1. Strategic Objective:

“To become the leading rugby club in Norfolk and a leading club in Eastern Counties in terms of playing ability, social activities, and community actions.”

2. Rugby:

a. In accordance with the Strategy we will publish the objectives agreed annually by the DoR. This is the first set of objectives pursuant to the Strategy.

We will measure success by complying with these objectives.

b. The following will be the key priorities:

i. Safeguarding, player safety and player welfare (including wellbeing) will be at the heart of all we do.

ii. Growing our membership across all sections of the Club with the aspiration of having around 1650 members by end 2024.

iii. Our senior men and women are the shop window of the Club and drive commercial revenue and will continue to be prioritised in terms of support:

1. Senior Men 1st XV – to achieve promotion to Level 6;

2. Senior Men 2nd XV – to achieve promotion to Level 8;

3. Senior women – retain current league status.

4. Continue to provide dedicated strength and conditioning training (including a dedicated gym in the proposed temporary storage container gym) and physio support to senior men and women;

5. We will continue to strengthen our connections with the current Colts and under 18s girls to ensure that the pathway to senior rugby for all former youth players is secure. We will aspire to have at least:

a. 8 Colts players playing senior rugby each year; and

b. 2 under 18s girls players playing senior rugby each year but with a view to growing this in the future.

6. Pursuing initiatives to improve player retention, particularly retiring players or Colts and under 18 girls that go to university, so that they remain active socially within the Club in the future. We will retain a “Back to Wymondham” day which started on New Years’ Eve 2022;

7. Subject to compliance with safeguarding requirements, there will be expectation that each senior player will coach in Minis and Youth groups and will actively pursue sponsorship (including player number sponsorship) for the Club.

iv. Our Youth section will continue to be the source of the majority of our senior rugby players. Key objectives:

1. Support player transition from Minis through to senior XV’s by investing heavily in coaching skills and expertise at all levels to ensure that we produce high-quality players and coaches throughout every age group. Over the next 12 months we will:

a. Run regular coaching clinics to support coach and player development;

b. We will run regular Sunday morning coaches’ meetings (every 4 to 6 weeks) to share knowledge and expertise. Once a year we will hold a coaches get together with food and drink provided by the Club and with the potential for awards to those demonstrating Cub values;

c. Encourage (and fund) coaches to undertake RFU accredited coaching courses provided we are convinced they are committed to coaching long term at the Club and they have the right skills to be successful;

d. Actively pass coaching excellence to the next generation through coaches regularly coaching in different age groups (each coach will be expected to beinvolved in no less than 2 sessions a year);

e. Seek to create opportunities for our best coaches to coach senior teams at the Club;

2. Develop a clear player pathway from Minis through to the senior sections of the Club with clear skills objectives for each age group and appropriate adjustments to reflect gender mix – this will be rolled out to all coaches by end September 2023;

3. Continue to run regional tournaments for Minis and Youth;

4. Encourage age groups to fund raise for themselves; allow them a degree of autonomy in this respect but always operating in accordance with the Club’s Constitution, Rules and Policies;

5. Continue to develop links with local schools to recruit talent, players and coaching staff and continue to fund an appointed schools’ liaison officer to implement our schools programme to achieve this. We will measure success by securing no less than 50 members in our Minis and Youth sections each year directly connected to all of our activities but in particular our schools’ programme.

v. Being known for the warm welcome we give to players, new and old, making them feel that they belong to the Club. Ensuring the playing “experience” for our players and those visiting the Club is second to none to support player recruitment and retention.

vi. We will update and improve our “Welcome Pack” and ensure all new members are provided with a link. We will roll out an update by end September.

vii. Continuing to develop a regime where Touch Rugby is played throughout the age ranges so all teams can learn from and develop the particular and specific skills required to excel at Touch.

viii. Supporting Iceni RFC, one of the first LGBQT+ touch rugby teams in the country and in particular supporting their transition into

contact rugby. Tom will meet the Iceni group by end September to discuss and agree their needs and aspirations.

ix. We will live stream videos of games where Veo is used by a particular team or age group.

x. We will continue to hold Playing Committee meetings every 2 months.

xi. Volunteering – we have Volunteer Co-ordinators in all age groups with an expectation that all members provide volunteering support to the Club. We will agree a Volunteering Strategy to support the objectives in this Strategy.

xii. Encouraging players and former players to become referees.

We will aspire to have at least 2 new referees each year.

xiii. We will encourage the highest standards of discipline both on and off the field. We will aspire to have no red cards.

xiv. Subject to available funding, we will deliver floodlighting on pitch 3.

xv. We will run two rugby (and sports) camps in 2024 in accordance with details agreed with Billy Fearn.

xvi. We will secure planning permission for a permanent gym by end September 2024.

c. These objectives will be delivered whilst working within the approved Playing Budget.

3. Areas to Consider:

a. By end October, we will explore the feasibility of setting up “Rugby Tots” (or equivalent). A recommendation will be taken to the November Board meeting.

b. By end October, we will explore the feasibility of a rugby offering to those with disabilities.

c. When exploring these options, we will take into account the availability of grant funding and what resources are necessary to make these successful.