Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.’s Post

A brand new £3m funding initiative is set to improve the development of coaches and players from the British Isles ahead of The British & Irish Lions Women’s first ever tour in 2027. The ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ funding from Royal London, founding partner of the Lions Women’s team, is set to be deployed in customised plans for each union, tailored to meet their specific needs. The plan for Scottish Rugby is to appoint two ‘Performance Pipeline’ coached, along with expanding youth camps and training matches to boost the development of the players. Additionally, they will host residential camps for a national academy. The WRU - Welsh Rugby Union is going to bolster its women’s pathway coaching team with the addition of five new members, including a specialist skills coach and a performance pathway coach. They will also put resources into talent identification programmes and initiatives aimed at Welsh qualified talent based out of the nation. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has allocated the funding to host supplementary camps and training matches for women’s under-18 and under-20 teams, aimed at accelerating player development. Alongside establishing a ‘Coach Accelerator Scholarship Program’ and collaborating with universities to identify future talent. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) are going to use the grant to enhance England Rugby’s existing player development groups, which will help increase the targeted skill development for players progressing through the pathway. Ben Calveley, The British and Irish Lions CEO, said: “Supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key strategic priority for the British and Irish Lions as it is for each of our constituent unions.” “Royal London’s ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant represents a significant investment into the women’s game in the four unions and will make a positive impact on women’s rugby.” #investment #rugby #rugbyunion #lions #britishandirishlions #rfu #wru #irfu #scottishrugby #womensrugby

Football is the No.1 sport in WA schools. That is the finding of the recently released 2023 Sporting Schools report, which has highlighted football as the preferred sport within schools in Western Australia. Report: https://lnkd.in/gmbJCbc8

'Where professional Rugby is failing the sport' #5 Disparities in financial resources between clubs or leagues has lead to unequal competition and undermines the integrity of the sport. The folly of following football's Premiership. While rugby is popular in certain regions, it hasn't achieved the same level of global penetration as sports like soccer or basketball, limiting its commercial potential. Notwithstanding the propaganda from WR. Rugby's television coverage varies by region, and in some areas, it struggles to compete for airtime and viewership against more established sports. Not withstanding WR's views, professional Rugby has become a niche and elitist sport with little interest in marginal areas, like the Bahamas where US colleges hoover up all available talent. Rugby is challenging for newcomers to understand due to its complex rules/laws and incomprehesive interpretations. This confusion makes watching, playing and refereeing Rugby an unattractive option. The structure of professional rugby competitions are confusing or overly complex, leading to a lack of clarity for fans and stakeholders. Clubs and even countries suffer from a "player drain" as top talent is attracted to more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, leading to a decline in overall competitiveness. In particular English, French and inceasingly Japanese clubs are creating false markets for fairly average players as they chase quantity over quality. In all regions, there is woefully insufficient investment in the community game. Professional Rugby and bloated administrations ensure there are few funds availabe for distribution to the community game. This is my last ever post on all and any matters relating to Rugby. Which I'm sure will be met with relief by many of you. I'm done with Rugby and its lack of vision for the future. Instead I'll focus on sports, especially Rugby League, which leaves Rugby far behind with their vision for the sport.

Support for youth sport is so important

With the Rugby World Cup now over, we focus on positive action in sport in the penultimate instalment of our series of considerations for sports organisations and sporting individuals. Tackling widespread discrimination in professional sports may feel like a momentous task. Still, clubs should resist the temptation to focus on quick fixes or high-profile initiatives which fizzle out swiftly, and put in the hard yards needed to achieve long-term change. Sam Murray-Hinde explores examples of this across the sporting world👉 https://ow.ly/fvQE50Q2aOm

I just picked up this ad for tomorrow's University of Oxford v University of Cambridge #Varsity Rugby match on my socials this morning. It took me back to when this was a must-see fixture on the #Rugby calendar. Those were halcyon days when half of the City of London would take a mid-week afternoon off and waddle down to #Twickenham to watch a couple of old mates and a good spattering of genuine international quality players running around the Cabbage Patch. It felt like the pinnacle of university rugby in the UK and therefore by default the world. However, in the post-professional egalitarian rugby world we live in today, most quality young rugby players are nurtured through the club academy system or if they do go on to a University it is one affiliated with, or near, a top club. Therefore, the relevance of this game today must be questioned. I'd much rather these two great institutions challenge themselves with meaningful regular fixtures with other top teams such as Durham University, University of Exeter and the best Welsh Unis in British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby or follow Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Loughborough University and #Exeter by competing in senior men's leagues to understand how good they are. I am not sure why they don't. Maybe it's clinging to traditions in the face of change or they don't want to face the potential truth that they are not the best University teams in the UK anymore. I have a feeling it may related to why Eton College and Harrow School still play their annual school cricket match at #Lords or why the BBC allows #Oxbridge to be represented by their individual colleges on University Challenge (when all other Unis put teams in representing their total cohort). Is that fair, or it is just a figment of my state-school, Poly-educated 'chip-on-my-shoulder' imagination? 😉 #universities #BUCS #Oxford #Cambridge England Rugby Premiership Rugby World Rugby Cardiff Metropolitan University Swansea University University of Nottingham Leeds Beckett University University of Bath Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd

Looking forward to our free Attacking Rugby Made Simple CPD at Buckingham RFC next Wednesday (4th October). Click below to sign up. Also at Windsor RFC on 7th November https://lnkd.in/e8AUF2Nw On the course, I give the coaches lots of challenges to think about. Here's one. We are playing an overloaded attack, who have three lives (endless tackles). They lose a life for breaking the tactical or skill rule in place. It's walking rugby (looking after the coaches, of course, but it would be running normally). On a touch, the ball carrier puts the ball through their legs, and another player goes over the ball. Again, in normal training, the ball carrier would be going to ground, but this is a demo and the ground is wet! Now look at the challenge I set them. How would they go on to solve it? Why does it make rugby sense? Does it look right though? Come on the course to find out how these coaches solved it, what they did differently, and why they would use it in their training sessions. #learning #challenge #explore #gamescenarios #scoretries #skills 

Which are the 6 Oldest Football Clubs in the world? Would you dare to guess which ones are? Here is the list: Sheffield FC - The World’s First Football Club (England) – Founded in 1857 Recognized by FIFA and the English Football Association as the oldest football club in the world. It played the first-ever inter-club football match against Hallam FC in 1863. Melbourne FC (Australia) – Founded in 1859 The oldest football club in Australia and the second oldest in the world. Codified Australian football rules in 1859. Cray Wanderers Football Club (England) – Founded in 1860 One of the oldest football clubs in the world, playing a key role in the development of football in England. Hallam FC (England) – Founded in 1860 Founded by cricket players in Sheffield, it introduced the crossbar to football. Sandygate Road, its home ground, is the oldest football stadium in the world. Notts County Football Club FC (England) – Founded in 1862 The oldest professional association football club in the world and one of the 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888. Queen's Park Football Club FC (Scotland) – Founded in 1867 The oldest football club in Scotland and the first non-English club to play in the FA Cup. It played a significant role in developing football in Scotland. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dW5922u5 #SportsManagement #Football

Unlocking the Potential of International Football Academies! ⚽ Having the opportunity to work closely with Villarreal CF's International Office, I've gained valuable insights into the dynamic world of international football academies. From Spain's La Liga to England's Premier League, clubs are increasingly recognizing the immense benefits of nurturing talent beyond borders. International football academies not only serve as breeding grounds for future stars but also play a crucial role in expanding a club's global reach and engaging with fans worldwide. Whether it's through showcasing player highlights, training sessions, or community initiatives, these academies are making significant strides in connecting with diverse audiences. Beyond talent development, international football academies also serve as ambassadors for their respective clubs, spreading the values of the game and fostering a sense of community among fans worldwide. 🌍 #Footballacademies #Globalreach #Fanengagement #VillarrealCF #Footballbusiness