The Management Committee are delighted that Steve Haynes has accepted the role of 'Chairman of Rugby' within the Rugby Club. The Chairman of Rugby will be part of the Club Senior Management Team and Steve will be taking up his role with immediate effect. He will retain his role as the Academy-Colts Team Manager until the end of this season.

Steve has been involved with the club for many years, initially as a parent helping out with picking up cones etc and then started to help coach and has since coached/managed at least a third of the current Academy-Colts since they were six. Over that period Steve and his team have developed an impressive team structure that is now managing the Academy-Colts.

Paul Alston's responsibilities as Director of Rugby for the first team will be the same as per his current practice. Steve and Paul will co-ordinate their activities to ensure there is a seem-less integration of the first team to the other teams in the club.

The club has been aware over a number of years, as have most clubs, that playing resources at junior to senior age grades are diminishing due to competing interests. The Management Team recognises the contribution/effort made by many volunteers at all levels but also realises that these efforts would benefit from more guidance and co-ordination across the club. Steve's, his management team (the Colts team Andy Kelly, Dicky Jones, Pete Wright will all be involved with Steve in this new role), will set out to be the focal point to support and encourage rugby within the club.

The Chairman of Rugby along with a rugby management team will be overseeing all rugby related operations across the age grades.

The rugby management team will be looking to recruit volunteers to assist with a wide range of roles within the rugby operation.

Below are some of the areas that will be looked at over the coming months;

* Take an overview on all player related matters i.e. retention and recruitment, across all age grades.
* Establish the needs of players at all age grades and formulate a development pathway.
* Establish the needs of club coaches and teams and assist with development and maintenance of accurate coaching records via the RFU GMS (Game management System).
* Take a long term view that allows coaches to develop with a team over time.
* Act as a point of contact for players, club coaches, team support volunteers, the RFU and Constituent Bodies
* Establish Schools, College, University liaison
* Establish and maintain support network for Schools, College, University liaison and welfare officer etc.
* Encourage the sharing and spread of best practice between coaches and teams at different levels
* Establish team standards consistent with the values of the game and in line with the club’s own code of conduct on and off the field