 2007
By News Release
GO PLAY Rugby, the largest recruitment drive ever mounted by a sport in the United Kingdom, is launched at the England training camp in Bath today. It aims to bring former players back into the game and is timed to coincide with this year's Rugby World Cup.
The ambitious £1 million campaign involves more than 700 clubs and 130 universities and colleges. It is funded by the National Sports Foundation with the support of commercial sponsors Chelsea Building Society and O2.
Go Play Rugby will remind former players what they are missing and how they can get back to enjoying rugby and all it can offer. The aim is to bring 6,000 players - the equivalent of 400 new teams - back to the game.
The campaign was developed from a successful pilot project conducted in Surrey last year, which identified the reasons why players drift away from the game. Time pressures, work or family commitments were key factors in giving up and the RFU has developed strategies to deal with these issues.
Clubs are being trained and equipped with recruitment kits containing advice and materials to help them run their own local events. Tag, touch, sevens and beach rugby and a flexible approach to participation are some of the alternatives to the traditional full contact 15-a-side game which might appeal to former players.
A sophisticated nationwide advertising campaign using print, broadcast and online media and cinema advertising coordinated by marketing agency Dair will support the work of local clubs and drive people to the website www.goplayrugby.com Potential players can connect with Go Play Rugby participating clubs by giving their postcode online or via the dedicated text number 64411.
"Go Play Rugby is the single most important grassroots rugby event in our lifetime," said RFU Community Rugby Director Andrew Scoular.
"The game is thriving throughout England but this is our best chance to nourish the roots of the game to ensure a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy the game we love. With one year of concentrated effort we can lay the foundations for 100 years of rugby."
Rob Andrew, the RFU's Elite Rugby Director, believes rugby is the ultimate team sport.
"Every player who pulls on an England jersey began their rugby at a club or school. Whether you play rugby professionally or for fun, nothing beats the challenge and camaraderie of a great team sport," he said.
"But for some social players finding a balance between family, work and club can be difficult and they drift away from the sport. There are thousands of them who just need a little help and encouragement to come and join clubs again. It's good for us as a sport and it's good for them as human beings."
The advertising campaign and local and regional events will begin in August with the build-up to the kick-off of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in September.
For further information contact: Simon Mills at the RFU on 07702 661214 or email simonmills@rfu.com Sarah Sutcliffe at Dair on 01242 271970 or email sarah@dair.net
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