Club Rugby Issue 9

ISSUE 9

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

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WELCOME

Welcome

Welcome to the latest issue of Club Rugby, the magazine for grassroots rugby clubs, the backbone of the sport.

After the excitement of the summer which saw some tremendous rugby played by both sides in the drawn series between the British & Irish Lions and New Zealand as well as the skills and athleticism on display in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, staged in Ireland, you can bet that many people who witnessed those magnificent spectacles will be inspired to get involved with the game in some capacity this season.

That’s certainly good news for clubs all over the country who are guaranteed to give a warm welcome to those wishing to join the rugby family for the first time whether they’re coming into the game as supporters or players.

The professional game is the shop window for the sport but it’s at the grassroots level where the foundations for international success are laid and it’s clear from the many flourishing clubs across Britain that rugby is in excellent shape to continue to offer so much to their local communities.

Whatever your age, gender or ability, there will be role for you at your local rugby club and many of the thousands of volunteers who keep clubs going week-in, week-out have never played actually played the game but still bring huge value to their clubs as volunteers.

Whether they’re coaching mini rugby, frying up burgers on a cold Sunday morning, serving behind the clubhouse bar, helping to get the pitches ready for matchday or undertaking the other myriad of necessary tasks, volunteers keep our clubs running.

And to help them in that ongoing task, Club Rugby will continue to seek out the best possible business advice from the experts. As you’ll see from this issue, we have launched our free ‘Building the Business’ service which aims to boost your club coffers.

Here’s to a successful new season!

JUSTIN O’REGAN

Contributors

Mike Braidwood

Chris Colverd

Sean Ferris

Karen Foreman

Larry Hardcastle

Jonathan Hardy

David Lucas

Brian O’Driscoll

Leigh Ann Ogilvie

Justin O’Regan

Victoria Romero-Trigo

Jill Slingsby

Editor Justin O’Regan Design David Foster Editorial Chris Colverd, Caroline Scoular Events Karen Foreman, Jill Slingsby Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales & Marketing Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris

Club Rugby is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing (ACP) Ltd. Club Rugby is a sister title to ACP’s Club Mirror and Clubhouse Europe.

ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@clubrugby.org.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Club Rugby does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products.

CLUB RUGBY 3

News from the touchline Leonard opens club’s new artificial pitch England legend Jason Leonard OBE recently cut the ribbon on Billingham RFC’s new state-of-the-art artificial pitch.

The County Durham club has installed the pitch thanks to the 2015 Rugby World Cup legacy project, which has pledged more than £50m to be spent on 100 new Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) across England.

The surface will allow rugby to be played in Billingham 365 days a year, whatever the weather.

To mark the opening, the club held an Under-17s rugby tournament involving local clubs as well as a women’s exhibition game and Billingham men’s 1st XV taking on Otley.

New Tyrrells Premier 15s kicks off in September The Tyrells Premier 15s kicks off on September 16

3pm kick-offs for Old Mutual Wealth Series The kick-off times for England’s three Test matches in the Old Mutual Wealth Series coming up in November have changed.

The Tests played in November at Twickenham Stadium will now kick off at 3pm, 30 minutes later than initially announced.

England will play Argentina on Saturday, November 11, Australia on Saturday, November 18 and Samoa on Saturday, November 25.

The change of kick-off times will allow the matches to be broadcast on Sky Sports’ new Main Event channel.

The new channel is dedicated to the biggest live events on Sky Sports and is available to all Sky clubs with the full Sky Sports package.

All three matches will also be shown live on Sky Sports Action.

“Last season’s Old Mutual Wealth Series was fantastic for England and we had brilliant support from 82,000 fans every week,” said head coach Eddie Jones.

“This block of matches are an important step in our preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and we look forward to playing in the 2017 series against three tough opponents.”

England won all four matches during the 2016 Old Mutual Wealth Series, beating South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.

6 CLUB RUGBY

Crisp company Tyrrells has become the title partner for the new women’s domestic competition, with the official name of the competition now the ‘Tyrrells Premier 15s’.

The new competition will kick off on September 16, with 10 teams competing to take home the inaugural title.

The competition will operate in a league format with home and away fixtures confirmed today. The top four teams will progress to semi-finals played over two legs, culminating in a final on the April 29.

The new three-year partnership sees Tyrrells investing significantly alongside the multi-million-pound commitment from the RFU into the Tyrrells Premier 15s.

This investment is expected to improve standards of the women’s game, as well as increase the talent pool available for selection for England in the future.

Clubs involved in the competition will benefit directly over the next three years from the RFU’s £2.4m investment.

Each club will be required to deliver against agreed minimum standards and provide high-quality coaching, facilities, training environments and community engagement plans.

The new partnership also sees Tyrrells become the Official Crisps of England Rugby,

benefitting from a range of partnership rights, and an exclusive supplier to Twickenham Stadium.

RFU Director of Professional Rugby, Nigel Melville commented: “The Tyrrells Premier 15s competition is an important step forward for women’s rugby to strengthen the foundations of the women’s game as it continues to grow in popularity.

“By investing at domestic level we can build a sustainable model to support the growth of the game at elite level.

“The competition will crucially expand the playing pool of players available for international selection which will enable us to reach our long-term objective of running dual professionalised 15s and sevens programmes and allow us to compete on all fronts at the highest level.”

Melville added: “This is a new competition and we are thrilled to have a title partner in major English brand, Tyrrells, on board from day one.

“We want to build a world-class competition that will inspire and attract new fans to follow the game and working with a brand like Tyrrells will enable us to bring the game to a new audience.”

Adam Draper, Marketing Director Amplify Snack Brands Europe, said: “We are really

proud that Tyrrells is now league sponsor of the inaugural elite women’s rugby competition, Tyrrells Premier 15s, and the Official Crisps of England Rugby.

“This partnership is a union of two much loved and iconic English brands and we look forward to delighting our consumers by bringing this partnership to life on-pack and in our brand communications over the next three years.”

Draper added: “The inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s competition is a great opportunity to inspire more women to take part in rugby.

“We hope that with our support, the Tyrrells Premier 15s will help the RFU increase participation and interest in the women’s game, building upon the current and, we hope, future success of the England Women’s rugby team.”

Alongside the Tyrrells Premier 15s competition a new development league will also be established where each of the 10 clubs’ 2nd XV teams will play in competitive games across the season.

To supplement the league programme, the 2nd XV teams will also compete in the RFU Womens Senior Cup, alongside the Womens Championship North and South XV teams.

Twickenham set for thriller as the Barbarians take on New Zealand

Calling all rugby clubs!

Presented at a prestigious Awards ceremony in November, the Rugby Club of the Year Award recognises the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who ensure a healthy future for their clubs.

Why enter?

Apart from letting members and local press know that you’re the best, all finalists win the opportunity to appear on set at BT Sport’s acclaimed rugby programme Rugby Tonight. And there’s also the chance to win Aviva Premiership/European Champions Cup tickets, a cellar makeover and many other prizes.

Does your club have/do THREE OR MORE of the following?

• A turnover of £100,000 or more?

• Provide regular entertainment?

• Have a busy bar?

Rugby on TV We have full details of all the live rugby coming in the next month, including the start of the Aviva Premiership season which begins on Friday, September 1 as Gloucester take on reigning champions Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm.

We also have listings of the key live events in other sports taking place in September, not least all the big Premier League football matches showing on BT Sport and Sky Sports.

• Have a thriving junior section?

• Encourage new members?

• Play an important role at the heart of the community?

• Promote the game of rugby?

• Have a popular food menu?

• Keep up-to-date with the latest drinks on the market?

Whatever the size of your club, if you agreed with three or more of these statements then you could be a finalist and the Awards team wants to hear from you.

Individuals and committees are also eligible for separate Awards categories.

So if you think your club’s achievements deserve recognition, the deadline for entry is September 19, 2017. Turn to page 59 for our Express Entry Form.

This November, the New Zealand Rugby Union is celebrating its 125th Anniversary with a much-anticipated Killik Cup re-match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

In 2009 the Barbarian team had a phenomenal line-up of world class players; Matt Giteau, Victor Matfield, George Smith, Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Joe Rokocoko with the Springbok flyer Bryan Habana scoring a hat-trick of tries on the day clinching an emphatic 25-18 win.

It was the first time the Baa-Baas had beaten the All Blacks since the iconic match in 1973 which featured “That Try” by Gareth Edwards, one of the most famous scores in the history of the game.

This time around, the Baa-Baas are sure to field another very strong line-up to take on the World Champions at the home of English rugby.

After the summer’s three-match series between the All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions ended in a nail-biting draw, there was speculation that the Lions could reassemble under the Baa-Baas banner for a definitive ‘decider’.

Such a prospect has not materialised due to the nature of the modern game with club commitments taking priority for the majority of the players concerned but it is almost certain that some members of the 2017 Lions squad will feature for the Barbarians.

It is another certainty that both sides will be out to entertain a likely capacity crowd at Twickenham with tries aplenty from both sides.

To book tickets for the game on Saturday, November 4, visit: www.ticketfinder.co.uk

Behind-the-scenes Lions 2017 documentary set for release The recent British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand may now be part of history as the epic three-match series finished in the two sides sharing the honours with one win apiece and a draw in the final Test, but fans can soon enjoy some unseen footage from within the Lions camp during their summer adventure in the new behind-the-scenes documentary.

Stamp Productions, the company producing the official film of the 2017 Lions tour, have announced that the new film will debut on Sky Sports in September and will then be released on DVD soon after just in time for Christmas.

The film is sure to be a must-watch for all Lions aficionados.

CLUB RUGBY 7

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2017 RUGBY CLUB OF THE YEAR

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Enter the 2017 Rugby Club of the Year email info@hsma.biz

REGISTRATION HOTLINE 01753 272022

2017 – THE STORY SO FAR

Half year report – 2017 At the beginning of the year in our annual Club Report we outlined what we as club publishers and club events organisers will be up to. Well we’ve been busy – and we hope you’re able to take advantage of what we’re up to on your behalf! The story so far for 2017...

T

his year we’ve been exceptionally busy with new club launches and new events in advance of celebrating the 50th birthday of sister title Club Mirror’s 50th birthday. Why write this report? Because our titles, Awards and events are all geared up to providing all of the support to clubs that we possibly can, helping our thriving industry continue to grow.

CLUBCRICKET

CLUBFOOTBALL

The ICC Champions Trophy

Premier League Fixtures

AT THE HEART OF THE CRICKET COMMUNITY

ISSUE 1

www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

SPORTSCLUB MANAGEMENT ISSUE 2

Mission impossible?

The British & Irish Lions head to New Zealand

Could you be our Cricket Club of the Year 2017?

Exclusive interview with England’s Stuart Broad Better Buying – HQ Building the Business Attracting and keeping junior members Hospitality Social Media Awards - enter now

Summer Tour Preview: England to Argentina

Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017?

Use this QR code to enter or turn to page 34.

Club Awards host annouced John Inverdale looks forward to meeting you

Preview of all the action

Insights, interviews and the ones to watch

50th celebrations We’re busy planning events for the whole of next year across the country, joined by club-supporting suppliers, by readers and by club associations.

Events will embrace the many different club sectors and importantly the majority of these activities will be hosted in clubs.

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 8

Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Entries now open for ‘Rugby Club of the Year’

Hey big spenders – which clubs are paying top dollar?

Brands Report – top performing club brands revealed

www.sports4bars.com

The top new products to boost your club’s bottom line

From the sidelines – the players to watch

Behind the Bar – quirky quizzes and footie facts

We talk to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison

Could you be our Manager of the Year 2017?

Enter the Club Awards to find out.

Better business – free service for sports clubs Personnel matters – motivating your staff Education – gaining with training Social Media Awards – calling all sports clubs

Planned activities Sportsman lunches, golf days, two conferences, three new sets of Awards, comedy nights, a boxing night, club racing days, wine tastings, cookery demonstrations and celebrity get togethers are all on the drawing board. We also have a National Campaign designed to turn up the volume on the club sector, helping to highlight the value of clubs up and down the country. Underwraps for now, more details will be revealed later in the year.

New launches We’ve launched a number of new magazines targeting specific sports clubs and – importantly for you the readers – all of the new magazines are free to you.

Club Football is the latest and largest launch of the year to date. In it you’ll find expert advice on everything from club management to the launch of a new advisory service.

With football as its heart, the magazine includes upcoming fixture lists, interesting trivia for those behind the bar, a glimpse behind the scenes of televising a game and the latest on UEFA Woman’s Euro 2017. There are Awards to get involved with and, as if that isn’t enough, you can take a look at the exclusive Club Brands Report to see which brands are remaining at the top of the club tree. And you’ll be able to watch video clips which will be embedded throughout the issue. Catch all the action at www.clubfootball.org.uk Club Cricket has also been launched this year with Club Tennis and Club Bowls soon to follow, sitting alongside existing sports titles Club Rugby, Clubhouse Europe and Sports Club Management. A Formula 1 title will join the port-

CLUB REPORT Sound business advice for club professionals

2017

CLUBHOUSE EUROPE

ISSUE 11

year. From the back of these we are busy planning webinars, training sessions and expert advice on building the business through the power of social media.

folio, designed to run alongside club screenings for enthusiastic members.

HQ Building the Business Another major activity we’ve been accelerating this year is the new HQ Building the Business advisory service, free to clubs. This is a quick way to ensure you’re getting the best possible purchasing power for your club with no fees, no contracts and no obligations, just the opportunity to save your club money and improve efficiencies – ideal for time-strapped committees and clubs who feel they could be getting better value. We’re very proud to have launched this for clubs, so take a look at page 63 for details.

Let’s get digital In the digital world, 2017 sees our Sports4Bars.com going from strength to strength. This is the definitive online guide to all the live sport screenings available to all types of licensed premises in the UK. On the pan-sector theme, clubs and licensed premises of all types can also get involved with the pan-industry Hospitality Social Media Awards this

Racing Club launch Last month we launched our Racing Club, offering all readers the opportunity to enjoy a day at the races with as many members as they care to take, all at specially negotiated rates. This is a completely free service (of course) and we expect it to be enjoyed by thousands of club members across the land.

Can’t picture it all? Then turn the page...

Positive perspectives for 2017 Club Mirror’s annual guide with expert advice for the year ahead

HQ Building the Business – Page 18

CMAE Sports Day – join the fun CMAE European Conference – register now!

Club Awards 2017– calling all clubs HQ Building the Business – improving the bottom line

Watch this space for the latest launches – there are more to come!

CLUB RUGBY 9

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2017 – THE STORY SO FAR

Clubs? We’ve got you covered Club Rugby will continue to bring you all the latest news, fixtures and advice but will also be launching trade shows as well as a new set of rugby specific Awards. Club Rugby will also be teaming up with Rugby Tonight for more shows together on BT Sport. Club Rugby will be joining forces with sister magazine, Club Mirror, to celebrate its 50th birthday. We are proud to be in the club sector. Clubs, we salute you!

clubmirror

clubmirror

Licensing Act 2003

A p r i l 2 01 7

clubmirror

clubmirror

Time to shine

Election special

Join us at the races!

Call for entries

Plus – Awards deadline looms

Last call for entries

H Q B U IL D ING TH E B U S INES S • L EG A L EA G L E • AT THE B AR • NE W S

HQ BUI LDI NG THE BUS I NE S S • LE G AL E A GLE • AT THE B AR • NE W S

HQ BUI LDI NG THE BUS I NE S S • NE W S • AT T H E B A R • C OC K TA IL S

Ma y 2017

AT T HE HE ART O F T HE CO MMUNITY

Select Committee announces findings

AT TH E H EART OF TH E C OM M UN I T Y

June 2017

AT T HE HEAR T OF T HE C OM M UN I T Y

AT T HE HEA R T O F T H E C O M M U NI T Y

July 2017

Working together – Club Association Special Club Awards – now open for entries H Q • A SK THE EXPER T S • BT SPO R T SPECIA L • L EG A L EA G L E

CLUB REPORT Sound business advice for club professionals

clubmirror August 2017

AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y

2017

Premier League 2017-18 Let battle commence

Positive perspectives for 2017 Club Mirror’s annual guide with expert advice for the year ahead

Racing Club

HQ • NE W S • R A CI NG CL UB • L EG A L • AT T H E B A R

CIU Events

DRANSFIELDS CIU GREYHOUNDS RACENIGHT, SHEFFIELD

Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday Saturday, November 18, 2017

10 CLUB RUGBY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

CLUBCRICKET AT THE HEART OF THE CRICKET COMMUNITY

ISSUE 1

CLUBFOOTBALL www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 7

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 8

Mission impossible?

The British & Irish Lions head to New Zealand

The ICC Champions Trophy

Premier League Fixtures

Insights, interviews and the ones to watch

Preview of all the action

Could you be our Cricket Club of the Year 2017?

Exclusive interview with England’s Stuart Broad Better Buying – HQ Building the Business

CLUBHOUSE Attracting and keeping junior members

Hospitality Social Media Awards - enter now

ISSUE 9

EUROPE

Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017?

The 2017 Six Nations Full TV schedule and ‘players to watch’

From the sidelines – the players to watch Hey big spenders – which clubs are paying top dollar?

CLUBHOUSE Use this QR code to enter or turn to page 34.

Brands Report – top performing club brands revealed Behind the Bar – quirky quizzes and footie facts

ISSUE 11

EUROPE

Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Could you be our Rugby Club of the Year 2017?

Expert tips on running a beer festival at your club Why social media is so crucial to your members

Summer Tour Preview: England to Argentina Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Entries now open for ‘Rugby Club of the Year’

www.sports4bars.com

The top new products to boost your club’s bottom line

SPORTSCLUB MANAGEMENT

We talk to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison

www.sports4bars.com

ISSUE 2

Club Awards host annouced John Inverdale looks forward to meeting you Sign up for the CMAE’s latest career-building courses – Page 7

50th MDP – celebrating a CMAE educational milestone 2017 resolutions – top 10 tips CMAE-style Tribal Tuesday – a new take on traditional driving ranges

Club Journal January 2017

HQ Building the Business – Page 18

The magazine for all CIU members

CMAE European Conference – register now!

Club Awards 2017– calling all clubs HQ Building the Business – improving the bottom line

INSIDE...

Club Journal April 2017

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9 Club of the Month . . . 10 HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Several Union clubs were honoured at the 2016 Club Mirror Awards, held at The Principal Hotel in Manchester at the end of November.

Joint winners in the CIU-sponsored ‘Traditional Club of the Year’ category were Pitts Hill Victory WMC in Stoke on Trent and Old Hendon Ex-Servicemen’s Club from London.

Pictured above are members of Pitts Hill Victory WMC being presented with their Award on stage by Union President George Dawson CMD (far left) and Awards host, Sally Nugent (far right).

For more information on the other winners, see page 6.

With Blackpool 2017 now just two months away, Union members are being urged to attend what will be a busy weekend of clubrelated activities.

The centrepiece of the weekend is the Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

Daily Mirror Political Correspondent Paul Routledge has been confirmed as the keynote speaker and is sure to give delegates a fascinating insight into his many years covering the corridors of power at Westminster.

Delegates also have the opportunity to attend the 126th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition on the afternoon of Friday, April 7 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

This event allows clubs and suppliers to swap notes on the latest legislation affecting clubs, as well as learn about the latest products and service available, all in an informal, friendly atmosphere.

Among the suppliers who have already confirmed their attendance for the 2017 Keynote speaker Paul Routledge

Club Journal The magazine for all CIU members

Union President urges clubs to take advantage of new rates relief rules The 154th Annual Meeting of the CIU took place on Saturday, April 8 in Blackpool with 415 delegates attending the event held in the Ballroom of the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

In his address, Union President George Dawson CMD urged clubs to take advantage of the new legislation concerning rate relief for small businesses.

He said: “We now have a greatly increased threshold for small business rate relief which will be a great benefit to most of our clubs in England.

“If you have a rateable value of below £12,000, then you will be paying no rates, and if you have a rateable value below £15,000, you will get a percentage of relief one percent for every £30.

“Some Councils have given this automatically, some require a declaration form and some will sort it out over the phone.

“If you haven’t received your small business rate relief, please enquire at your local rates office because if you don’t ask, you won’t get it!”

Mr Dawson also argued the case for maintaining the Union’s Head Office at its current location in central London and that a move under current financial circumstances would be ‘a dereliction of our duty to safeguard the assets of the Union.’

He added: “The NEC has been talking to the firm who took over the 999-year lease for the ground floor. For your information, the ground floor was leased for 999 years in the 1999/2000 period for just under £1m.

“I’m sure the NEC at the time did it for the right reasons. As a result of this, we have a floating freehold, and this greatly affects the value of the property.

“The original leaseholder did not give us an opportunity to buy the lease back, but sold it on to another property firm in London for £4.5m.

“We asked the new firm to give us an idea of what options were available to us should

show are: Ace Furniture, Aon, BT Sport, CAMRA, Heineken, Dransfields, Smart Energy Projects and Rijo42.

Alongside the specialist business advice, there will be free refreshments courtesy of Heineken and special prizes on offer throughout the afternoon.

Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats will compete for the prestigious trophy and cash prize. All attendees are welcome to join in on a 'just-for-fun' basis with sport prizes being given out.

The Union has negotiated a special delegate rate with the Norbreck Castle Hotel for CIU members and have 20 double sea view rooms, 20 double standard rooms, 20 twin sea view rooms, 20 twin standard rooms and 20 single rooms on hold.

The rate is £42.50 per person per night with dinner and B&B, based on two sharing a twin/double or £35 per person per night B&B, based on two sharing a twin/double.

There is a £15 per night addition in the case of sole occupancy and the deal is for minimum of two nights.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please book direct with the Norbreck Castle Hotel on 01253 352341, quoting the code: ‘WMCI 17’.

75p

INSIDE...

See page 5 for the final scores and more photos from the day

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INSIDE...

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

Club of the Month. . . 10

Club of the Month. . . 10

Club of the Month. . . 10

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Nick Byram, Bar Manager of Dartford WMC

Club of the Month: Dartford WMC Dartford Working Men’s Club in Kent has won national recognition from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) for its cask ale offering.

The club has reached the last four of CAMRA’s ‘Club of the Year’ competition, the only CIU club named in the final shortlist for the award.

“Real Ale is at the centre of everything we do at the club and it’s very pleasing to gain recognition from CAMRA,” said Dartford WMC Bar Manager Nick Byram.

“It’s a great testament to the passion and hard work that our staff have when it comes to providing a perfect pint of cask beer.”

For the full article, see page 10.

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

The Union’s Annual Meeting takes place on Saturday, April 8

CIU members are being urged to ensure their club is represented at the Union’s Annual Meeting which takes place in Blackpool next month.

The Annual Meeting is on Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel and the 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition is happening the day before at the same venue.

“Conference Weekend is the most important time of the year for the Union and a great opportunity for all our clubs to come together to discuss and debate the key issues which matter to us,” said Union President George Dawson CMD. “As usual we have organised a full weekend of club-related activities with the Beer & Trades Show on Friday and the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final on Saturday afternoon straight after the AGM. “I would urge all clubs to make sure they’re represented in Blackpool during Conference Weekend in order to give their members a say on the future of the Union.”

The Beer & Trades Show has proven a very popular draw in the past two years and attendance figures are expected to increase once again.

The event takes place for the third successive year at the Norbreck Castle Hotel’s huge Norcalympia venue.

Among the suppliers attending in 2017 are: Ace Furniture, Aon, Avensure, BOC, BT

Sport, CAMRA, Heineken, Dransfields, Red Tooth and Smart Energy.

The trade show gives club members a chance to get specialist business advice in an informal setting, as well as to enjoy free refreshments and fun activities.

Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats (completed in January and February) will compete for the prestigious trophy and £500 first prize.

As revealed last month, Daily Mirror Political Correspondent Paul Routledge will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting.

He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited to the CIU gathering in Blackpool, where I’ve been many times as a Political Correspondent for different national newspapers.

“I’m a member of two clubs – the Empire and the Brookside in South Elmsall – and expect to have joined Skipton Working Men’s Club by the time I arrive, so I am genuinely ‘one of you.’

“It’s a bit daunting to be ‘the turn’ in front of such a critical audience but I imagine the Chairman will call ‘order’ while I do my bit.

I’m really looking forward to joining you in Blackpool on April 8.”

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Club of the Month: Trades Club, Doncaster The Trades Club, Doncaster is this month’s Club of the Month.

In 2008, the club moved into a brand-new, purpose-built premises within the Frenchgate shopping centre and has not looked back since with over 1,800 members enjoying the spectacular 20,000 square foot premises.

As well as a large Lounge, the club has a Games Room, Concert Room and three bars, plus a number of Conference and meeting rooms which can be hired out.

Entertainment is also very important to the club with regular live music taking place throughout the month.

For the full article, see page 10.

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18 The Union’s Conference Weekend will take place in Blackpool this month with the Annual Meeting scheduled for the morning of Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel and the 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition is being held the day before at the same venue.

“Conference Weekend is without a doubt the most important date in the Union calendar,” said Union President George Dawson CMD. “This is the one time in the year when all our clubs can gather together in one place to debate the key issues facing our members and celebrate the fact that our clubs continue to have a really positive influence in the communities which they serve.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting Union members from all over the country and hope that as many of them as possible attend the Beer & Trades Exhibition on Friday afternoon and the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final on Saturday afternoon straight after the AGM. “We’ve had a fantastic turnout for the Exhibition since relaunching it two years ago and atttendees can be certain that they will receive the best possible advice on boosting business in their club from a number of major suppliers.”

Among the suppliers attending in 2017 are: Ace Furniture, Aon, Avensure, BOC, BT

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Sport, CAMRA, Dransfields, Heineken, Red Tooth and Smart Energy.

The Trades Exhibition gives club members a chance to receive specialist business advice in an informal setting, as well as to enjoy free refreshments and fun activities, including several bingo sessions run by Preferred Supplier Dransfields, who will also be showcasing their latest gaming and entertainment machines.

Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats (completed in January and February) will compete for the prestigious trophy and £500 first prize.

CIU members are invited to come along and take part in the Quiz Final in the ‘just for fun’ category where they can win a number of ‘spot’ prizes.

BLACKPOOL 2017 SCHEDULE Friday, April 7, 1pm 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition Saturday, April 8, 10am Annual Meeting Saturday, April 8, 1pm Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

CIU branches attend Heineken racing event Last month saw members of four local CIU branches attend an event at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield – home of Huddersfield Town FC and Rugby League side Huddersfield Giants – organised by the Union’s Preferred Supplier of Beer and Cider, Heineken UK. As well as enjoying the latest Heineken products at the bar, guests were treated to live televised racing from the Cheltenham Festival and were able to place bets with an on-site bookmaker.

Attendees also took part in a live ‘Q&A’ session with former Huddersfield Giants Rugby League star Eorl Crabtree, nephew of legendary wrestler Shirley ‘Big Daddy’ Crabtree.

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Club Journal

Club Journal August 2017

Could your club be the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ at prestigious national awards? Enter now...

Sport on TV. . . . . . . . . . 22

Newbottle WMC, Tyne and Wear, have won their second successive Dransfields CIU National Quiz title after winning the final held at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool on the Saturday of Conference Weekend.

The winning quartet – Tony Gold, Clive Dunning, Mick Frith and Tony Walmsley – won the £500 top prize and a widescreen television.

In the runners-up spot was the ‘A’ team from the Clarence Sports & Social Club in Newport, South Wales, while Sydney Street WMC, Accrington, came third in a highly competitive event.

The Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool will host the Union’s Annual Meeting in April

July 2017

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Newbottle WMC win CIU Quiz title

INSIDE...

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

The magazine for all CIU members

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CIU Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The magazine for all CIU members

CIU members set for a warm welcome in Blackpool

Club Journal

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

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INSIDE...

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June 2017

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Union President George Dawson CMD

we want to change the venue of Head Office.

“They came up with three options: swapping the building within London for another building; sale of the building with leaseback, or a sale of £2.5m and 12 months for us to vacate the property.

“We also asked what the value of the freehold would have been had we not had an extended lease on the ground floor, and a conservative estimate was £7.5m.

“It is quite clear that if the current NEC took any of these options, it would be a dereliction of our duty to safeguard the assets of the Union.

“This situation is being monitored and, if there is a beneficial change in circumstances, then it will be looked at again.”

The Annual Meeting also saw a Motion to transfer a member’s Union Associate Card to their new club when their former club closes defeated by 203 votes against to 173 votes for.

For the full report of the 2017 Annual Meeting see pages 8-15

The magazine for all CIU members

Members urged to make their voice heard at AGM

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May 2017

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Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

CIU clubs honoured at Club Mirror Awards

Social Media Awards – calling all sports clubs

Club Journal

Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool

Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Education – gaining with training

March 2017

The magazine for all CIU members

Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

originally intended, but generally it is working well.”

Concluding his appearance in front of the Committee, Mr Dawson assured the assembled peers that CIU clubs, along with those clubs affiliated to other major associations, remain highly relevant in the context of the modern on-trade.

He said: “We have had a considerable amount of difficulty, but we are still a significant part of the on-trade.

“There is £21 billion in the on-trade in beer. CIU probably accounts for five per cent of that by itself and the Association of Conservative Clubs (ACC) has 900 clubs.

“There are also British Legion clubs. We are still a significant player in the on-trade.

The on-trade has shrunk, but it is not all depression and everybody closing down.

“We are looking at different avenues to keep our clubs open. Do not think that we are all going to close down tomorrow.”

The Select Committee, which is chaired by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering and includes ACC Chief Executive and CORCA Chairman Lord Smith of Hindhead CBE, has been tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of the Licencing Act 2003.

The Committee has taken evidence from a cross section of interested parties, including representatives of clubs, pubs, the police, the off-trade, legal experts and think tanks.

Personnel matters – motivating your staff

Club Journal

Editor’s Letter . . . . . . . . . 2

Union President George Dawson CMD

Enter the Club Awards to find out.

Better business – free service for sports clubs

February 2017

Planning for Blackpool 2017 reaches final stages

Union President gives evidence to House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act Union President George Dawson CMD has told the House of Lords Select Committee examining the Licensing Act 2003 that he believes that there are too many inconsistencies in the way that different local authorities approach licensing.

Mr Dawson, who appeared before the Committee on Tuesday, November 22, said: “The only problem that the Union has with different authorities is inconsistency.

Different authorities interpret the law in different ways.

“We have a difficulty with advising our clubs in one area about something that we feel is not part of the Licensing Act, and trying to educate the licensing officer in that respect.

“In other areas, we have no difficulty whatsoever. If you have no trouble in your club, they just leave you alone to get on with it. The inconsistency is the worst part of the Act.” But Mr Dawson did concede that the Licensing Act was “generally” working well.

He said: “There has been a bit of row-back on the flexibility that was originally intended – the 24-hour opening – especially with the late night levies, etc.

“When we applied for our licences in 2005, all eventualities were covered by having licences until two o’clock. Most of my clubs claim for eight in the morning until two in the morning, every day of the week.

“They do not use it all the time, but they do it to have flexibility over periods of celebration – 100 years of the club, etc.

“A lot of clubs – it is only in some areas – now have to do a variation, because six authorities decided to do the late night levy.

“They get charged a late night levy if the Club Premises Certificate says ‘until two o’clock’, even though they may not use it all the time, and they may use it on only two occasions in the whole year.

“Then they have to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). The flexibility seems to be going from the idea of what was

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Could you be our Manager of the Year 2017?

CMAE Sports Day – join the fun

The 2016 joint winners of the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ award, Pitts Hill Victory Club, receive their trophy from Union President George Dawson CMD (far left) and ceremony host, BBC broadcaster Sally Nugent (far right)

Entries are now open in the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ category for the 2017 Club Mirror Awards.

The annual Awards are now in their 26th year and recognise the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who ensure a healthy future for their clubs.

There are several categories in the Awards covering the full spectrum of clubland, with the CIU-sponsored ‘Traditional Club of the Year’ category one of the most hotly contested.

Last year’s worthy joint winners of the Award were Pitts Hill Victory Club in Stokeon-Trent and Old Hendon Ex-Servicemen’s Club in London, The Awards Judging Panel recognised that these two Union clubs are positively thriving thanks to their forward-looking committees,

active memberships and excellent ties with their local communities.

“Winning the Award was a great testament to all the members who have helped to turn things around at the club,” said Pitts Hill Victory Club Committee Member Dan Capewell.

“Attending the Awards in Manchester and going up on stage to receive the trophy was a fantastic experience.”

If you would like to follow in the illustrious footsteps of the 2016 winners and believe that your club deserves national recognition as a beacon of best practice in the sector, then get your entry in before the June 30 deadline.

If you would like your club put forward for the 2017 Club Mirror Awards, please contact justin@clubjournal.co.uk

Date set for Dransfields CIU Racenight in Sheffield Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium will be hosting the Dransfields CIU Greyhound Racenight on Tuesday, September 19.

This annual event is a great opportunity to witness some top-class dog racing on one of the country’s best tracks while enjoying a good night out with club colleagues.

We’ll be publishing further details of the night and how to get tickets in future issues of Club Journal.

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INSIDE...

Sky Sports restricts price increase to 5% for clubs

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The magazine for all CIU members

BT Sport raises its club subscription price by 3.5% Manchester United play Real Madrid on Tuesday, August 8, live on BT Sport

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Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

Club of the Month. . . 10

Club of the Month. . . 10

Club of the Month. . . 10

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18 Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Timeline for Election of National Executive 2017 The timeline for the 2017 Election of the National Executive of the CIU will be as follows: Tuesday, September 5 Issue Letter and Nomination Form Thursday, October 5 Deadline for forms to be received at Head Office Tuesday, December 5 Deadline for Ballot Papers to be received at Head Office Friday, December 8 Ballot Count at Head Office Friday, December 8 Notification to Candidates and NEC Friday, December 8 Official Release to Branch Secretaries, Club Journal and Head Office

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The magazine for all CIU members

The new Premier

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

League season begins on Saturday, August 12

Sky has announced that it will be increasing its subscription costs to clubs from August 1 but has guaranteed that no club will see an increase of more than 5%.

The company has committed to helping clubs by using the lowest Rateable Value (RV) from either 2010 or 2017.

It means that the price of many clubs’ subscriptions will drop while those which are facing an increase will be restricted to 5% or less.

“We know licensed premises are facing cost uncertainties and we want to help them manage that as well as ensure their return on investment,” said David Rey, Managing Director of Sky Business.

“The Government’s changes in RVs from 2010 to 2017 were no small part of this and we want to put customers first so that they can depend on their investment in Sky. “As we invest more and sports rights costs to Sky rise too, we must also review our pricing like all businesses do. But we absorb what we can. This year, no club’s bill will rise by more than 5%, and many bills will go down as we commit to using the lower of the two RVs when calculating bill for the next 12 months.”

Sky Sports will be showing 126 live Premier League games during the 2017/18 season as well as 127 live games from the Football League, in addition to live rugby,

Formula 1, golf and cricket, including the upcoming four-Test series between England and South Africa.

The new Premier League season kicks off on the weekend of August 12/13 and will see reigning champions Chelsea beginning their title defence with a home tie against Burnley.

Runners-up Tottenham, meanwhile, start their campaign with an away trip to St James’ Park to take on newly promoted Newcastle United.

The Premier League season is set to finish on May 13, 2018 - a week earlier than last season - with the World Cup finals in Russia starting on June 14, 2018.

The Football League season gets underway on Friday, August 4, as Sunderland host Derby County at the Stadium of Light, live on Sky. In total, Sky will be showing three fixtures from the Championship on the opening weekend with Aston Villa v Hull City and Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United also being broadcast.

Rey added: “Clubs can look forward to kicking off the new football season with some fantastic matches to entertain their members. Over the course of the 2017/18 season our customers can look forward to showing 126 exclusively live Premier League matches, 127 Sky Bet EFL games, SPFL Premiership action and much more.”

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Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Club of the Month: Bradwell WMC Bradwell & District Working Men’s Club in Staffordshire is our ‘Club of the Month’ for July.

Among the club’s recent achievements was the completion of a £40,000 refurbishment of its upstairs Function Room to add to the club’s already impressive facilities.

The club has also started a new football team which has generated huge interest in the local community and helped the club to boost its membership, as well as making more young people aware of the club and what it has to offer.

Bradwell WMC continues to offer a full array of activities and live entertainment for its members. For the full article, see page 10.

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18 BT Sport has announced that its club subscription prices will increase by 3.5% from September 1 with the broadcaster continuing to use the 2010 business rates to calculate the amount paid by venues.

New for the 17/18 season, BT Sport will be giving clubs the chance to tailor promotional posters to appeal to their members’ key interests by selecting specific fixture posters across a range of sports including football, rugby and boxing.

The broadcaster will also be making social media assets available for clubs to download and use on their Twitter and Facebook pages in order to publicise the live sport they have on offer.

Bruce Cuthbert, Director commercial customers, BT Sport, said: “As we enter our fifth season we are incredibly proud to be offering customers our strongest line-up of exclusively live sport ever.

“And what a season it will be. Together with the Premier League and the FA Cup, we are the exclusive home of all the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, and with five English teams in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, including the return of previous European winners Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, the season will be our strongest yet.

“In addition to our exclusive domestic and

European football, we also have Aviva Premiership Rugby plus for the first time Ashes cricket this Christmas and all new BT Sport Fight Nights featuring world-class boxing.

“We think BT Sport continues to offer our customers incredible value for money.

"We will also be launching a free tailored point-of-sale service, giving clubs the opportunity to choose from a number of different poster packs or alternatively they can opt to compile their own by selecting specific fixture posters from a range of sports that work best for them and their members.

“Together with a comprehensive range of quality social media assets to help promote fixtures and sports through social media, our customers will always get the support they need to get the most from their subscription.”

BT Sport’s Premier League coverage starts on Saturday, August 12 with Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City, while the season's traditional curtain raiser – the Community Shield between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium – will take place on Sunday, August 6 at 2pm.

Another early season highlight for BT Sport is the UEFA Super Cup clash on Tuesday, August 8 which sees Europa League winners Manchester United taking on Champions League holders Real Madrid.

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Club of the Month: Fleetwood WMC Fleetwood Working Men’s Club in Lancashire is our ‘Club of the Month’ for August.

During the past 18 months the club has fought its way back from a devastating break-in which saw thieves ram a car through the front doors of the building and ransack the premises, costing the club a total of £47,000.

But with the full support of their members, the club’s Committee has embarked on a number of fundraising efforts to ensure that the club is back on a firm financial footing and looking to the future with confidence.

For the full article, see page 10.

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CLUB RUGBY 11

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INTERVIEW: BRIAN O’DRISCOLL After a glittering rugby career Brian O’Driscoll is now a pundit for BT Sport.

The word of BOD...

Former Leinster, Ireland and Lions centre and captain Brian O’Driscoll is now bringing his vast knowledge of the game to bear on his role as pundit for BT Sport. Club Rugby talked to the rugby legend to get his thoughts about the recent Lions tour as well as the upcoming new season.

CLUB RUGBY (CR): Over the summer we all witnessed an exceptional British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand which resulted in a historic series draw. There’s been a fair bit of debate about the Lions’ future but would you make any changes to the structure of future tours?

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL (BOD): No. I wouldn’t change a whole lot about the Lions. I think in a perfect world, you’d have the players together for another week before they travel.

You could see that they were getting better the more time they spent together, so I don’t think you can shorten the tour, as has been suggested, if you want to make them competitive come test time.

The reality is those international teams you’re playing against in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have been together a long time and have core groups of players irrespective of when

12 CLUB RUGBY

you play them. The Lions don’t have the luxury of time and have to form new partnerships in a very short period of time and that’s not an easy thing to do.

You can see how the Lions struggled for the first few weeks of the tour of New Zealand and then got it together for the test series. The All Blacks were absolutely rattled for that last 25 minutes in the 3rd Test.

CR: Would you have taken the draw before the start of the series?

BOD: At the start of the tour, I would have as New Zealand very rarely fail to win a home Test series. It was weird though after the final Test seeing how uneasy both Sam Warburton and Kieran Read were lifting one arm of the trophy each. It was one of those really weird awkward moments, but I think it whet the appetite for the next Lions tour, to South Africa in 2021.

CR: How do you think the Lions will affect the upcoming season?

BOD: I always like playing in the Six Nations after a Lions tour. It’s always a really fun and interesting time for those players that go away with the Lions and develop new friendships and great relationships with guys from other home nations.

And then, when you come up to play against them, it’s almost like you want to get one up on them and you go harder against them.

You might have a bit of fun out on the pitch but you really want to get good shots on them where possible or make someone look silly, just for the aftermath in the dressing room afterwards, or when you have a drink together later on.

All the nations have essentially shared their playbooks on the Lions tours so the coaches have to create new ones. It’s almost like a game of chess, trying to present something similar to before but slightly different.

CR: What about the various domestic and European competitions coming up this season?

BOD: It’s really tough for teams to get that balance between domestic and European competitions.

If you win the European Cup, it’s very hard to mentally switch on again for a PRO14 or Aviva Premiership Final because human instinct is to feel satisfaction with winning something.

The difference between winning and losing is more often than not having a greater appetite and hunger than the opposition and they’re the margins between winning and losing.

Although, having said that, Saracens won the double the season before last. Had they gotten into the Aviva Premiership Final last season, having already won the European Champions Cup, who would have bet against them? There’s nothing between the teams at that level, which is brilliant and is the way you want it.

CR: Any transfers taking your eye for the upcoming Aviva Premiership?

BOD: Yeah, I think there’s a good few. I think Newcastle Falcons have done a good job on the recruitment front. You expect them to build on some really good work done over the last couple of years.

They’ve evolved their game into suiting their artificial pitch, and I think their new French international Maxime Mermoz is a good player, while DTH van der Merwe is as real try-scorer and then they have former England man Toby Flood to control things at fly-half. They’re three very good signings and I think the Falcons potentially could push for Europe.

And Leicester Tigers have recruited well, not least with George Ford coming in. I think they just missed a little bit of control at No.10 and he’ll be able to do a little bit more than Freddie Burns was able to last season. They’ve also added Johnny May to the mix and he really is a born try-scorer.

Sale Sharks have made an interesting signing in former Wallaby James O’Connor. It will be interesting to see how that pans out as I don’t necessarily know that he’s the type of personality that Sale needed. But, do you know, when he’s boxoffice, when he’s good he’s good and if he can just keep his head on and stay fit, he’ll have some magic moments for them.

As for Harlequins, I feel that they’re underachieving in their skill levels. I suppose I’ve been a small bit disappointed that Quins haven’t been able to step it up from their success of a few years’ ago The foundation laid by Conor O’Shea before he took the Italy job left them in good shape but they’ve kind of flattered to deceive.

They play some good, high-tempo rugby that’s good to watch but you need to see their key players really bossing that a little bit more and stepping up in big games.

That’s definitely what you get from Saracens and that’s why I’m so impressed with their culture. When their players come back from interna-

BT Sport pundit Brian O’Driscoll is looking forward to an exciting new season.

tional duty, they’re as hungry to play in the Sarries jersey as they are for their countries.

CR: How have they managed to create such a strong culture at Saracens?

BOD: You look at their core players who are driven by Owen Farrell. He’s a guy who wouldn’t accept anyone having a sub-standard performance, either in training or in a game.

Knowing his personality, I think Farrell is a great man to have at the helm. And obviously Maro Itoje, a potential England captain, is in there too.

The likes of Jamie George, George Kruis and the Vunipola brother are also inspirations. It means you’ve got a really brilliant core group of leaders in there, and they could be a dominant force for a good few years.

CR: Talking of class players, do you think Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi can come back and play for England despite being sent home from a training camp for disciplinary reasons?

BOD: First of all, I’m a huge fan of Manu as a person. I had great fun with him on the Lions tour of Australia in 2013, and as a player I’m a big admirer of him. It’s been hard watching his career in recent times. He’s made a few errors of judgement since he burst onto scene, and has also suffered a number of injuries, and he’s running out of lives.

CR: As a club fan, which club do you think is the most galling to be a supporter of?

BOD: Good question. I think Gloucester are definitely in the mix. I think they’ve had so much talent over the years but they just haven’t been able to pull it all together in a common direction.

They’ve showed huge promise but then, more often than not, they falter in the business end of the season. I think I’d be frustrated if I was a Gloucester supporter. I’ve met many of them and they’ve told me as such!

CR: Now you’re retired, can you enjoy going out yourself a bit more to clubs and the like?

BOD: I think the problem is it passed me by. I don’t know too many of my mates that go out to pubs and clubs. We meet for a couple of pints here and there but I’ve started going out and eating food and then going home. I don’t know what’s happened to me!

I’ve never let what I do curtail what I wanted socially to do – I think you just have to play smart.

I’ve been out over the course of my career lots of times and not been drinking in the car. There’s a lot of perception when you’re on the piss or whatever, you could be driving, but you still want to hang out with your mates and see them. It’s the only way you’re going to.

Whereas now, you’ve less time because family and work takes an awful lot of it up, and you’re happy with it. I think it just becomes an evolution of you as a person and you don’t need to be hanging out with your buddies like I was in my early 20s.

CR: Are the best pubs/clubs in England or Ireland?

BOD: Ireland! I’ve had a couple of good nights out in England in my time, but obviously you have your favourite venues and I go back to the same ones. When I do have a night out with the boys, it tends to be the same places – nothing pretentious, a good mixed crowd and a decent pint of Guinness.

CLUB RUGBY 13

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SPORTS SPECIAL – AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

Fixtures announced With live coverage of the ever-dramatic Aviva Premiership hitting our screens, clubs around the country are gearing up to join in the excitement of the new season.

T

he spotlight is on the Aviva Premiership Rugby Champions, Exeter Chiefs, as they kick off the new season in defence of their title at Kingsholm against Gloucester Rugby on Friday 1 September.

The Chiefs, who defeated Wasps after extra time in the Final last May, will have the honour of playing in the first match of the new Aviva Premiership Rugby Season, live on BT Sport. Friday 1 also sees Newcastle Falcons kick-off at home to Worcester Warriors. With the Falcon’s summer signings including Fijian international centre Josh Matavesi, Yorkshire Carnegie captain Ryan Burrows, fly-half Toby Flood, Canada’s record try-scorer DTH van der Merwe and three-time French title winner Maxime Mermoz, expectations are high going into the campaign for Falcon's fans Then of course comes the London Double Header 2017 on the following day where the Twickenham Stadium sees four of the Aviva

14 CLUB RUGBY

Premiership’s biggest clubs go head to head in two action-packed games.

On the opening weekend around 85,000 fans are expected to descend on Twickenham for this annual event which kicks off at 2pm when reigning European Champions Saracens take on Northampton Saints.

Saint’s fly-half Stephen Myler believes his side will be right in the mix after a frustrating season last year when they came seventh, their lowest finish in nine years. Nevertheless, they signed off on a high by clinching a European Champions Cup spot with a victory against Stade Francais in the thrilling playoffs.

Myler is predicting the closest Aviva Premiership Rugby campaign ever this season however.

“You are all fighting for four [league] spots and realistically you can argue for eight teams to be in the four, which is why there are so many close games and why it is so hard to put a run of form together,” he said.

With the crowd barely having time to finish cheering, the second double header teams will be running onto the pitch at 4.45pm with London Irish going head-to-head with Harlequins.

Irish’s Topsy Ojo believes there could be no more fitting way for London Irish to announce their return as an Aviva Premiership Rugby club than taking on fellow locals Harlequins at Twickenham. London Irish topped the Championship table before overcoming Doncaster Knights and Yorkshire Carnegie in the play-offs to seal promotion last term, 12 months on from relegation to the second tier.

“A local derby is a great way to start the season,” said Ojo. Irish’s leading try-scorer. “We’ve had a number of great battles over the year and it’ll be good to get that going again.

“The Double Header is huge. It’s a great occasion.

Playing at Twickenham is special at any time, whether you’ve played there a number of times or it’s your first occasion. It’s bound to be a packed house

“The margins are so tiny these days – an injury time try, a try with the clock about to go red, if you don’t concede that penalty, if Slade [Exeter Chiefs] doesn’t kick it that five metres... there’s lots of ifs and buts.”

CLUB MIRROR – OUT NOW Want to maximise your revenues? Want even more business advice? Club Rugby’s sister title Club Mirror is out now with the latest on the spirits sector, the Club Awards , which includes the Rugby Club of the Year 2017 category and the latest launches.

clubmirror S e p t e m b e r 2017

BT pundit Brian O’Driscoll, ex-Ireland and Lions Player, speaking to Club Rugby

AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUN ITY

Sports Special It’s all eyes on the prize

H Q B U I L DI NG TH E B U S I NE S S • AT TH E B A R • A S K TH E E XP ER T S • L EG A L

and I know our fans will be there in numbers.”

London Irish will have their work cut out of course, if predictions from the betting fraternity are anything to go by.

The bookies are in no doubt of the outcome putting Sarries at evens to win with Wasps first in line to snap at their heels at 11/4. Last year’s winners Exeter Chiefs (4/1) and Leicester Tigers (10/1) will – of course – provide further challenges with some heady clashes guaranteed. But after the Top 4 there’s quite a gap in confidence, with Bath at 20/1,

Northampton Saints at 40/1 and Gloucester and Harlequins head-to-head at 50/1.

Sale Sharks will have their work cut out if they’re to prove that the bookies’ 66/1 odds are misplaced, while Newcastle Falcons (150/1), London Irish (250/1) and Worcester Warriors (500/1) could earn their betting supporters a tidy sum should they step up to the mark and seize the trophy.

• Turn to pages 18-20 for facts and figures on this season’s contenders.

In this issue of Club Mirror: • Premier league Special – analysis, insights and predictions • Cricket – new formats • Free racing tickets • Ask the Experts

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Interested?

Visit www.clubmirror.com

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FIXTURES 2017 - 2018 Date ROUND 1 1 Sep 2017 1 Sep 2017 2 Sep 2017 2 Sep 2017 2 Sep 2017 3 Sep 2017

Time Match

Venue

Date

Time Match

Venue

19.45 19.45 14.00 15.00 16.45 15.00

Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors Saracens v Northampton Saints Wasps v Sale Sharks London Irish v Harlequins Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby

Kingsholm Kingston Park Twickenham Stadium Ricoh Arena Twickenham Stadium Welford Road

ROUND 4 22 Sep 2017 23 Sep 2017 23 Sep 2017 23 Sep 2017 24 Sep 2017 24 Sep 2017

19.45 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00

Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons Harlequins v Leicester Tigers Saracens v Sale Sharks Exeter Chiefs v Wasps London Irish v Northampton Saints

Kingsholm The Rec Twickenham Stoop Allianz Park Sandy Park Madejski Stadium

ROUND 2 8 Sep 2017 9 Sep 2017 9 Sep 2017 9 Sep 2017 9 Sep 2017 10 Sep 2017

19.45 14.00 15.00 15.00 16.30 15.00

Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons Bath Rugby v Saracens Exeter Chiefs v London Irish Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers Worcester Warriors v Wasps

AJ Bell Stadium The Rec Sandy Park Twickenham Stoop Franklin’s Gardens Sixways

ROUND 5 29 Sep 2017 29 Sep 2017 29 Sep 2017 30 Sep 2017 30 Sep 2017 1 Oct 2017

19.45 19.45 20.00 15.00 15.00 15.00

Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks Worcester Warriors v Saracens Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs Northampton Saints v Harlequins Wasps v Bath Rugby

Kingston Park Sixways AJ Bell Stadium Welford Road Franklin’s Gardens Ricoh Arena

ROUND 3 15 Sep 2017 15 Sep 2017 15 Sep 2017 16 Sep 2017 16 Sep 2017 17 Sep 2017

19.45 19.45 20.00 15.00 21.30 15.00

Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs Sale Sharks v London Irish Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby Newcastle Falcons v Saracens Wasps v Harlequins

Franklin’s Gardens Sixways AJ Bell Stadium Welford Road Talen Energy Stadium Ricoh Arena

ROUND 6 6 Oct 2017 7 Oct 2017 7 Oct 2017 7 Oct 2017 7 Oct 2017 8 Oct 2017

19.45 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00

Harlequins v Sale Sharks Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints London Irish v Leicester Tigers Saracens v Wasps

Twickenham Stoop The Rec Sandy Park Kingsholm Madejski Stadium Allianz Park CLUB RUGBY 15

>

SPORTS SPECIAL – AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FIXTURES 2017 - 2018 Date ROUND 7 27 Oct 2017 28 Oct 2017 28 Oct 2017 28 Oct 2017 29 Oct 2017 29 Oct 2017 ROUND 8 17 Nov 2017 18 Nov 2017 18 Nov 2017 18 Nov 2017 19 Nov 2017 19 Nov 2017 ROUND 9 24 Nov 2017 24 Nov 2017 24 Nov 2017 25 Nov 2017 26 Nov 2017 26 Nov 2017 ROUND 10 1 Dec 2017 1 Dec 2017 2 Dec 2017 2 Dec 2017 2 Dec 2017 3 Dec 2017 ROUND 11 22/23/24 Dec 22/23/24 Dec 22/23/24 Dec 22/23/24 Dec 22/23/24 Dec 22/23/24 Dec ROUND 12 29/30/31 Dec 29/30/31 Dec 29/30/31 Dec 29/30/31 Dec 29/30/31 Dec 29/30/31 Dec

Time Match

Venue

Date

Time Match

Venue

19.45 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00

AJ Bell Stadium Twickenham Stoop Franklin’s Gardens Allianz Park The Rec Kingston Park

16/17/18 Feb 16/17/18 Feb 16/17/18 Feb 16/17/18 Feb

TBC TBC TBC TBC

Northampton Saints v London Irish Sale Sharks v Saracens Wasps v Exeter Chiefs Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby

Franklin’s Gardens AJ Bell Stadium Ricoh Arena Sixways

ROUND 16 23/24/25 Feb 23/24/25 Feb 23/24/25 Feb 23/24/25 Feb 23/24/25 Feb 23/24/25 Feb

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints Gloucester Rugby v Wasps Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons London Irish v Worcester Warriors Saracens v Leicester Tigers

The Rec Sandy Park Kingsholm Twickenham Stoop Madejski Stadium Allianz Park

ROUND 17 2/3/4 Mar 2/3/4 Mar 2/3/4 Mar 2/3/4 Mar 2/3/4 Mar 2/3/4 Mar

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons Harlequins v Bath Rugby Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks Wasps v London Irish Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers

Sandy Park Kingsholm Twickenham Stoop Franklin’s Gardens Ricoh Arena Sixways

ROUND 18 23/24/25 Mar 23/24/25 Mar 23/24/25 Mar 23/24/25 Mar 23/24/25 Mar 23/24/25 Mar

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs Leicester Tigers v Wasps London Irish v Gloucester Rugby Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors Saracens v Harlequins

The Rec Welford Road Madejski Stadium Kingston Park AJ Bell Stadium Olympic Stadium

ROUND 19 6/7/8 Apr 6/7/8 Apr 6/7/8 Apr 6/7/8 Apr 6/7/8 Apr 6/7/8 Apr

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby Harlequins v London Irish Northampton Saints v Saracens Sale Sharks v Wasps Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons

The Rec Sandy Park Twickenham Stoop Franklin's Gardens AJ Bell Stadium Sixways

ROUND 20 13/14/15 Apr 13/14/15 Apr 13/14/15 Apr 13/14/15 Apr 13/14/15 Apr 13/14/15 Apr

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints London Irish v Exeter Chiefs Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks Saracens v Bath Rugby Wasps v Worcester Warriors

Kingsholm Welford Road Madejski Stadium Kingston Park Allianz Park Ricoh Arena

ROUND 21 27/28/29 Apr 27/28/29 Apr 27/28/29 Apr 27/28/29 Apr 27/28/29 Apr 27/28/29 Apr

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons London Irish v Saracens Wasps v Northampton Saints Worcester Warriors v Harlequins

Sandy Park Kingsholm Welford Road Madejski Stadium Ricoh Arena Sixways

ROUND 22 5 May 2017 5 May 2017 5 May 2017 5 May 2017 5 May 2017 5 May 2017

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

Bath Rugby v London Irish Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs Newcastle Falcons v Wasps Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers Saracens v Gloucester Rugby

The Rec Twickenham Stoop Kingston Park Franklin's Gardens AJ Bell Stadium Allianz Park

19.45 13.00 15.00 16.30 15.00 15.00

19.45 19.45 20.00 12.15 15.00 15.00

19.45 19.45 14.00 15.00 16.30 15.00

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

ROUND 13 2018 5/6/7 Jan TBC 5/6/7 Jan TBC 5/6/7 Jan TBC 5/6/7 Jan TBC 5/6/7 Jan TBC 5/6/7 Jan TBC ROUND 14 9/10/11 Feb 9/10/11 Feb 9/10/11 Feb 9/10/11 Feb 9/10/11 Feb 9/10/11 Feb

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

ROUND 15 16/17/18 Feb TBC 16/17/18 Feb TBC

16 CLUB RUGBY

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs Harlequins v Worcester Warriors Northampton Saints v Wasps Saracens v London Irish Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers

Gloucester Rugby v Saracens Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks Wasps v Newcastle Falcons Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins London Irish v Bath Rugby

Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints Bath Rugby v Harlequins London Irish v Wasps Saracens v Exeter Chiefs

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby Gloucester Rugby v London Irish Wasps v Leicester Tigers Harlequins v Saracens

Leicester Tigers v Saracens Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby Wasps v Gloucester Rugby Worcester Warriors v London Irish

Bath Rugby v Wasps Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks Harlequins v Northampton Saints London Irish v Newcastle Falcons Saracens v Worcester Warriors

Leicester Tigers v London Irish Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby Sale Sharks v Harlequins Wasps v Saracens Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby

Kingsholm Sixways Welford Road Ricoh Arena Sandy Park Madejski Stadium

Welford Road Kingston Park AJ Bell Stadium The Rec Madejski Stadium Allianz Park

Franklin’s Gardens Sixways Sandy Park Kingsholm Ricoh Arena Twickenham Stoop

Welford Road Kingston Park Franklin’s Gardens AJ Bell Stadium Ricoh Arena Sixways

The Rec Sandy Park Kingsholm Twickenham Stadium Madejski Stadium Allianz Park

Welford Road Kingston Park Franklin’s Gardens AJ Bell Stadium Ricoh Arena Sixways

Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers Harlequins v Wasps London Irish v Sale Sharks Saracens v Newcastle Falcons

The Rec Sandy Park Kingsholm Twickenham Stoop Madejski Stadium Allianz Park

Leicester Tigers v Harlequins Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby

Welford Road Kingston Park

SEMI-FINAL TBC May TBC May

TBC TBC

FINAL TBC

TBC

May

REFRESHING

LQ RXU DSSURDFK

UNDERSTANDING YOU, FIRST...

Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

*

SPORTS SPECIAL – AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

Anexcitingseason?

You bet!

It’s the start of another exciting Rugby season and one which will see 11 of the top 12 clubs battling it out in earnest to try and knock Exeter Chiefs off the top spot. The undisputed favourites remain Saracens, however, who put on a breathtaking show last season and expect to follow it up with success this time round. The bookies are in no doubt of the outcome with Sarries at evens to win. So who’s your money on? Club Rugby offers up these short sharp facts to help you make up your own mind.

Saracens

Wasps

Exeter Chiefs

Allianz Park Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon, London NW4 1RL Tel: 0203 675 7200 Fax: 01727 792801

Ricoh Arena 71 Phoenix Way, Foleshill Coventry CV6 6GE Tel:0844 873 6500 Fax: 020 89932621

Sandy Park Stadium, Sandy Park Way Exeter EX2 7NN Tel: 01392 890890 Fax: 01392 890888

Coach: Mark McCall Ground: Allianz Park Capacity: 10,000 Mascot: Sarrie the Camel

ODDS

EVENS

Statistics Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 Draws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,050 Total Points Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,260 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,082 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 768 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 632 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,304 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,131 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 - 7 (v London Welsh 2014) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . 21 - 66 (v Bath Rugby 2008) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 18 CLUB RUGBY

Coach: Dai Young Ground: Ricoh Arena Capacity: 32,609 Mascot: Sting

ODDS

11/4

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Losses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Total Points For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,216 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,657 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,163 Total Tries Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833 Total Conversions Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,178 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,193 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Biggest Win . . . . . . . . . . . 71 - 14 (v West Hartlepool 1998) Heaviest Defeat. . . . . 13 - 74 (v Northampton Saints 2014) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Coach: Rob Baxter Ground: Sandy Park Capacity: 12,500 Mascot: Big Chief

ODDS

4/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,842 Total Points Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,144 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399 Total Tries Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74-19 (v London Welsh 2015) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 55 (v Sale Sharks 2014) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Leicester Tigers

Bath Rugby

Welford Road, Aylestone Road Leicester LE2 7TR Tel: 0844 8561880 Fax: 0116 319888

Recreation Ground Spring Gardens, Bath BA2 6PW Tel: 01225 469230 Fax: 01225 469231

Coach: Matt O'Connor Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 24,000 Mascot: None

ODDS

10/1

Coach: Tabai Matson Ground: Recreation Ground Capacity: 13,516 Mascot: None

ODDS

20/1

Statistics Played . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 Draws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,986 Total Points Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,621 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,253 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 742 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 885 Total Conversions Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,269 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,228 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Total Drop Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Biggest Win . . . . . . 83 - 10 (v Newcastle Falcons 2005) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . 0 - 45 (v Bath Rugby 2014) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Losses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,018 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,778 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,006 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 706 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 557 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,143 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,091 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Total Drop Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . . . 76 - 13 (v London Scottish 1999) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . 12 - 68 (v Gloucester Rugby 2002) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Northampton Saints

Gloucester Rugby

Franklinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gardens, Weedon Road, Northampton NN5 5BG Tel: 01604 581000 Fax: 01604 599110

Kingsholm, Kingsholm Road Gloucester GL1 3AX Tel: 0871 8718781 Fax: 01452 383321

Coach: Jim Mallinder Ground: Franklinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gardens Capacity: 15,500 Mascot: Bernie the St. Bernard

ODDS

40/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Draws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,956 Total Points Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,526 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,039 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 Total Conversions Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579 Total Penalty Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,080 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,032 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 - 13 (v Wasps 2014) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 54 (v Wasps 2000) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Coach: Johan Ackermann Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,121 Mascot: None

ODDS

50/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,402 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,682 Total Tries For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,046 Total Tries Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 959 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 717 Total Conversions Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,194 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,142 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Biggest Win . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 - 12 (v Bath Rugby 2002) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . 6 - 53 (v Northampton Saints 2014) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Harlequins Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7SX Tel: 0208 410 6000 Fax: 0208 410 6001 Coach: Mark Mapletoft Ground: Twickenham Stoop Capacity: 14,800 Mascot: Harley and Charley Bear

ODDS

50/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Losses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,438 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,588 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 949 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 692 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 710 Total Penalty Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,053 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,075 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Total Drop Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Biggest Win . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 - 0 (v London Welsh 2014) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . 19 - 77 (v Bath Rugby 2000) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

CLUB RUGBY 19

>

SPORTS SPECIAL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

Sale Sharks

Newcastle Falcons

London Irish

AJ Bell Stadium, 1 Stadium Way, Eccles. M30 7EY Tel: 0844 844 8400

Kingston Park, Brunton Road, Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE13 8AF Tel: 0191 214 5588 Fax: 0191 2715213

Madejski Stadium Reading Berkshire. RG2 0FL Tel: 01932 750100 Fax: 01932 750101

Coach: Steve Diamond Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 Mascot: Sharky

ODDS

66/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,774 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,430 Total Tries For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,012 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,063 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 695 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 747 Total Penalty Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,034 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,153 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Total Drop Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 - 0 (v Bristol Rugby 1997) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - 58 (v Wasps 2000) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Coach: John Wells Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 Mascot: Flash the Falcon

ODDS

150/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,264 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,046 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830 Total Tries Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,070 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 578 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 707 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 932 Total Penalty Goals Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,043 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Biggest Win . . . . . . . . . 56 - 10 (v Rotherham Titans 2003) Heaviest Defeat. . . . . . . . 10 - 83 (v Leicester Tigers 2005) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Coach: Nick Kennedy Ground: Madejski Stadium Capacity: 24,100 Mascot: Digger the Wolfhound

ODDS

250/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,100 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,630 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 853 Total Tries Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 958 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 659 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,171 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,124 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Biggest Win . . . . . . . . . 56 - 7 (v Yorkshire Carnegie 2009) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . 16 - 64 (v Bath Rugby 2000) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Worcester Warriors Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way Worcester WR3 8ZE Tel: 01905 454 183 Coach: Carl Hogg Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 Mascot: Maximus

ODDS

500/1

Statistics Played. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Draws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Total Points For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,164 Total Points Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,703 Total Tries For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401 Total Tries Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 623 Total Conversions For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268 Total Conversions Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430 Total Penalty Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512 Total Penalty Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549 Total Drop Goals For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Total Drop Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Biggest Win. . . . . . . . . 51 - 10 (v Newcastle Falcons 2008) Heaviest Defeat . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - 57 (v Sale Sharks 2004) Most Consecutive Wins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Most Consecutive Defeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 20 CLUB RUGBY

GUINNESS PRO14 The Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings will compete in the Guinness PRO14 this season alongside teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The Guinness PRO14 The newly expanded Guinness PRO14 is breaking new ground this season as South African sides the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings join the tournament to compete against the top teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Club Rugby looks ahead to an exciting new season.

T

here is huge excitement ahead of the new Guinness PRO14 competition which sees South African sides the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings joining teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in a new crosshemisphere tournament.

The addition of the two new teams means that the tournament is split into two conferences of seven with each conference made up of two Welsh and two Irish teams, with one representative each from Scotland, Italy and South Africa.

The groups have been based on last season’s results with the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Munster, Connacht, Glasgow, Zebre and the Cheetahs in Conference A. Last season’s champions Scarlets, Dragons, Leinster, Ulster, Edinburgh, Benetton Treviso and the Southern Kings will line up in Conference B. The teams will play each other home and away

22 CLUB RUGBY

in their own section and sides out of their own conference once.

The 21-game season will be completed by two additional rounds of matches, ensuring Welsh and Irish teams retain their current six derbies each.

The Scottish, Italian and South African sides will play each other three times.

“This is momentous for rugby - as significant as the launch of the Super 12 tournament, 21 years ago,” said Jurie Roux, the CEO of South Africa Rugby.

“We are breaking new ground with a number of global firsts: this is the first cross-hemisphere domestic club competition; the first time we will have played summer rugby in South Africa and the first experiment in aligning a season in the south with that of the north.”

The PRO14 CEO Martin Anayi said they are looking forward to having the two South African

teams, who like to play an attacking brand of rugby, to grow the PRO14 ‘ brand’.

“The work we have achieved to expand our Championship is a great credit to SA Rugby, the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings,” he said.

“We have already seen the incredible interest from across Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales after our announcement about expansion and it’s great to see that replicated in South Africa.

“This is a ground-breaking feat and a true first in world rugby as we will see north versus south compete on a regular basis in the PRO14.

“Rugby supporters in South Africa and across our existing nations are in for a real treat this season and we can’t wait for the Championship to kick what will be an historic campaign.”

The action will kick-off on Friday, September 1 with four games including Cardiff Blues against Edinburgh, and Ulster v the Cheetahs, with games showing live throughout the season on Sky.

The Scarlets won the Guinness PRO12 title last season, beating Leinster in the Final.

Live Guinness PRO14 on Sky Sports Saturday, September 2, 3.15pm Sky Sports Action Dragons v Leinster

Friday, September 22, 7pm Sky Sports Cheetahs v Leinster

Saturday, September 2, 5.15pm Sky Sports Action Scarlets v Southern Kings

Saturday, September 23, 3.15pm Sky Sports Connacht v Cardiff Blues

Saturday, September 9, 3.15pm Sky Sports Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys

Saturday, September 30, 1.30pm Sky Sports Munster v Cardiff Blues

Saturday, September 16, 3.15pm Sky Sports Ospreys v Munster

Saturday, October 7, 2pm Sky Sports Leinster v Munster CLUB RUGBY 23

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Reviewing and Previewing the

CLUB RUGBY 25

Hospitality Social Media Awards

Social media is one of the biggest tools for the on-trade in all its guises, whatever the outlet and wherever it happens to be.

It allows outlets to reach out via an up-to-the minute – and extremely cost-effective – means of communication. Most importantly it’s proving one of the most effective weapons in drawing people out of their homes and into the hospitality arena.

Awards Judges

The Awards were launched to encourage and applaud this, with finalists across all areas of the hospitality industry, from football and golf clubs to pubs, hotels and restaurants coming under one roof to share successes and learnings.

“Every one of our finalists is clearly an ambassador for the use of social media,” said ACP MD Sean Ferris (pictured above right). “But there are many, many outlets that need more help. And we’re hoping that these success stories will become part of that inspiring process.”

To enter the 2017 Awards, turn to page 42

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

26 CLUB RUGBY

Thank You

DINNER MENU To Start

The first ever Hospitality Social Media Awards were are brought to you with the support of the following:

Heirloom Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad, Mixed Seeds, Olive Powder, Pea Shoots, Balsamic Vinegar & Smoked Maldon Sea Salt

Main Course Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder Confit, Pistachios, Apricots, Mint, Almonds, Cous Cous, Baby Aubergines, Baby Courgettes & Red Pepper Sauce

Dessert Peach and Lavender Panna Cotta, Toffee Sauce, Berries & Shortbread

And Then...

Freshly Brewed Coffee & Petit Fours

Wines on the Table Crown Cellars presented a number of Pedley’s 2016 Picks selected from the following...

Aimery Merlot, Vin de Pays d’Oc

France

Lyric Pinot Grigio, Venezie

Italy

Castillo de Pedra, Viura Vin del la Tierra Castillo

Spain

Seppelt Moyston Unoaked Chardonnay

Australia

Las Ondas Sauvignon Blanc, Valle Central

Chile

Box of Budgies, Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 27

Pre - Awards

The Hospitality Social Media Awards are all about engaging, networking and driving business. And behind every Facebook page or Instagram gallery are committed individuals and teams who value interaction at all levels and on all platforms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including face-to -face fun with like-minded peers.

Sport, who Shine on BT h the to join us wit r e v o d e d a he up. ier League C m re P d te e v co ic with this class s e lfi se f o ts Lo by re, followed a rw e lv si f o bit tion and awe p e c re s k n ri ad ainment from rt te n e g in ir insp n chie magicia mystifying te .

Tom London

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

28 CLUB RUGBY

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 29

Let the Awards Commence!

Welcome to sports presenter and host

John Inverdale...

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

30 CLUB RUGBY

And welcome to our other celebrity guests who joined us on that special night...

Craig Doyle

Steve Cram

Tessa Sanderson

Austin Healy

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 31

RUGBY CLUB OF THE YEAR Bedford Blues Rugby Club Darlington Mowden Park RFC Manchester Rugby Club Newport Rugby Club Old Reigatian RFC West Park Leeds RUFC

32 CLUB RUGBY

Rugby Club of the Year!

Bedford Blues Rugby Club

All players are activ ely involved, receiving basic so cial media training, and on m atch days the club live-tweets th e game. Social media is renewing old members, drawing in new on es and increasing merchan dise sales.

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 33 CLUB RUGBY 37

ENTRY FORM The Hospitality Social Media Awards (HSMA) look forward to your entry and/or nomination. From the smallest football club to the largest stadia, we want to hear from you.

Just tick which categories youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in, fill in a couple of details and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do the rest.

INTRODUCTION From websites to Facebook, and everything in between, the Hospitality Social Media Awards will be seeking out those of you who are busy using social media to engage with your customers.

THE AWARDS Info@hsma.biz will get your entry underway. Alternatively use this QR code.

Hospitality

JUDGING PANEL The judging panel includes leading professionals in marketing, communications, advertising and digital communications as well as leading lights from the pub, club and hospitality world.

Football Club of the Year Golf Club of the Year Rugby Club of the Year Community Club of the Year Sport & Leisure Resort of the Year

Name: Position: Business Name: Address:

Sports Club of the Year Bar of the Year Hotel of the Year Restaurant of the Year Club Chain of the Year Hotel Chain of the Year

Telephone:

Restaurant Chain of the Year

Email:

Other - Please State:

Website: Social Media Accounts: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Others:

Deadline: September 30, 2017

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sean

Best regards

Sean Ferris Publishing Director www.hsma.biz | info@hsma.biz sean@alchemymedia.co.uk | 01753 272022

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Thismonthon

social media...

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up? A whirlwind tour of some of the tweets, web pages, interviews and pictures that caught the digital eye of the Club Rugby team.

38 CLUB RUGBY

SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS Want to enter this year's Awards?

Then turn to page 34 or use this QR code to enter.

CLUB RUGBY 39

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AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

Exeter Chiefs will be out to defend the Aviva Premiership title they clinched at Twickenham in May 2017.

42 CLUB RUGBY

CLUB RUGBY 43

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18

Players to watch As the Aviva Premiership prepares for kick off, Club Rugby selects a number of individuals who are set to make a huge impact for their respective clubs over the coming months.

RUAN ACKERMANN (GLOUCESTER) A massive new signing for the Cherry and Whites, Ruan Ackermann heads to the West Country fresh from a superb season with South African franchise, the Lions, who reached the 2017 Super Rugby Final where they lost to the Crusaders.

The versatile Ackermann can play in all three back row positions, making him a very useful addition to the Gloucester squad although he is most likely to feature at blindside flanker.

He is almost certain to enjoy a good relationship with Gloucester’s Head Coach, his father Johan Ackermann, but will certainly not be looking for any familial favours as he battles for a starting place in an area where the team has plenty of strength in depth.

One of Ruan’s key attributes is his excellent ball-carrying, as was demonstrated by his performance in that Super Rugby Final when he managed to breach the Crusaders’ defensive line several times.

He is also a very tenacious defender and was one of the top tacklers for the Lions during their most recent Super Rugby season.

PIERS FRANCIS (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS) Winning his first England cap over the summer against Argentina before he had ever played in the Aviva Premiership, Piers Francis has marked himself out as a player of real quality with a string of standout Super Rugby performances for the Blues of New Zealand.

Indeed, Francis was set to appear for the Blues against the British & Irish Lions earlier this year but instead accepted the England call from coach Eddie Jones and duly found himself making his international debut in the 1st Test against the Pumas and then scored a try in the 2nd Test a week later.

A former Saracens youth player who also had stints with Edinburgh and Doncaster Knights before heading to New Zealand where he won the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award in his first season at the Blues.

Northampton Saints coach Jim Mallinder is certainly a fan of the young No.10, particularly his game management, something which the Saints lacked at key moments last season. He said: “Piers is a very good playmaker who is comfortable with ball in hand but who can also control a match with his kicking game too.”

44 CLUB RUGBY

MAXIME MERMOZ (NEWCASTLE FALCONS) As the Falcons gear up for another battle for their Premiership survival, they have brought in some experienced campaigners to help the cause.

One of their key signings has been Maxime Mermoz, the French international centre who has won a total of 35 caps and has played for some of France’s biggest clubs in Perpignan and Toulon, although at the latter club his opportunities were somewhat limited by the squad’s embarrassment of riches.

He ended up signing for Leicester Tigers midway through last season from Toulon before completing a move to Newcastle in the off-season.

A nicely balanced runner with a decent turn of pace and the deft handling skills you’d expect of a Gallic midfielder, Mermoz is perhaps best known for his performances during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He memorably scored his first try for France in their 37-17 pool loss to New Zealand, intercepting a Dan Carter pass close to the halfway line before running clear to score.

GORDON REID (LONDON IRISH) Having won promotion at the first time of asking, London Irish are determined to stay in the top flight and have bolstered their squad accordingly. They know that the set-piece is going to be crucial in the coming months and the presence of Scotland international loosehead prop Gordon Reid will add to their strength. The former Glasgow Warrior is not renowned as a particularly destructive scrummager but is a solid customer who, at 31 years of age, should be coming into his prime in the front row. Starting out as a amateur player with Ayr in the Scottish borders, Reid ended up playing over 100 games for Glasgow and has now won over 20 caps for his country. A key figure in Glasgow Warriors' PRO12 title success, Reid played in all four of Scotland’s 2015 Summer Test matches, starting in the away win over Italy in Torino. His performances earned him a place in the 31-man Scotland squad for Rugby World Cup 2015, in which he made three appearances - starting against South Africa, and coming on as a replacement against Samoa, and then Australia in the heartbreaking quarter-final defeat.

CLUB RUGBY 45

>

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2017/18 JAMES O’CONNOR (SALE SHARKS) James O’Connor made a stunning Wallaby debut as an 18-year-old back in 2008 and went on to score a bucketful of international tries during his 44 appearances for his country.

O’Connor previously played in the English Premiership for London Irish while he’s also had Super Rugby stints with the Western Force, Melbourne and Queensland Reds.

Most recently, of course, he has been part of the all-star line-up at Toulon and played in last season’s Top 14 final against Clermont.

Now the utility back, who is equally at home at fullback, wing or fly-half, will be part of an exciting Sale Sharks backline which also boasts the dazzling attacking talents of England wing Denny Solomona.

O’Connor has been dogged by some off-field controversies during his playing career – most notably becoming embroiled in a ‘cocaine sting’ in Paris in the early part of 2017 – but remains an amazing talent when focused on what he does best.

“He is a world-class, versatile back that will add a lot to our game,” said Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond.

“He is the type of player that, alongside a group of incredibly talented home grown lads, will help us as a club to push on and achieve the vision of our owners.”

LIAM WILLIAMS (SARACENS) Despite suffering a nightmarish start to his tour of New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions, Williams finished the summer as one of the star turns for the tourists, his fearless running lines and pure pace causing major problems for the All Blacks. His part in the Lions’ ‘wonder try’ in the 1st Test in Auckland will be talked about for many years to come and demonstrated just why Sarries fans are so excited abut seeing the Welsh international in their club colours.

Fielding a high ball in his own 22 with a number of All Blacks bearing down on him, Williams spurned an easy kick into touch to embark on a high-risk manoeuvre, ghosting past Aaron Cruden and then Sonny Bill Williams to launch a thrilling counter-attack. As history will attest, the end result was a try for team-mate Sean O’Brien at the other end of the field.

Now Williams is ready to hook up with fellow Lions Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola and George Kruis as they hunt for more glory week-in, week-out. After signing from the Scarlets, he said: “Saracens are European champions so it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

Hopefully, I’ll go there and be part of a side that win a couple more trophies.”

46 CLUB RUGBY

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2017 HOSPITALITY SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Enter the 2017 Awards

email info@hsma.biz

REGISTRATION HOTLINE 01753 272022

LIVE SPORTING FIXTURES FROM

The best of Saturday September 9, 12.30pm – Sky Sports Premier League HD

Premier League: Manchester City v Liverpool There were bright moments from Liverpool last season as they powered their way into a top-four finish, just behind Manchester City, but can they maintain their upward trajectory this season?

Sports4Bars.com looks ahead to the biggest sporting fixtures coming up in September as the Premier League and Aviva Premiership Rugby take centre stage.

Thursday September 7 11am Sky Sports Cricket HD

Saturday September 9 4.30pm BT Sport 1 HD

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 3rd Test - Day 1

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers An East Midlands derby as the

The final match of this three-Test series gets underway at Lord’s. The last Test victory enjoyed by the tourists at this ground came way back in 1988.

Friday September 8 7.45pm BT Sport 1 HD

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons

Saturday September 16, 9.30pm – BT Sport 1 HD

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Newcastle Falcons v Saracens The Aviva Premiership heads over the Atlantic to play a fixture in the USA as Newcastle Falcons host Saracens in a ‘home’ tie in Philadelphia.

American rugby fans will no doubt be thrilled to see some of the bigname players on show in this encounter, not least emerging global superstar Maro Itoje, part of the Sarries pack.

A battle between England’s northern rugby union powerhouses.

The Sharks will want to make home advantage count against the Falcons.

Saturday September 9 12.30pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Premier League: Manchester City v Liverpool Liverpool had the better of Manchester City in their League encounters last season, beating the Blues 1-0 at Anfield and then matching them 1-all at the Etihad in March.

Saturday September 9 2pm BT Sport 1 HD

Saturday September 30, 5.30pm – BT Sport 1 HD

Premier League: Chelsea v Manchester City Pep Guardiola’s project at Manchester City continues and the spotlight will be on the Spaniard once again as he attempts to turn his side into a formidable force both at home and in Europe. Reigning champions Chelsea will be far more stretched than last season, with the small matter of the UEFA Champions League to contend with alongside their domestic fixtures.

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Bath v Saracens Saracens missed out on the domestic title last season after losing to Exeter in the Final and will be aiming to get their season off to a resounding start. Their cause will be helped by the presence of several British & Irish Lions who flourished in New Zealand over the summer.

Saints take on Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens. Tigers coach Matt O’Connor, back for his second stint at the club, has promised a more expansive style of play this season.

Saturday September 9 5.30pm BT Sport 1 HD

Premier League: Stoke City v Manchester United By this stage, United fans will have more than an inkling of how their team will be shaping up this season after some major acquisitions during the transfer window.

Sunday September 10 1.30pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Premier League: Burnley v Crystal Palace Survival will be the chief objective of these two sides this season with neither side boasting the star power of many of their Premier League rivals.

Sunday September 10 4pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Premier League: Swansea City v Newcastle United Swansea City enjoyed a late rally in the Premier League last season but with a tough run-in scheduled this time around they may need to accumulate plenty of points in the first half of the season.

For latest news and timings on sporting events coming to the club screen, visit Sports4Bars.com 48 CLUB RUGBY

September’s live sport ALSO COMING UP...

Saturday September 9 3.15pm Sky Sports

PRO14 Rugby: Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys Saturday September 9 5.30pm Sky Sports Football HD

Championship Football: Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest Thursday September 21 12.30pm Sky Sports Cricket HD

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 2nd ODI

England v West Indies, Tuesday, September 19, 12.30pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD

Saturday September 16 5.30pm BT Sport 1 HD

Sunday September 17 1.30pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Tuesday September 19 12.30pm Sky Sports Cricket HD

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City

Premier League: Chelsea v Arsenal

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 1st ODI

Spurs endured a frustrating time in the transfer market during the offseason but coach Mauricio Pochettino will be satisfied that he has the personnel to challenge for the title again this season.

Tottenham enjoyed a fantastic season but faded badly in the final run-in.

The two rivals know each other’s strengths and weaknesses inside out having played in the FA Cup Final at the tailend of last season as well as facing off in the Community Shield clash in August. It means this will be another fiery, intense exchange between the London rivals.

Action from Old Trafford as the first of five one-day international games between England and the West Indies takes place.

Saturday September 16 9.30pm BT Sport 1 HD

Sunday September 17 4pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Newcastle Falcons v Saracens

Premier League: Manchester United v Everton

This should be a highly entertaining encounter as the reigning champions host one of last season’s most impressive teams.

An unusually late kick-off in the Aviva Premiership as this match will see the teams playing a tie in Philadelphia, USA. Although this is officially a ‘home’ fixture for Newcastle Falcons, Saracens were involved in the first Premiership fixture played in the USA, beating London Irish 26-16 in New York in 2016.

The build-up to this game will be huge given the presence of a certain Wayne Rooney on the Everton team. Having spent most of his professional life in the red of Manchester United, the forward will now be desperate to cause them some serious damage. It will be fascinating to see if the switch will put a new spark in Rooney’s game.

Sunday September 24 3pm BT Sport 1 HD

Aviva Premiership Rugby: Exeter Chiefs v Wasps

Saturday September 30 5.30pm BT Sport 1 HD

Sunday September 24 11am Sky Sports Cricket HD

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 3rd ODI Sunday September 24 4pm Sky Sports Premier League HD

Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United Wednesday September 27 12.30pm Sky Sports Cricket HD

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 4th ODI Friday September 29 12.30pm Sky Sports Cricket HD

International Cricket: England v West Indies, 5th ODI

Premier League: Chelsea v Manchester City Manchester City have spent big over the summer and this tie will give Pep Guardiola a chance to see how his squad measures up against the reigning champions.

www.Sports4Bars.com

For latest news and timings on sporting events coming to the club screen, visit Sports4Bars.com CLUB RUGBY 49

CLUB AWARDS 2017

Club Awards host looks forward to meeting you This year, back by popular demand, sports journalist and presenter John Inverdale joins us to host the Club Awards and Gala Dinner.

J

ohn Inverdale is a firm favourite in the Club Awards Hall of Fame, which he shares with fellow presenters Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine, Steve Rider, Chris Hollins and BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent.

He is renowned for his breadth of sports coverage, from the Ryder Cup to the Olympics, and his presentation skills are matched only by his sense of humour. He’s very much looking forward to sharing all the fun of the evening with Club Awards finalists and Gala Dinner guests.

• For details of how to book, turn to page 21.

CLUB RUGBY 53

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CLUB AWARDS 2017

Callingallclubs Join us in Doncaster Club Rugby invites you to join fellow clubs and club-supporting sponsors at the 2017 Club Awards and Gala Dinner. Plus: continue the celebrations on December 1 with a day at the races – on us.

Date: 30 November, 2017 Venue: Doncaster Racecourse Whether it’s meeting sponsoring suppliers, comparing notes with other clubs or trying out a new beer for the bar, the Club Rugby team invites you to join them for an action packed Evening on November 30, followed by a day’s racing on December 1.

6 - 7pm DRINKS RECEPTION Join us at the pre-Awards drinks reception courtesy of Marston’s and Heineken UK. Photo opportunities to date courtesy of BT Sport have included the FA Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Premier League Trophy.

54 CLUB RUGBY

STO Don P PR â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fo ES r f r e Don e ra get the S r

7 - 9.30pm CLUB AWARDS & GALA DINNER The 26th Club Awards and Gala Dinner is being presented by sports personality John Inverdale (above, top). Back by popular demand, he is one of many celebrity hosts to join the Club Awards Hall of Fame.

on Dcaster cing at eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club ecem Racec Awa ber 1 ourse rds for Turn to p attend all ees mor age 5 e de 6 fo . tails r .

10pm - 12 midnight ENTERTAINMENT ZONE The evening continues after the Awards with festive entertainment in the Alpine Village!

Turn to page 59 and complete the Booking Form to secure your places.

CLUB RUGBY 55

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CLUB AWARDS VENUE

Doncaster Racecourse gets ready for Club Awards

The Club Awards take place this year on 30 November at a brand new venue, Doncaster Racecourse.

And there’s an added bonus – free racing on the following day.

A

ll Club Awards finalists and Gala Dinner guests are invited to join us for an exciting day’s racing on Friday, December 1.

“The first day’s racing in December will be the perfect way to keep the Club Awards celebrations going,” says Karen Foreman from the events team.

“The atmosphere will be electric and we’re delighted to have worked with the racecourse to secure free tickets for all of our Club Awards guests."

To book, turn to page 59.

56 CLUB RUGBY

HOW TO GET TO THE CLUB AWARDS DONCASTER RACECOURSE 30 November, 2017 By road Excellent links to the motorway network – M1(jnc 32), M18 (jncs 3/4), A1M (jnc 36) and the M62.

Free Club Awards parking • On November 30, all parking is free in car parks A and C. • On December 1 (race day) car park C is free; car park A costs £5 (can be bought on the day or booked in advance from the racecourse reception).

Drop-off and collection points Coaches and minibuses - car park C. Cars - car park A. (Drop-off and collection is prohibited on Leger Way.) By rail The Racecourse is two-and-a-half miles from Doncaster Train Station. There is step-free access, ramps from train, wheelchairs available.

Examples of rail travel times: Birmingham – 1h 47m (direct); Cardiff Central– 4h 11m (1 change); Leeds – 30m (direct); London (Kings Cross) – 1h 38m (direct); Manchester (direct) – 1h 15m

Doncaster is one of the oldest established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th century. In 1776 Colonel Anthony St. Leger founded a race in which five horses ran. Now, 241 years later, that race has become Doncaster’s prestigious four-day St. Leger Festival, the premier sporting occasion of the autumn calendar.

National Rail enquiries: 08457 484950; www.nationalrail.co.uk Travel from the station to the course • Buses – frequent. Approx 18-20 mind to course.

• Taxis – station taxi rank. Doncaster Station Taxis will accept pre-bookings/late night bookings. Tel. 01302 368 636. Also many local firms.

By air Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield is less than seven miles from Doncaster Racecourse, within easy reach of Manchester, Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports.

FREE KETS TIC 6.50 RACETH £1 WOR rs and

e sts, winn to All finali E tickets E R F n e r ill be giv ecembe D n guests w o g cin s. day's ra b Award lu enjoy a C e h t y after on 1, the da r details o f 9 5 e ag Turn to p ook. how to b CLUB RUGBY 57

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T O M O R R O W â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S C H A M P I O N S T O D A Y

27-28 OCTOBER #RPTROPHY

doncaster-racecourse.co.uk DoncasterRaces

01302 304200

DoncasterRaces

Terms & conditions apply. For full terms and conditions please visit our website. Doncaster Racecourse encourages responsible gambling. www.gambleaware.co.uk.

CLUB AWARDS 2017

JOIN US FOR THE CLUB EVENT OF THE YEAR The Club Awards, now in their 26th year, are well known for providing the perfect informative – and fun – way to network with suppliers and fellow clubs.

Come and join us for a night of celebration and fun. Open to all clubs, this is the must-attend event of the year. (Finalists in the Awards receive two complimentary tickets.)

Complete the form below, or email us on info@alchemymedia.co.uk

TICKET BOOKING FORM 30 November, 2017, Doncaster Racecourse • Complimentary drinks reception

NAME: ________________________________________________________

• Three-course gala dinner

POSITION IN CLUB: ___________________________________________

• Entertainment with celebrity host

CLUB NAME AND ADDRESS: ____________________________________

• After dinner entertainment

______________________________________________________________

• Complimentary ticket to Doncaster Racecourse the following day for each guest

______________________________________________________________ CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________________

n I would like _______ (STATE NUMBER) tickets @ £52 + VAT

n I would like ________ (STATE NUMBER) table/s for 10 @ £494 + (Total inc VAT: £62.40).

n I will/will not take up my free tickets for racing on December 1.

VAT (Total inc VAT: £592.80).

(One ticket per Awards/Gala Dinner guest.)

EMAIL ADDRESS: _______________________________________________ SEND COMPLETED FORM TO CLUB RUGBY: BOOK ONLINE: www.awards.clubmirror.com or use this QR code

BY EMAIL: info@alchemymedia.co.uk

BY POST: Club Awards, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

BY FAX: 01753 272021 OR CALL: 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 59

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

You may know you’re the best club in the district but unless you shout about it no one else will – including your members. Press releases are a cost-effective way to communicate all that you do to your members and beyond. Enjoy our backto-basics advice on setting up a PR programme and letting the world know what you’re up to. That includes the next club barbie. HQ offers up some inspiring international burger recipes to make yours the best barbie in town. Also: Dealing with characters in the workplace and our Legal Eagle answers your questions.

Plus: Don’t forget to sign up to our free-to-clubs Building the Business service.

Worcester Warriors’ GM gives reasons why you should.

The power of PR Does your club have a press release plan in place? If not then this is for you.

T

he number one benefit of having a press release plan in place is that your club is constantly in the news (more or less for free).

This instantly helps raise the profile of the club and also creates the impression that the club is busy with activity. This will be attractive to new members.

The other key factor is the good will it creates from the people the press release is about; members, suppliers, sponsors, charities, as they too are benefitting from the free exposure.

If you do need to justify your PR efforts to your Committee then you can keep a press clipping file and do the calculation of the equivalent media value you have achieved/Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE).

This is the column inches your press release got multiplied by that publication’s advertising rate for

60 CLUB RUGBY

the same space. Some PR companies will multiply this figure by – for example – 1.5, arguing that the value of third party editorial is greater than a paid for ad. These measurements may not be an exact science, but nevertheless they are a measurement! 90 day press release plan One way to get free coverage for your club is to create a 90 day rolling press release plan.

First of all create a simple spread sheet or table and create monthly headings. Then review the activity calendar to see what is coming up and then schedule into the press releases plan – what are you going to write and when?

If, for example, you are a sports club manager you can focus your press releases around your key events, then add in other key activities or happenings at your club. You will be surprised what is news worthy!

Include things like forth coming events, event results, new staff appointments, training activities (members and guest like to read that you are investing in people!), new innovations, new purchases charity initiatives – even wild life or the bird count on the club grounds can be newsworthy.

Once you have your plan, then put in place your press release template which should have a heading, place for the key content and ‘boiler plate’ (this is the post amble about your club and a contact person in case editors want more information).

The next stage is to create a database of your local, regional and international media contacts so you have great distribution and then start feeding them releases (and invite them to the club to see you in action).

Also – of course – don’t forget to post your press release on social media too.

How to balance introverts and extroverts in the workplace Around 60% of workers don’t think that their employers are catering for their individual needs. But is it possible in reality to please everyone working at the club?

R

esearch from office furniture supplier DBI Furniture has revealed the need for employees to feel that their personalities are acknowledged and catered for in the workplace.

Managing Director Nick Pollitt believes that a lot more can be done to facilitate the needs of every employee making them feel as comfortable as possible in their working environment, regardless of their personality traits.

It’s important to understand how different personality types thrive, he says: “For example, introverts dislike noise, interruptions and big group settings.

They prefer time to think before speaking and benefit from building relationships and trust one-on-one.

Space is important for them to focus and they much prefer individual projects.

Extroverts, on the other hand, gravitate toward groups and tend to think out loud, becoming ener-

gised by personal interactions, social gatherings and shared ideas.

To further understand the need to accommodate for these personality traits, Nick spoke to a range of business leaders who share their advice on catering for individuals. For Cherry Ainsworth, Talen Acquisition Leader at PatSnap, the modern work place, for the most part, does very little to accommodate for introverted individuals. “Skills and characteristics that many associate with extroverts include big personality, taking risks and motivation. All of those are fantastic attributes but if applied to everyone, it can run the risk of becoming a team of big clashing characters, who lack direction and emotional sensitivity,” she says.

Tom Craig, co-founder at Impression is equally convinced that there is a need to respect individual differences. “Our team is made up of a wide range of

people, from different backgrounds, different ages, different experience levels. We also have people who are quieter and tend to keep themselves to themselves more, and those who are a bit more extrovert around the office,” he says. “What’s been really important for us as our team has grown is that we keep these differences in mind and accommodate everyone.”

Nick suggest that for introverts a ‘huddle room’ could be a good idea, where just two or three people can get together to concentrate or a dedicated silent zone with hot desks for those who need quiet to focus. For the extroverts who thrive on social situations, aim to include common areas in the workspace and maybe a large community table. “It’s an ideal setup for extroverts to meet new people across departments each week, and offers introverts the chance to engage in social chitchat but disconnect without guilt after the break,” he says.

The thrill of the grill With National Burger Day searching for the best international burgers, have a look at the following contenders for inspirational additions to the next club barbie.

Black Coconut Jude’s Ice Cream Burger (from Pear Tree Cafe) Made with a scoop of Black Coconut ice cream between a toasted black brioche bun, this tropicalflavoured burger is finished with freshly sliced mango, a lime-juice glaze and coconut curls.

The Beef Bourguignon Burger (from Dexter Burger) Dexter Burger brought Soho-style dining to the suburbs of Purley with its rare breed, grass-fed beef Beef Bourguignon burger - a Dexter beef patty, topped with pulled beef bourguignon, dauphinoise, Boursin sauce and a side of extra-garlicky garlic fries.

The Slav Burger (from Studio Kitchen) The Slav Burger is 7 ounces of deep-fried minced beef, topped with pickles, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and ketchup. Serve with home-made coleslaw and crispy skin-on-fries.

The Chicken Satay & The Fishcake Burger (from Nipa Thai) The Chicken Satay Burger and The Fishcake Burger

are inspired by the flavours of Thai streetfood. The rich Chicken Satay Burger is topped with sweet basil, red onion and cucumber relish and served with sweet potato chips, whilst the Fishcake Burger (made with Whiting) is topped with a green mango salad and served with crunchy plantain chips. Serve wrapped in vibrant green Pandan leaves.

The Houston Slopper (from Red’s True BBQ) The Houston Slopper is a double bacon cheeseburger with a drizzle of cheese sauce and ‘slopped’ with brisket, rib and pork meat Brunswick chilli. Serve with a grated cheddar cheese garnish.

The Jack Daniel’s Beef Burger (from Sopwell House Hotel & Spa) From Gopi Chandran, Executive Head Chef at Sopwell House Hotel & Spa, St. Albans in Hertfordshire, comes the Jack Daniel’s Beef Burger.

Serves 1 Ingredients: 100g 100% Beef Burger.

1 Brioche Bun. 1 slice Smoked Apple Wood cheese.

2 slices Iceberg lettuce.

1 slice Beef tomato.

Red onion (thinly sliced).

Gherkin (sliced).

50ml BBQ Jack Daniel’s glaze.

Method: 1. Season the beef burger patty and chargrill until cooked through.

2. Place a slice of the smoked apple wood cheese on the burger until it melts and top with the BBQ Jack Daniel’s glaze.

3. Slice the brioche bun in half and place the burger inside.

4. Garnish with the lettuce, beef tomato, onion, and sliced gherkin.

5. Serve with a salad or sweet potato fries and enjoy!

• www.sopwellhouse.co.uk

CLUB RUGBY 61

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Legal eagle HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Can I hold a casino night or race night for charity?

The most common way to raise money for charity at a casino night or race night is by organising a noncommercial event.

Apart from reasonable costs, the money raised from the event: â&#x20AC;˘ Must not be used for private gain. â&#x20AC;˘ Must all be given to a good cause.

Reasonable costs would include any expenses reasonably incurred, for example the cost of providing the prizes.

If a club sells goods or services at the event, for example by selling refreshments, this does not count as money raised for the charity or good cause and can be retained.

62 CLUB RUGBY

With fund-raising for charities always on the agenda, our resident Legal Eagle examines an important question regarding how to raise monies through in-club gambling.

Provided the following rules are observed a noncommercial casino night or race night can take place without a licence or any other authorisation.

Persons under 18 may also take part.

CASINO NIGHT A non-commercial casino night must be operated as a prize gaming or equal chance gaming event.

People taking part must be told which good cause is to benefit from the gaming.

Subject to the following rules, players may stake money on casino-style games such as poker or roulette.

Prize gaming casino night The prizes must be advertised in advance and must not be determined by the number of people

taking part or the amount of money staked on each game.

The casino game (e.g. roulette) will determine the winner, for example by counting who has the most casino chips at the end of the event. The winner will then be awarded the prize that has been advertised in advance.

Equal chance gaming casino night Equal chance gaming is where the chance of winning is equal between all those taking part. There must be no bank or house involved, as there would be in commercial casino gaming.

In non-commercial equal chance gaming the charitable funds are usually raised through an entrance fee, participation fee or other payments related to the gaming.

A player may be charged no more than £8 per day (this includes entrance or participation fees, stakes and any other payments in relation to the gaming).

Organisers must ensure that the total amount paid out in prizes must not exceed £600 in total amongst all those taking part.

Where an event is the final one of a series in which all of the players have taken part in another event of the series held on a previous day, a higher prize fund of up to £900 is allowed.

RACE NIGHT To constitute a non-commercial race night the selection of a horse by a participant is totally dependent on chance, and no odds or form are available to assist selection.

An example would be the use of archive films of horseracing without revealing the details of each race.

A non-commercial race night can be operated either as an incidental lottery, non-commercial prize gaming or non-commercial equal chance gaming.

People taking part must be told what good cause will benefit from the profits of the gaming.

Incidental lottery at a race night As its name suggests the lottery is incidental to an event.

The lottery must be promoted wholly for a purpose other than private gain, in other words, the lottery can only be promoted for a charity or other good cause.

No more than £100 may be deducted from the proceeds in respect of the expenses incurred in organising the lottery There are no limits on the amount that players may be charged to take part in an incidental lottery.

No more than £500 may be deducted from the proceeds of the lottery for the cost of prizes which may be in cash or in kind.

Other prizes may be donated to the lottery and there is no maximum limit on the value of donated prizes.

“

The race determines the winner, for example those who have paid a stack to take part are allocated or select a horse in the race. The winner is then awarded the prize that has been advertised in advance.

Non-commercial equal chance gaming race night Race nights can be organised as non-commercial equal chance gaming.

The rules are the same as those above which apply to casino nights that are organised as non-commercial equal chance gaming.

An example of a race night organised in this way would be where each person taking part pays a fee for a randomly selected horse in each race and the participant with the winning horse receives a prize proportionate to the stakes placed.

Further information can be found in advice published by the Gambling Commission: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Ad vice-on-non-commercial-and-private-gaming-andbetting.pdf

”

Tickets may only be sold during and at the event.

The result of the lottery can be drawn at the event or after it has finished.

The lottery cannot involve a rollover of prizes from one lottery to another.

An example of a race night organised as an incidental lottery is where a horse is picked at random for each participant who is then awarded a prize if the horse wins the race.

Non-commercial prize gaming race night The prizes must be advertised in advance and must not depend on the number of people playing or the amount staked on each game.

The race determines the winner, for example those who have paid a stake to take part are allocated or select a horse in the race. The winner is then awarded the prize that has been advertised in advance.

CONTACT DETAILS Fraser Brown Solicitors 84 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6ED e. dlucas@fraserbrown.com t. 0115 959 7139 mob. 07973 899398

CLUB RUGBY 63

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Want to cut club spend while increasing efficiencies? Well now you can. Introducing HQ Building the Business. Completely free to clubs this new service involves no contracts and no costs, just better buying and better club business.

Welcome to HQ Building the Business F

rom utilities and energy savings to procurement and financial services, HQ Building the Business works with your club as a surrogate head office, helping you to boost club business. And by working with carefully selected club-supporting partners and suppliers, HQ Building the Business will save you valuable time and resources in the quest to save your club money, freeing up you and your committee to run an even more efficient club.

You’re just three steps away from saving money.

Step 1 Free no-obligation audit – just call us or email us.

Step 2 Following our audit and discussions, if we believe we can help your club we will source the best deals available.

Frequently Asked Questions Q. What do I get when I become a member?

A: You get a free and confidential audit of your club in those areas where you would like to find savings and efficiencies. This could be anything from utilities to phone bills and from food to club equipment.

Q. What are the costs?

A. There are no costs. HQ is free to join.

Q. If I become a member, what are my obligations?

A. There are no obligations for you or your club and no contracts. All we ask is that when we work with you, you are open about your current supplier situation.

suppliers we need to prove the value of a club to their business, but if we can help we will.

Q. What are your club credentials?

A. We’ve been working in the club sector for over 30 years in various roles. The launch of HQ Building the Business is the culmination of many years working with clubs and suppliers, from brewers and telecoms suppliers, to energy and water companies.

Q. Do I need a face to face meeting?

A. Not necessarily. A lot of the ground work can be done over the phone/email.

Q. How do I become a member?

A. Just email enquiries@hqbusiness.com, call 01753 272022 or use the form on the opposite page.

Q. Does the club need to have a minimum turnover?

A. Our services are most suited to clubs with a minimum turnover of £100,000. This is because to secure the HQ Building the Business deals with

Step 3 Your club starts saving money.

This is what we call a win win! So get in touch now and help us help you to make 2017 an even better year for your club and your members. You can call on 01753 272022, email enquiries@hqbusiness.com or use the form opposite.

Ryan Bezuidenhout, General Manager of Aviva Premiership Rugby contender, Worcester Warriors “My role is very much to ensure that the support mechanisms of an efficient stadium and business are in place. I’ve worked with David and his team to assist in delivering savings across the business at Worcester Warriors and I am delighted to recommend the team on a professional as well as personal level.

Energy has been one of the biggest projects, and this procurement is delivering significant short and long term savings. There are plenty of people out there who claim they can do this; this team can.

A large part of my role is about getting things done efficiently and effectively, hence why I value the straight talking, efficient and short sharp presentation of results. No fuss, no salesmanship, just a host of opportunities followed up by appropriate and helpful assistance to deliver the chosen projects; make the most of them.”

• www.warriors.co.uk

64 CLUB RUGBY

MEMBERSHIP FORM Yes I am interested in joining the no-cost, no-contract, no obligation HQ Building the Business club.

Your name: _____________________________________

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Role in club: _____________________________________ Club name and address: _____________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Tel no: ________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Number of members: ______________________________ Turnover*:______________________________________

n All n Other (please list): _____________________________

Particular areas you are interested in?

_____________________________________________

*Turnover - this information is entirely confidential and is not shared with any other companies/agencies etc. It is HQ Building the Businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s measure as to how we can help you save money.

CLUB RUGBY 65

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

RacingClub HQ fixtures BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Club Rugby readers and their members can take advantage of discounted raceday tickets with our new Racing Club. To enjoy a our specially negotiated rates simply select your dates and send in the booking form.

F

rom flat racing to jumps, racedays are a great day out for members. Now you can make them even more enjoyable thanks to our specially negotiated club-only prices.

HOW TO BOOK 1. Choose your raceday as listed on these pages.

2. Write a cheque for the correct amount made out to the racecourse.

3. Send the booking form and cheque made payable to the relevant racecourse to: Club Rugby Racing Club, ACP, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1TX. 4. Deadline – please send the booking form and cheque at least four weeks in advance of the raceday.

Tickets will be sent out once the cheques have been processed by the racecourse.

DONCASTER RACECOURSE – FREE TICKETS Attendees at the 2017 Club Awards and Gala Dinner on 30 November, being held at Doncaster Racecourse, will receive complimentary tickets to the following day’s racing. See page 21 for booking form.

66 CLUB RUGBY

STOP PRESS Doncaster Racecourse if offering readers a 50% discount on Grandstand tickets from October to December.

Also on offer: A Grandstand package on Leger Wednesday (13 September) where £21 includes entry, a drink and a racecard.

Visit www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk for Grandstand ticket prices pre-discount.

THIRSK Thirsk Racecourse stages 14 race meetings from April to September, making the most of the Flat racing season in scenic Yorkshire. It plays host to a recognised classic trial as well as the Thirsk Hunt Cup a valuable handicap held around the end of April that is one of the best cavalry charges of the season.

• Fri, 21 September – £10.00 • Sat, 9 September – £10.00 Did you know?

Racing in the Thirsk area has been recorded as far back as 1612 when King James I organised horse races on his land in the Hambleton Hills.

HAYDOCK PARK Situated equidistant between Liverpool and Manchester, Haydock Park is one of the finest viewing courses in Britain. Racing under both codes is of a very high standard and is well regarded by trainers looking to educate their younger horses.

WETHERBY Last year 2,500 club people attended Wetherby Races at an event run and organised by the Club & Institute Union (CIU). The Union has its own race alongside Club Awards sponsors Dransfields – the Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday Handicap Hurdle.

• Thurs, 7 September: Red Sprint Cup Festival – £9 • Fri, 8 September: Red Sprint Cup Festival – £9 • Sat, 9 September: Red Sprint Cup Festival – £12.50 • Fri 29 September: 1750 Day – £9 • Sat, 30 September: TENsational; Real Ale Day – £11 • Fri, 20 October: 1750 Day – £9 • Sat, 25 November: Betfair Chase – £12.50, • Wed 6 December: 1750 Day – £9.50 • Sat, 23 December: Tommy Whittle Chase – £11.50 • Sat, 30 December: The Last Fling – £11

• Sat, 18 November (Prices to be announced.)

Did you know?

The Romans began the Wetherby story racing Arab horses at a place called Netherby, a few miles upstream from the existing course.

Did you know?

In 1948 a 12 year-old boy rode his first winner at Haydock Park. That same jockey rode his final winner here too, 46 years later. His name? Lester Piggott.

Club Rugby Racing Club Booking Form Number of tickets required (minimum 6) __________ CHEPSTOW Chepstow offers over 30 fixtures each year. The picturesque course combines both flat and jump racing with highlights including October’s Jumps Festival and December’s Welsh Grand National. The lefthanded undulating course is a circuit of just under two miles (3,200 m) with a finishing straight of five furlongs (3,300 ft; 1,000 m), five fences on the chase course and 11 fences on a complete circuit.

Price per ticket £______

Racecourse: ___________________________________________________________________ Date of meeting: _______________________________________________________________ Cheque enclosed ( and made payable to the racecourse) for £________ Contact and club name: __________________________________________________________ Club address: __________________________________________________________________

• Thurs,14 September: Flat Racing – £10 • Tues,19 September: Flat Racing – £10 • Sat,14 October: Jump Racing – £15 • Sun,15 October: Jump Racing – £15 • Tues, 31 October: Jump Racing – £10 • Wed, 8 November: Jump Racing – £10 • Sat, 9 December: Christmas Party Raceday – £15 • Wed, 27 December: Welsh Grand National – £22 Did you know?

At a two-day meeting in 1933 Gordon Richards rode into the record books by partnering the winners of 11 consecutive Chepstow races.

____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Postcode: ___________________ Daytime telephone number: _______________________________________________________ Email address: _________________________________________________________________ Please send this booking form plus cheque (made payable to the relevant racecourse) no later than four weeks before the meeting date to: Club Rugby Racing Club, ACP, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

CLUB RUGBY 67

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ASK THE EXPERTS – DUE DILIGENCE

Defense of litigation claims aided by real-time solution Club Insure strives to innovate and lead the way in leisure-focused insurance products, says the company's Victoria Romero-Trigo. Here she explains the company's latest partnership.

“

The unique, real-time solution was developed to create a system that is robust enough to stand up to the evidence thresholds required in court.

W

e are pleased to announce that Club Insure is working with real time checklist systems Isitchecked. This is a brand new, real-time solution for our clients. Using Isitchecked can effectively aid the defence of litigation claims which may be let down by missed or poor quality paper checklists.

What is it?

Isitchecked is a unique, real-time checklist system with timestamp and GPS capabilities. It can be customised to any business, from a small bar or social club to an extensive hotel or catering business, and many more.

Isitchecked was developed following a failure to provide sufficient compliance and evidential value to defend against slip/trip and many other claims using paper checklists.

The unique, real-time solution was developed to create a system that is robust enough to stand up to the evidence thresholds required in court.

Developed over a two year period it was extensively tested in a fully operational venue (capacity of approximately 2000) with several thousand customers per week.

One of the actions that became apparent was that where paper checks were being completed every 30 minutes, with Isitchecked the same checks were recorded by different staff every 4-7 minutes. This was a dramatic improvement over paper.

Recent example of defence of Premises Licence In Merseyside, a series of test purchases took place where actors impersonated intoxicated customers.

68 CLUB RUGBY

Screen capture of redacted report.

This was part of the ‘Challenge 21’ programme and enabled licensing officers to identify premises which may be in breach of The Licensing Act 2003 (not selling alcohol to already intoxicated customers).

The premises used in this example was an independent bar that had, for a number of years, used a Compliance Management system to conduct staff training and had been using Isitchecked for nine months.

Not only was the test purchaser refused service by a member of staff, but a QR code had been used to record the ‘Refusals’ – a ‘refusal record’ is a requirement and is essential – Paper records can be lost, Isitchecked cannot.

This report had 46 entries in a six month period where bar staff had refused to serve alcohol as the customer appeared too intoxicated. A further 52 people were recorded by security staff at the

”

entrance as ‘refused entry’ as they appeared too intoxicated. Having spoken to the venue’s specialist licensing solicitors, they agreed that even if the test purchase had failed, the evidence of refusals would have demonstrated that the premises had a solid system in place. This would have enabled the premises to use the ‘due diligence defence’ should the license have been subject to review.

When claims are made it is crucial that personnel perform with efficiency, diligence and speed. This can play an important part in the process and the outcome. The successful defence of a claim requires that fully documented procedures are in place and are adhered to. Each company check list needs to be retained should it become appropriate to provide them as evidence.

Claimants that wish to pursue any matter have a three year period from the date of the incident in which to do so. Having checklists to hand three years on is easy with Isitchecked which is why we’re delighted to introduce it to readers.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Insure covers all aspects of club insurance from start to finish, with Account Handlers and Claims Managers under one roof. Club Insure Ltd are multi award winning insurance brokers specialising in tailor made insurance policies for sports and social clubs in the UK. Victoria Romero-Trigo, Director Club Insure Ltd, Romero House, 8 Airport West, Lancaster Way, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7ZA e. Victoria.romero-trigo@club-insure.co.uk t. 0844 488 9204 www.club-insure.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERTS – APPS

Seven top tips for App Design Featuring in the top 4 trends at the recent CMAA World Conference in Orlando, apps are becoming one of 2017’s hottest properties. This is particularly the case for golf clubs, explains Jenni Biggs.

A

pps are serious business tools capable of generating income, repeat business, golfer loyalty and converting causal interest into a fully engaged member. By following these seven top tips the smart, business savvy GMs will be on course to creating the app that is right for their business.

1. What do you want the app to do?

Apps can be used to both enhance user experience and to generate income which means the balance will be tipped upon how your golf business operates.

This determines the focus: increased experience versus increased income. Will you focus more on the member experience or a mix of great golfing with the ability to collect usable data and promote events, special offers, etc?

2. Select your app type Do you need a native, hybrid or web app? Native apps are specially coded to work on a phone’s operating system and because of this they are the most reliable, stable and flexible to work with. Your app will have its own set of coding for each platform, can access all features of the phone and work offline.

Web apps are simply an app that pulls data directly from your website and has a ‘wrapper’ put around it so it can be put on the respective stores. Functions are limited, but you can have add-ons like push notification modules. (These will not work off-line.)

Hybrid apps are essentially web apps with more functionality. However, because they have a one size fits all approach they tend to be basic. Again, like the web apps, modules can be written to perform certain tasks. These have the ability to hold already downloaded data, but most areas of a hybrid will not work without a signal. (Be careful as sometimes unscrupulous developers pass hybrids off as native apps.)

Consider both function and connectivity. Native apps are superior, but if your app only requires basic functionality and your end users have good connectivity, then a hybrid might fit the bill.

3. Image is everything Apps are a reflection of your business and it will only look as good as your graphics. You would never throw a brochure or website together using any old images and content; neither should you do so with an app.

4. Don’t forget your members!

Golden rule – always remember the end user. You might want to have an app that generates income for your club or retail business, but if there is no incentive for them to download it why would they? Ask yourself if you would personally download and consistently use the app and why?

5. Don’t popup everywhere There are a few different ways to advertise on your

app and a method that has got people turning off in their droves is popup adverting. It can be tempting to get your app made for free ( with the cost being covered by the app supplier’s own sponsors), but beware. Often the most common placement of these adverts is where the golfers will be using it most – the course guide and scorecard - which means that they are subjected to waiting for the popup to go at every hole.

6. Speak directly to your users – for their benefit (and yours!)

This is the smart way to market and advertise your club. Most members want to hear from you and communication options range from direct selling, push notifications, promotions, suggestive selling, events and fixture dates. Include some thought into app-only offers.

7. Into the future and beyond Consider future usage. Ensuring you have the correct type of app and one that can be added onto can save your club a lot of time and money in the long run.

Finally, remember that an app is a part of your overall image. Just like any marketing tool, it needs to look the part as well as service its purpose. Apps can look as amazing or a functional as you wish.

Make an app that you can be proud of for years to come.

CLUB RUGBY 69

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ASK THE EXPERTS – WEB ADVICE

Slow running websites, content and conundrums A website is at the forefront of your marketing; 85% of your visitors judge your website within the first 10 seconds of landing on it. Our resident IT experts explore the nature of a good website and also explain why multiple domains may not be such a good idea!

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hat entails a good website feel? Style, content and how responsive on mobile devices it is. The real question is how do you know when your website is due a refresh?

The rise and rise of the mobile demands ever more responsive sites.

Responsiveness We have previously mentioned the impact of the initial ‘Mobilegeddon’ and the affect that it has on non-mobile-friendly sites. It’s worth considering that the total number of users researching on their mobile devices have considerably increased over the last couple of years. If your website is non-responsive not only is website visibility likely to be poor, but your visitors are immediately going to be leaving if it’s hard to use.

No tools for creating content A blog is more than a tool for pumping content out.

For many businesses it’s a way of showcasing that you are an expert in your field. So, if all your competitors are using blogs to develop a credible reputation how will that impact on your club? Having a blog is also a great resource for improving your SEO performance. Indexing your blog posts will develop more opportunity to be found through search engines.

Slow loading pages Nowadays, when you land on a website that either takes ages to load, or sometimes fails to load altogether, you instantly click off it. User experience is a pivotal aspect that makes or breaks if a visitor stays on, or clicks off a site. Page loading time therefore is closely linked with user experience! A slow loading website can be attributed to numerous factors but essentially it stems down to poor website design and image optimising.

Updating causes problems We have a number of clients that we work with who are using old content management systems (CMS).

Temperamental content management systems can cause major problems which can result in time consuming and expensive fixes. If your CMS is old or if you haven’t got a quick and efficient way of adding new content to your site the chances are your content is outdated and needs to be refreshed.

All of the above will be exacerbated if your club has gone the route of multiple domains.

70 CLUB RUGBY

Throughout the years businesses have been looking for ways to beat the search engine algorithms. In reality, this is near enough an impossible task. We get a lot of clients asking us if having multiple domains with the same content will bolster SEO rankings. The answer plain and simple is… NO! In fact, having multiple domains for your website can actually result in problems.

The defensive domains tactic The first common theme we tend to find is that businesses are worried that competitors will buy keyword orientated domains which will thereby hinder their own sites rankings. While there is some logic to this tactic, having a keyword orientated domain will not automatically result in being #1 in Google for that keyword.

Duplicated content One of the biggest problems of having multiple domains is the fact that the vast majority of content is duplicated. This doesn’t improve your SEO rankings; it actually causes an adverse effect. Google algorithm works by showing varied content on search results. So, if multiple domains encompass duplicated content only one of the sites will show up.

First page domination approach If you are a brick-and-mortar site with one physical location, having a duplicated site with the same location can cause confusion for your visitors. Similarly, Google algorithm doesn’t rank multiple sites from the same business highly as it’s considered as spam.

The only exception to multiple domains is when your business is operating in different countries, therefore you will need to have specific domains for different countries. Finally, if you are going to adopt a multiple domains approach, you will have to double your SEO input. A new domain tends to be significantly harder to rank highly within a shorter period of time.

CONTACT DETAILS If your website is struggling to perform well on search engines and you are running out of ideas on what you can do to improve this, get in touch with the friendly Larrytech team to talk it through.

Larrytech Ltd 44 Newton Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RU • t. 01892 888 011 • www.larrytech.com

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26.11.2017 - 28.11.2017 H10 ANDALUCIA HOTEL, MARBELLA

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THE BUSINESS COACH ‘MANAGING THE COMPANY CALLED YOU’

LE GOLF NATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT’

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MARK NEWEY CCM CEO ROEHAMPTON CLUB / CMAE PRESIDENT ‘A LIFETIME OF LEARNING IN THE CLUB INDUSTRY’

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STAY H10 ANDALUCIA HOTEL, MARBELLA Located in Puerto Banús, in one of Marbella's most exclusive areas, the H10 Andalucía Plaza is a hotel built in the traditional Andalusian style which has been refurbished with a cutting-edge contemporary design. This emblematic hotel has bright, spacious rooms, exceptional cuisine at a large variety of bars and restaurants, Despacio Spa Centre with a select range of treatments, two pools (one heated indoor pool in the Spa which forms part of the thermal spa area),

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PERSONNEL CHALLENGES

Look after your staff to look after your members The personal savings and insurance gap in the UK has been well publicised. It’s now clear that successive governments want to transfer some responsibility for addressing this onto employers. Bright Wealth Management Director Ian Crombleholme explores some of the issues that all employers will need to address.

L

et’s face it, when it comes to managing a club there are always too many things to do on a daily basis and not enough hours in the day.

This means that club managers may have little time to think about their own financial objectives, or protecting their club from the many risks that may derail their progress. Taking a step back to look at the longterm situation is not always a priority. As a result, planning your own and your employees’ financial security can become daunting, neglected or completely overlooked. However, help is never too far away.

In addition to looking after personal finances there are many aspects of corporate financial planning for club managers to consider. Tax mitigation, managing the club’s cash balances and protecting against various risks are all good examples, but two areas in particular are of key significance.

Employee benefits Rather than being a ‘nice to have’, an effective employee benefit strategy should be viewed as a tool to help retain key personnel and recruit new talent.

There is a wide range of options under the heading of employee benefits. You should take time to discuss these with an expert. Find out which employee benefits are appropriate for your staff.

Flexible benefits – allows employees to create a benefits package that meets their own individual needs.

This enables you to respond flexibly to the requirements of potential recruits.

Salary sacrifice arrangements – this allows employees access to tax-efficient benefits and helps reduce employers’ National Insurance costs at the same time.

Private Medical Insurance – This can help protect your employees’ health and wellbeing thereby reducing their potential absence from work when, for example, waiting for medical treatment.

Group Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness – these are important benefits that not only form a key part of a comprehensive employee benefits package but could also enable you to manage your club more effectively by: • Providing the means to support your employees

72 CLUB RUGBY

and their families financially during a particularly difficult time.

• Allowing you to recruit temporary employees.

• Providing access to a range of rehabilitation services, employee assistance programmes and absence management services that assist you to meet your statutory obligations and manage employee absence more effectively.

The Workplace Pension It’s likely you’ve seen or heard the adverts regarding the Workplace Pension, but despite all the coverage there continues to be questions and uncertainty.

In simple terms, if you employ at least one person you will need to comply with the automatic enrolment legislation. This means you have a legal obligation to offer a pension scheme. You will have to enrol certain employees into that pension scheme auto-

matically and also pay money into their pension pots.

You are also obliged to let your other employees know they can join too. It sounds straightforward but it can quickly become complicated.

The process begins once you have found or been sent your ‘staging date’ via the Pensions Regulator. At this point the clock is ticking. You will need to comply with the legislation by this date or you could receive a fine. Put into context, a small business with 20 employees that doesn’t comply on time would be fined £400, and for continued non-compliance could attract further fines of £500 a day. So to avoid incurring any penalties, planning is essential.

It is possible to set up a scheme yourself, but it’s not recommended unless you have experience in this field. The sheer number of hours that this kind of undertaking can leach from you and your team’s schedules can be quite staggering.

Five steps for automatic enrolment How to set up your Workplace Pension for automatic enrolment so you can get on with what’s important to you – running your club.

1. Find out your staging date The date you need to comply with your automatic enrolment duties is called your ‘staging date’. The Pensions Regulator will write to you telling you what your staging date is. Alternatively you can find this out yourself on their website – all you need is your company’s PAYE reference.

2. Check your payroll software is up to speed Most payroll software is compatible with automatic enrolment and will work out who you need to put into a pension scheme for you. In some cases, you may need to make some changes to your payroll software.

3. Select a pension provider This can be complex and time consuming. You can attempt to research the myriad of options yourself or alternatively appoint a Financial Adviser with automatic enrolment experience to research, recommend and set up the scheme on your behalf.

4. Communicate the changes to your employees You’ll need to tell your employees what’s happening. This includes those who don’t need to be put into the pension scheme automatically, as they’ll still have the option to join if they want to.

5. Complete your declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator The final step is to complete the declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator within five months of your staging date. You’ll find the pension scheme details you need to do this by logging into your Online Services account.

With government pushing companies to close the personal savings and insurance gap, now is the time to act.

Selecting a pension scheme, checking your payroll software, communicating to staff and finally submitting your declaration of compliance to the Pensions Regulator can all pose their own challenges and cause delays if not tackled correctly. Once you have set up the scheme for your employees there’s also the matter of ongoing maintenance to ensure the scheme remains compliant and that the underlying investments are performing to an acceptable standard.

The Workplace pension and automatic enrolment can be a challenge but with careful planning, time and the correct support it is something that all clubs should take in their stride.

Of course, many clubs will have already implemented pension/employee benefits schemes in the past. Regular reviews are recommended to ensure you are providing the best possible solutions to your employees and that the costs to the club remain competitive.

Finally, but most crucially, it is vital to ensure that your staff genuinely understand any employee benefits provision that you may operate. If employees don’t understand their employer’s provisions for pensions and insurances, it’s possible they could be wasting money on unnecessary private arrangements or be unaware of potential tax issues further down the line.

Ensuring that staff properly understand their employer’s pension/employee benefit provision will also make sure the employer gets value for money on their spend in this area. If your staff do not understand what is being provided they will not attach much value to it.

The value of the pension can go down as well as up.

The member may get back less than they invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and depend on individual circumstances.

Bright Wealth Management* Bright was established in 2003 and became a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management in 2013. As a multi-office practice, Bright Wealth Management service a client bank spread throughout the UK. “We have continued to grow by always putting people at the heart of everything we do. This is why we have confidence that our clients receive the best possible advice and support for their long-term financial futures,” says Ian. “As a proud new Corporate associate of CMAE, the Bright Wealth Management team and I extend our expertise to all members to help you achieve your financial goals.”

To discuss your financial situation, review your existing finances or to start planning the financial future of your club, feel free to contact Ian Crombleholme. t. 07796 442 669 e. i.crombleholme@brightwm.co.uk www.brightwm.co.uk

*Bright Wealth Management is a trading name of Bright FS Limited. The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

CLUB RUGBY 73

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ASK THE EXPERTS – TORO

Awordwith...

Andy Brown Toro’s Andy Brown takes time out to chat with Club Rugby about fleet management, buying practices and industry trends.

At what point does it make sense to give up the ghost on maintaining old equipment and invest in new?

Obviously clubs will make decisions based on their own individual circumstances. What we generally find is that, for example, golf clubs which are looking to maintain the standard of their course will probably be looking at changing their machinery once it costs them more to maintain it than it’s actually worth. It does depend on the piece of equipment and machines that are used more frequently – day-in, day-out. Greens mowers, for example, will most likely be changed at about the four-year mark on average.

That’s the point at which the maintenance bills match the value. Fairway mowers and other equipment that is used less frequently will probably be changed around the six-year mark, although it does depend on the circumstances. Then you have specialist equipment which might be kept for longer.

There are no hard and fast rules on this but clubs will often analyse the cost of maintaining equipment against its value. If the products are owned by the club, that becomes an individual decision. If they’ve leased the product over a period of time, often that will be a five-year lease and the piece of equipment will be traded out at that point.

The critical thing is for clubs to take advice from experts in the field, whether that’s their local dealer, representatives of manufacturers, or discussions with other clubs in similar situations.

Every club is unique in the way they operate and maintain their grounds. Their business and accounting practices will be unique to themselves as well and so the decision to buy equipment and machines outright and use a CAPEX procedure or to consider leasing, is very much down to how they run their operation.

With new investment from manufacturers all the time, how can clubs be sure that they’re buying the best machine for the job?

There are several factors at play here. Obviously manufacturers are bringing out new models or vari-

74 CLUB RUGBY

Andy Brown

ations on machinery and clubs will want to see a machine demonstration on their own premises so that they can see it in operation.

It would be very unusual for someone to buy a machine without having tried it first. There’s a lot of advice out there from the main manufacturers as well as other industry consultants. But the majority of clubs deal directly with their dealer or distributor and they would have detailed demonstrations and operation training at the same time so they can see how the machine operates on their own premises.

What about the trade-in market?

If you look at the analogy with cars, if you were buying a new one you’d be looking to trade in your old one to offset the cost and it’s similar with machines.

Unless of course you’re buying a machine to add into your fleet. Trade-in values are important and when you are considering which machine to purchase the trade-in value of a machine after a certain time is important. Most of the manufacturers will offer a guaranteed trade-in value after three years,

four years and five years – that’s obviously dependent on the hours of use and that it’s been maintained to the manufacturer’s standards.

The second-hand market is very important in the UK. We have a lot of clubs that are not always looking to buy new equipment and often look for machinery which is coming out of another club but has good life left in it. You’ll also see machines being taken on at amateur level and being kept going for a number of years. This is very common in cricket where you’ll see amateur clubs purchasing a secondhand ride-on greens mowers, surround mowers or hand mowers to maintain their facility.

If a club has bought a machine outright and an updated version of the machine comes out, it’s not sensible to swap it out, but if that machine is on a lease then it does become more of an option. There would possibly be an increase in the lease payment but often an existing machine can be swapped out for the updated version.

What we would try to do, of course, is to advise clubs about what new models are coming in at a particular point in time and if they wanted to hang on until that particular model became available, then they could do so. Also, machines can be rented for short periods in the interim until the new machine is available on the market.

Biggest issue clubs face when choosing new equipment?

The biggest issue is cost. Greenkeepers are being asked to do more with less resources, whether that’s people or whether that’s machinery. So, over the last decade our focus has very much been on productivity while ensuring that the standard of quality of cut is maintained; there’s no point in managing to cut the grass very quickly if the quality of the cut at the end of the process is not what you’re looking for.

When we design a new machine, we start with ‘what is the quality of cut that is required’ and focus on that first and then we go back and build the machine that allows you to do that in the most productive time that you can. We spend a lot of time talking to operators about what their needs are. It’s

Toro in action at Manchester United, Manchester City and the Roehampton club.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Summary of your career pathway?

I’m Head of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa for all of Toro’s golf and sports businesses and municipalities. My role covers golf equipment and irrigation. I’m an Irrigation Engineer by profession and, after University, started my career in the agricultural development world, working in Egypt training irrigation technicians across the country so that they could start growing food in the desert. Then I ran my own landscape irrigation contracting and distribution business, before eventually joining Toro in 1999.

Best thing about your role?

I love the variety of the job, meeting people in different countries and cultures, all trying to do the best that they can in the world they’re involved in, whether that be golf, other sports or parks, etc.

important from both sides – they get an understanding of what we’re doing and also get to put their own fingerprints on some of the things that we’re going to do.

Common problems you witness at clubs?

The most common problem for clubs is being asked to do more with less resources. If a golf club, for example, is not developing the revenues that they need to maintain the standards or to continue to invest, then over time that will build up to a point where they will be starting to lose members, green fees and corporate business because their standards are not being maintained to the same level as their competitor golf clubs. The challenge for the course manager is to make the case. For the general manager and other people in the club the challenge is to understand where the value is and where the priorities lie.

A classic dilemma would be do you buy a new carpet for the clubhouse or do you buy a new greens mower? There comes a point when you have to do both but which is the priority is based on the current circumstances.

What do you see as the biggest revolution in equipment in recent years?

The big issues are fossil fuels, hybrid technology, the move to electric vehicles and machinery. That is happening now at a rapid pace with new models coming out every year trying to resolve the issue and we’re at the forefront of that. Labour is a huge issue for clubs with large ground and there’s a move towards robotics for autonomous mowing. These are areas that we’ve recognised over a number of years but it’s only now that the technology is start-

ing to become available, efficient and cost-effective.

There are a number of robotic solutions which are out there, such as mowers which will mow within a particular area on the same principle as those vacuum cleaners which go around a room.

There are other versions which use GPS locator systems which can be retrofit on a greens mower.

Irrigation technology is also rapidly advancing with the use of soil moisture sensors and weather stations to provide real time data to the central control system, allowing for highly detailed water management.

How can landlocked clubs with residential neighbours combat noise pollution?

This goes back to the question of technological advances in equipment. We’ve developed hand mowers which are fully powered by Ni-Cad Lithium batteries in the past five years and clubs are using them specifically to counter noise pollution if they have housing nearby and need to use them early in the morning. We’re also producing hybrid mowers.

That technology will continue to develop.

What about the issue of fleet management?

When we talk about fleet management it’s basically a strategic plan to manage the investment and maintain the product to the right standard to allow you to produce the results that you need within the restrictions you have. So, if you have a certain amount of staff and a certain amount of money you manage your fleet accordingly to match those parameters.

The key is to plan, to understand what machines you’ve got, what its lifespan is, whether you’re buying or leasing. The key is to sit down and make a detailed plan for your particular grounds.

Worst thing?

Spending too much time in front of spreadsheets and also keeping up with emails and admin, particularly when I’m travelling, which is often.

Important diary dates?

The Open Championship is always a big date in the diary as there will be a lot of industry people there to catch up with.

Going towards the end of the calendar year – October/November – when customers are thinking about what their needs are for the next year.

Sport and government?

I’d like the industry to have more communication with the government so that they understand the value that our world brings to the country.

How do you relax?

Golf, family trips abroad and gardening.

First record you ever bought?

It was the original Eagles album back in the mid-1970s.

Last live event you attended?

The Who at the Royal Albert Hall where my son was working with the sound crew.

Do you belong to any clubs?

Frilford Heath Golf Club.

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ASK THE EXPERTS – HEINEKEN UK

Awordwith...

Simon Gray Simon Gray, Heineken Smart Dispense Commercial Manager takes time out to share HEINEKEN UK’s vision for clubs.

HEINEKEN works with partners, like BT Sport, to create footfall-driving opportunities built around major sporting occasions. The BT Sport and HEINEKEN partnership gives clubs a great opportunity to encourage consumers through the door during mid-week evenings and at the weekends.

As well as televised sports, members are also looking for other reasons to come into clubs, whether it’s a quiz night, live music or a darts competition. Events like these are a great way for clubs to differentiate themselves and increase footfall.

HEINEKEN offers a range of POS and marketing support to help clubs enhance the consumer experience and encourage more people to spend more in outlet more often.

We also offer our customers expert advice on ranging targeted specifically to their business. Having the right breadth in your range allows you to maximise profits by stocking more brands that appeal to more consumers at different prices. This creates greater choice and encourages people to trade up to more premium options at higher profit margins.

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Simon Gray As the number one supplier in the beer and cider category in the UK, HEINEKEN is able to offer clubs an extensive portfolio of leading brands. As well as the classics such as Strongbow, Foster’s and John

Smith’s, we have a range of world beers (Heineken®, Amstel, Birra Moretti, Desperados, K1664, Tiger, Red Stripe and Sol), craft beers (Maltsmiths, Lagunitas and Coast to Coast) and more premium ciders such as Bulmers, Orchard Thieves, Old Mout and Blind Pig. Trading up consumers to more premium brands allows your business to develop and grow, as there is more margin to be made. With 45% of consumers readily admitting they don’t know what they’re going to order until they get to the bar, there is everything to play for. So if any of our customers aren’t sure what is the best range for their outlet, I’d strongly encourage them to contact their local HEINEKEN team to find out which of our extensive range of beers and ciders can help to grow their sales.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL What clubs do you belong to?

I’m a member of our local Sports and Social club – no surprise, they have SmartDispense installed, so I know they will serve great quality pint every time.

I’m also a Forest supporter and hope they can return to their European winning ways… some day!

What was your first job?

I was a free trade sales manager for John Smith’s back in the early ‘90’s, visiting clubs and pubs in North Nottinghamshire. Great times…

Best bit about your current role?

Seeing the smile on people’s faces and hearing the positive customer comments when they experience a perfectly poured SmartDispense pint for the first time.

What makes you leap out of bed in the morning?

Working in such an exciting and ever changing industry means I learn something new every day.

Biggest influence in your working life?

My first boss at John Smith’s (now retired) was a supportive and respectful manager who loved to win but also have some fun along the way. A great example and a true recipe for success.

What book are you reading?

Archangel by Robert Harris.

What is the first record you ever bought?

Denis Denis by Blondie.

One of my main responsibilities is to manage the team which looks after our quality draught beer dispense system, SmartDispense – and it’s an area that I am particularly passionate about. In the UK, enjoying a draught beer is a cultural institution, but one tradition that needed updating was the old-fashioned equipment used to cool and serve the beer and cider.

We developed SmartDispense to improve beer quality and drive operational efficiency. As well as guaranteeing that every pint is great quality, SmartDispense reduces waste and costs and is more environmentally friendly. In addition, the support we offer takes away some of the operational headaches of running a busy club, such as line cleaning.

The quality of the first pint is a big factor in whether a customer will choose to buy a second, so it’s crucial that clubs are offering the highest quality experience to their consumers, consistently. Clean, branded glassware and correct pour also play a vital role in creating the perfect drinking experience, helping boost sales and profits.

We’re getting brilliant feedback from our SmartDispense customers and they in turn are getting a really positive response from their customers. People clearly enjoy the consistently cold fresh beer and cider that SmartDispense delivers; not only does it help the club’s reputation, but it means they sell more. Club management also love the fact that line cleaning is done by HEINEKEN every four weeks, saving time and hassle.

Last live event you attended?

The Retro Festival – bands from the 80s and 90s bought back fond memories.

Favourite tipple for relaxing after a hard day?

A COLD and crisp pint of Strongbow – nothing better after a long day, then maybe sip and savour a lovely pint of Heineken®.

How do you unwind/relax?

I love to go hiking with family and friends, especially if the destination involves a pint or two – Cheers!

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WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP

New Zealand celebrate after beating England 41-32 in the World Cup Final.

Glory for Black Ferns The 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup culminated with a pulsating Final as New Zealand defeated defending champions England 41-32 at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. It was a fitting finale to a fantastic tournament with a total of 11 tries scored as the Black Ferns reigned supreme.

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he women’s game continues to go from strength to strength with the number of grassroots players increasing every year.

And no wonder given the wonderful product on display at the highests levels with the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup producing some awe-inspiring displays of skill and athleticism throughout its duration.

It was a tournament to make the spirits soar and the fact that over 2.5 million people in the UK watched the Final between England and New Zealand on ITV on a Saturday night primetime slot speaks volumes about the attractions of women’s rugby.

These two proud rugby nations certainly did not disappoint their audience of millions around the world and gave absolutely everything they had to the cause.

This intensity was apparent before the match had even kicked off as the Black Ferns performed

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the haka to send a real buzz of electricity around the ground.

But defending champions England refused to be intimidated by their opponents and launched the game in breathtaking fashion as they pushed New Zealand back into their own half.

Moments later, New Zealand opened their account as fly-half Victoria Subritzy-Nafatali launched a crossfield kick to create a try for fullback Selica Winiata.

England hit back with a penalty in the 15th minute from Emily Scarratt and then found themselves with a numerical advantge after New Zealand flanker Sarah Goss was sin-binned for 10 minutes for a tackle offence.

This period bore fruit for England with second row Tamara Taylor held up over the line and then the refereee awarding the Red Roses a penalty try from the ensuing scrum.

England struck again a few minutes later as

Lydia Thompson finished off a sweeping move to cross for her side’s second try.

With Scarratt adding the conversion, England were 17-5 up and looking increasingly effective as their forward pack dominated possession.

But, just before the half-time break New Zealand struck back, prop Toka Natua driving towards the England tryline and then reaching out to touch down to make it 17-10.

In the second-half, the Black Ferns were a side transformed and within five minutes, Takua had scored her second try to close the gap on England.

Scarratt struck back with a penalty in the 51st minute to edge England ahead once more, but things were starting to come together for New Zealand as second row Charmaine Smith piled over for another try.

The Black Ferns were in the lead for two minutes before England winger Lydia Thompson fielding a speculative New Zealand kick and raced

in from 50 metres for her second of the match.

Shortly afterwards, Natua completed her hattrick to make it 31-25 in New Zealand’s favour and a fourth try from scrum-half Cocksedge and then a fifth from replacement Izzy Noel-Smith clinched the World Cup for New Zealand.

New Zealand captain Fiao'o Faamausil said: “It means everything. You couldn’t have asked for a better final than this, there was some amazing talent displayed out there.

“Credit to England, they are an amazing team with amazing forwards and amazing backs and they just really gave it to us tonight and we had to dig deep and believe in or game. I was really proud of the girls.

“There was never a moment in that first half that I doubted our performance, it was about being patient and believing in what we could do and then coming out in the second half and doing it, which is what we did. Second half, territory was the key for us.”

New Zealand coach Glenn Moore added: “I am very proud of the team and it hasn’t probably sunk in yet. It is very satisfying for the team and the management staff. Over the last three years we had a plan in place and I think we peaked at the right time.

“We expected them to come out like they did and we stayed very calm at half-time. Our messaging was clear. England were enjoying something like 71/72 per cent territory and 65 per cent possession so that was putting us under a lot of pressure and we were having to put in a lot of tackles at the wrong end of the park.

“It is always challenging when you are in that mode because you are at risk of giving away penalties so our messaging was around field posi-

Host nation Ireland missed out on a semi-final place in the competition. tion and holding onto possession. We could also see that they weren’t committing to the tackle and were keeping everyone on their feet so we wanted to try and take them on through the middle with the forwards.”

As for the runners-up, England can look back on their campaign with huge pride even if the main prize eluded them.

“We gave it everything but all credit to New Zealand, we lost the momentum and they got on top and we couldn't seem to get our hands back on the ball,” said captain Sarah Hunter: “I’m so proud of the girls and one loss doesn’t make us a bad team. We can stand tall tonight, but we’re sorry we couldn’t get the win for the fans.”

England fly-half Katy Mclean added: “For us,

the only thing we have now is massive disappointment. Credit to New Zealand they really took us to it in the second half and we probably didn’t up our game enough to win that.

“We came here to win, we set that goal from the start and the disappointment from the England team is massive because we feel like we have let people down.

“But the support we have had here and at home and on social media, it has been absolutely immense and we’re really grateful. If another girl takes up our brilliant sport on the back of today, that’s one positive we can take from it.”

After such a memorable tournament, one that has massively surpassed previous television audience figures, it would appear that women’s rugby is set for further exponential growth.

New Zealand fullback Selica Winiata evades the tackle of England’s Emily Scarratt during the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final.

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WINE REPORT

Wine – premiumisation and polarisation Over the last couple of years the wine category has all been about sparkling wine, particularly Prosecco.

This remains very much a trend of primary importance. However, there are a number of other moves within the category that should also be brought into the spotlight. CGA’s Mark Newton and Ashley Cairns report.

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remiumisation has been something of a buzzword in the wine sector. But now there’s an extra dimension to add to this – polarisation. It is not the mainstream, budget end of the market that is seeing the greatest effect from this move towards more expensive, higher quality wines. The middle market is now the major battle ground where share is being lost.

Old and New World wine also remains a clear battle front as traditional countries such as France

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still make the most of the move away from budget wine brands which are more the mainstay of countries such Australia, and South Africa.

The ever increasing focus on casual dining and the out-of-home eating sector has also re-focused the traditional relationship with wine and food and this makes its presence felt across the whole GB on-trade.

Finally, there is a new buzz in the category which is all about the serve. The success of Prosecco has reignited interest in draught wine,

but this is only part of the story. Relatively new technologies such as Coravin and Enomatic wine dispense systems are becoming more accessible and affordable, which offers a whole new lease of life to the ‘by the glass’ serve.

Polarisation and premiumisation The whole ‘quality not quantity’ ethos is very much at play here – especially for special occasions.

Equally there will always be a safe place sales wise for value wines; some people just cannot afford to

As customers have become more educated about wine, there has been a slow but sure re-emergence in Old World styles – particularly good news for France and Italy.

spend more, and/or are reassured by cheaper, mainstream brands (many of which they will also drink on promotion from the supermarket). This area of the market remains reasonably strong at the moment. It is, therefore, the middle mainstream £15-£20 bracket that is getting squeezed more and more – hence the added concept of polarisation.

Sparkling wine – the (continuing) Prosecco effect Over the last 12 months talk about sparkling wine and Prosecco has continued to hit trade headlines – indeed the category is still enjoying growth of over +40% volume and value year on year. Much has been made of the legal moves by Prosecco producers regarding the rights to use the name. Equally there have been scaremongering stories regarding lack of supply based on overwhelming demand and struggling production. Ever greater choice – from both Old and New World alternatives – appears to be the outcome and as a result the market will no doubt become ever more competitive, with price (balanced with quality/ value for money) likely to become a key cornerstone going forward.

Old vs New World As customers have become more educated on wine, there has been a slow but sure re-emergence in Old World styles. This has been particularly good news for France and Italy, with a greater

selection of good quality, but competitively priced, wines becoming more easily available across the on-trade and providing a volume and value uplift of c.+2% against New World options.

Mainstream branded New World wines remain highly popular in the off-trade, especially when on supermarket special offer. But this is no longer enough for many on-trade consumers. If they have to pay more in their local club than when making a trip to the off licence they want a different, better experience. Many now see the Old World as providing that opportunity.

Draught and by the glass Draught wine in the traditional sense is at a strange crossroads. We don’t see the old still wine draught dispense gaining broader traction outside traditional ‘heartland’ retail operations such as mainstream branded food – the concept is still too firmly ingrained as too mainstream, low quality in the eyes of many customers (whether this is deserved or not).

This, of course, isn’t the case for sparkling as the huge success of Glera/Frizzante, the legal name for draught Prosecco, has shown. Many suppliers are also seeing some considerable success with new alternatives into that side of the market and it is likely we will see new sparkling wine successes during 2016/17.

In still wine the concept of the Coravin and Enomatic style wine dispense systems appears to be getting a lot of support from suppliers right

now. This being so, the potential to expand the more premium ‘by the glass option’ is significant.

Up until now the capital investment in such systems might have scuppered the deal for many, but now more retailers can have the opportunity to bring added appeal to customers and the potential additional margin they can put into the till.

For those not in a position to take advantage of these new technologies just yet, 187ml single serve bottles are still seeing +9.2% volume increases year on year.

Wine and food The popularity of casual dining has further boosted the interest in food and drink combinations. Whilst many consumers and producers are looking to new pairings, such as craft beer and cider, to provide alternatives there is no doubt that wine remains at the forefront for many customers. This is something that retailers can take advantage of with sensible matching and competitive pricing options.

It is some years since so many factors have influenced the on-trade wine category all together. This suggests that opportunity exists across all segments of the market – where one trend does not apply, another may very well fit perfectly. As the cost of adopting new serve technology likely drops in the medium/ long term, this may very well be a perfect chance for some sports and social clubs to increase both storage convenience and profit margin in the future. *All data shown is CGA Brand Index 2015.

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RUGBY TONIGHT - COMPETITION Rugby Tonight goes out live every week on BT Sport.

Your chance to be on BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight Fancy joining Martin Bayfield, Ugo Monye, Lawrence Dallaglio, Austin Healey, Ben Kay et al in the Rugby Tonight studio? Club Rugby has teamed up with BT Sport to give you and your rugby club colleagues the chance to take part in a live broadcast of the popular midweek magazine show.

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T Sport’s Rugby Tonight brings rugby fans an unmissable mix of match highlights, technical analysis and irreverent rugby chat every week.

The roster of star names who co-present the programme is like a who’s who of rugby with the likes of Martin Bayfield, Austin Healey, Ben Kay, Matt Dawson, Brian O’Driscoll, ably supported by Craig Doyle and Sarra Elgan Easterby.

But part of the unique appeal of Rugby Tonight is that it incorporates a live audience of real rugby club people in the background.

Drawn from clubs from all over the country, some of these fans get the chance to take part in the live technical demonstrations that are staged in the spectacular studio which features a marked-out pitch and full-size rugby posts, with the rugby talent supplying the technical know-how.

Now you and five friends could become part of a future broadcast of Rugby Tonight. Club Rugby has joined forces with BT Sport to give 100 lucky readers the chance to come along to BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight studio in London’s Olympic Park to witness the programme being broadcast live.

All you have to do is answer the question below and you could be on the way to Rugby Tonight!

In which year did Ben Kay make his England debut? a) 2001 b) 2002 c) 2005 Simply send your answer to the question above to: justin@alchemymedia.co.uk with your name, address, daytime contact telephone number and name of your rugby club. We will select 20 winners who will, along with four rugby friends, be able to attend the live broadcast of future edition of Rugby Tonight.

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You and your clubmates will get the chance to witness the Rugby Tonight crew, including Ugo Monye, in action live in the BT Sport studio.

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Aon Risk Solutions Enterprise | Affinity

Aon Specialist Insurance for Sports and Social Clubs Market-leading cover with 10%* discount for new Aon clients At Aon, we have specialised in arranging insurance for Sports and Social Clubs for over twenty years. Our client managers have an in-depth understanding of the risks that owners and managers of clubs face, and can arrange a policy that caters to a wide range of clubs.

Call us today and we will look to save costs on the price of your current insurance provider by 10%.* Why arrange your Sports and Social club insurance through Aon? • We are confident that we can deliver competitive premiums • Dedicated Client Manager to support you

£100 Material Damage Excess

£2,500 for cover in each gaming machine, up to £10,000 in total Total cover £10,000

Property in the open covered up to £5,000

Engineering cover up to £1,000,000, cooling equipment, boilers, air conditioning units

John Mckie 0345 004 0515 john.mckie@aon.co.uk

• Arrange market leading cover solutions • Get access to exclusive HR and Health & Safety Solutions for Clubs at discounted rates via our partnership with Citation

To arrange a quote contact:

Directors and Officers limit of indemnity £250,000

* New Aon clients only. Must not hold a current policy with Aon. Subject to qualifying criteria; No claims in the last 3 years; Satisfactory postcode check (such as but not limited to high risk flooding areas, theft and malicious damage); Insurance has not been cancelled or declined in the past; Premises are not unoccupied or unfurnished; Business description is a CIU Club, Other Social & Welfare Club, CISWO Club or Sports Club; Buildings are valued at no more than £1,000,000; Stock limit doesn’t exceed £50,000; and do not operate door staff, regular ticketed events or live entertainment more than twice a week. Evidence of competing terms must be obtained from an Insurer that meet Aon’s security rating requirements and cover must be of a comparable basis to the quotation arranged by Aon. This offer can be withdrawn at any time. Terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.

Maven Sports and Social Club Insurance arranged by Aon UK Limited and underwritten by Maven Underwriters which is a Managing General Agent operating under a delegated underwriting and claims handling authority on behalf of Aviva Insurance Limited and Allianz Insurance plc.

Maven Underwriters is a trading name of Aon UK Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Citation Limited is an approved Introducer Appointed Representative of Aon UK Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

FP.ENT.1784.MH

Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm

CLUB MIRROR ON SCREEN 1

The Rugby Tonight Takeover Club Mirror and Club Rugby readers descended on BT Sport’s London studio, forming a 150-strong audience for filming April 26th’s Rugby Tonight.

Rugby Tonight, BT Sport’s popular weekly rugby magazine show, played host to rugby-mad readers from Club Mirror and sister magazine Club Rugby with presenter Sarra Elgen and former England players Austin Healey and Ben Kay welcoming the club guests.

Sean Ferris, Managing Director of publisher ACP, also welcomed clubs on behalf of Club Rugby and Club Mirror and a big thank you went out to Marston’s for supporting the rugby adventure with complimentary beer.

“Thanks to everyone who came and for rallying the troops to get there,” said Sean, adding that there were in fact troops at the event from the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment RFC. The event included re-enactments, audience interviews, rugby chat in the studio’s Ruck & Maul bar and on-the-sofa discussions about up and coming matches.

The ACP team then led the audience to a bar on Canalside where a 10 per cent discount had been negotiated.

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1. Lights and...action.

2. BT Sport’s Bruce Cuthbert (left) and ACP’s Sean Ferris.

3. Audience interviews.

4. Lock in at the Ruck & Maul bar.

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5. 1st Military Working Dog Regiment RFC. 6. Marston’s is a keen rugby supporter. (Pictured: Burton RFC.) 7, 10, 11 & 18. Guests arrived in their club colours.

8. University of East Anglia Old Boys.

9. The Club Rugby/Club Mirror team.

12 & 13. Club representatives were interviewed about their passion for rugby.

14. Harlequins’ Adam Jones, AKA ‘The Hair’, takes questions on the sofa.

15. Re-enactment of tackles and moves.

16, 17 & 18. On set in the studio.

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EUROPEAN RUGBY CHAMPIONS CUP

Saracens beat Clermont Auvergne in the Final in Edinburgh in May to win the European Rugby Champions Cup.

The battle for Europe The European Rugby Champions Cup returns in October and the draw has set up some mighty clashes in the pool stages. Reigning champions Saracens are drawn in the same pool as the team they beat in the 2017 Final, ASM Clermont Auvergne, while Wasps and La Rochelle meet in Pool 1.

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hampions Cup holders Saracens will face Top 14 winners Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys and Northampton Saints in this season's pool stages.

Sarries defeated Clermont 28-17 in the Final at Murrayfield to become the fourth side to win back-to-back titles. They will meet again in a highly competitive Pool 2.

Aviva Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs have also been handed a tricky draw as they look to make themselves a force to be reckoned with in Europe and will face Montpellier, Glasgow Warriors and three-time winners Leinster in Pool 3 of the competition.

For the second successive season Munster, Racing 92 and Leicester Tigers will meet in the pool stages, with Castres completing Pool 4.

Guinness PRO12 winners Scarlets have been drawn with former winners Toulon and Bath, as well as Benetton Treviso, with English duo Wasps

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and Harlequins in Pool 1 along with La Rochelle and Ulster.

Despite his team’s heroics in the PRO12 last season, Scarlets Head Coach Wayne Pivac is in no doubt about the challenge presented by the Champions Cup. “The make-up of the groups just goes to show the calibre of the competition,” he said. “Winning the PRO12 means that we head into this season’s competition as top seed, but we face another tough challenge as we take on former champions and TOP14 finalists Toulon once again.

“We are familiar with them having faced them in the last few seasons in Europe, but will want to build on our last performance, and victory, against them.

“Bath is a team we faced in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last season, but they will be a very different side in Europe. There’s a long-standing tradition and heritage between the two sides and we'll look forward to taking on the likes of former Scarlet Rhys Priestland.

“Treviso is a side we also know well through PRO12 competition. It’s not an easy place to go and we will be mindful of that as we prepare to take them on in Europe.”

Aviva Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs are focused on reaching the knockout stages of the competition after failing to escape their pool last time out.

“If we’re honest we were disappointed with how Europe went for us last season, so this offers us a great chance to try and put things right this year,” said Chiefs captain Gareth Steenson.

“We’ve played all three teams before in Europe and we know the quality that each of them possess, but playing at this level you know whoever you come up against, it's never going to be easy.”

• For a full list of all the upcoming pool fixtures, turn overleaf.

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CHAMPIONS CUP

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EUROPEAN RUGBY CHALLENGE CUP Stade Francais beat Gloucester to lift the European Rugby Challenge Cup at the end of last season.

Defence of the realm French heavyweights Stade Francais will be aiming to become the first side to retain the European Rugby Challenge Cup when the competition begins in October but, as always, there are some very strong competitors throughout the four pools, including Toulouse, Cardiff Blues and Sale Sharks.

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tade Francais, the reigning European Rugby Challenge Cup holders, will head back to the scene of their first European triumph after being drawn alongside Edinburgh Rugby in Pool 4 for the 2017/18 tournament.

The Parisiens will be looking to become the first team to retain the Challenge Cup in its 22-year history by making it back-to-back finals with a trip to Bilbao next May - with the winners guaranteed an automatic ticket into the 2018/19 Champions Cup. The draw sees the French giants, who beat Gloucester 25-17 at BT Murrayfield Stadium in May at their fifth attempt of lifting an European title, will travel back to the Scottish capital to take on an Edinburgh Rugby side who will have a new head coach in Richard Cockerill.

The champions will also take on London Irish, back in European competition after winning promotion back to England’s Aviva Premiership, and Continental Shield runners-up Krasny Yar.

The Russian club will be one of the two teams making their tournament debuts with four-time European Champions Cup winners Toulouse the other competition newcomers after 157 successive matches in Europe's first-tier tournament.

“We’re really looking forward to playing on the European stage again,” said London Irish director of rugby Nick Kennedy.

“I’m sure our supporters will be eagerly anticipating the visit of some top quality opposition to the Madejski Stadium. In true London Irish fashion, our supporters will undoubtedly create a fantastic atmosphere.”

Underlining the quality of this second-tier competition, Toulouse join Cardiff Blues in Pool 2 and it means the two finalists from the inaugural European final back in 1996, won by Toulouse, will meet again.

The group also includes Sale Sharks and Lyon while last month's finalists Gloucester Rugby face

two French tests in Pau and Agen and Italian opposition in the shape of Zebre.

In Pool 1 Continental Shield winners EnisieiSTM will be looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their third season in the competition.

They have some familiar opponents in Newcastle Falcons and Newport Gwent Dragons, both of whom they have beaten at home in the last two years.

Another of last season's Champions Cup teams Bordeaux-Begles also have competition history with the Dragons and Falcons while newly promoted Top14 side Oyonnax find themselves in Pool 5 with Brive, Connacht Rugby and Worcester Warriors.

• For a full list of all the upcoming pool fixtures in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, turn overleaf.

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CHALLENGE CUP

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Round 1 (local kick-off times) DATE

Thursday, 12 Oct 2017

POOL

MATCH

TIME

v

Pool 3

VENUE

20.45

Stade du Hameau

19.00

Cardiff Arms Park

Friday, 13 Oct 2017

Pool 2

v

Friday, 13 Oct 2017

Pool 3

v

20.00

Stade Armandie

Friday, 13 Oct 2017

Pool 2

v

20.00

AJ Bell Stadium

TBC

Krasny Yar Stadium, Krasnoyarsk

Friday, 13 Oct 2017 Saturday, 14 Oct 2017 Saturday, 14 Oct 2017 Saturday, 14 Oct 2017 Saturday, 14 Oct 2017 Saturday, 14 Oct 2017

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!

!

Pool 1

!

v

!

Pool 1

!

v

!

15.00

Kingston Park

v

!

15.00

Madejski Stadium

Pool 4

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Pool 5

v

15.00

Sixways Stadium

Pool 5

v

20.00

Stade de Genève

Pool 4

v

TBC

Krasny Yar Stadium, Krasnoyarsk

TV

beIN Sports / Sky Sports

France Télévisions

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!

Round 2 (local kick-off times) DATE

Thursday, 19 Oct 2017 Friday, 20 Oct 2017 Friday, 20 Oct 2017 Friday, 20 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017 Saturday, 21 Oct 2017

POOL

Pool 3

!

Pool 5

!

!

Pool 2

MATCH

TIME 19.45

Kingsholm Stadium

v

19.00

Stade AmédéeDomenech

v

19.30

Matmut Stadium de Gerland

21.00

Stade Ernest Wallon

v

v

Pool 2

VENUE

!

Pool 3

!

v

15.00

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Pool 5

!

v

15.00

The Sportsground

Pool 1

!

v

18.30

Stade ChabanDelmas

v

20.45

Stade JeanBouin

Pool 1

v

TBC

Slava Stadium, Moscow

Pool 4

v

TBC

Fili Stadium, Moscow

Pool 4

!

TV Sky Sports

France Télévisions

beIN Sports

CLUB RUGBY 97

!

!

>

CHALLENGE CUP

!

Round 3 (local kick-off times) DATE

Thursday, 7 Dec 2017 Friday, 8 Dec 2017

POOL

MATCH

v

Pool 2

TIME

!

VENUE

20.45

Stade Ernest Wallon

Pool 1

!

v

19.30

Rodney Parade

Friday, 8 Dec 2017

Pool 3

!

v

20.00

Stade Armandie

Friday, 8 Dec 2017

Pool 4

v

20.00

Stade JeanBouin

Saturday, 9 Dec 2017

Pool 3

v

14.30

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Pool 2

v

15.00

AJ Bell Stadium

v

15.00

Sixways Stadium

Pool 1

v

15.15

Kingston Park

Pool 4

v

19.35

Myreside

21.00

Stade AmédéeDomenech

Saturday, 9 Dec 2017 Saturday, 9 Dec 2017 Saturday, 9 Dec 2017 Saturday, 9 Dec 2017 Saturday, 9 Dec 2017

98 CLUB RUGBY

!

Pool 5

Pool 5

!

v

!

!

TV beIN Sports

BT Sport

France Télévisions

!

!

Round 4 (local kick-off times) DATE

POOL

MATCH

Thursday, 14 Dec 2017

Pool 3

Friday, 15 Dec 2017

Pool 1

v

Friday, 15 Dec 2017

Pool 4

Friday, 15 Dec 2017

TIME

VENUE

TV

20.45

Stade du Hameau

19.30

Rodney Parade

v

19.35

Myreside

Pool 5

v

20.00

Stade Charles Mathon

Friday, 15 Dec 2017

Pool 1

v

20.30

Stade ChabanDelmas

Saturday, 16 Dec 2017

Pool 3

v

15.00

Kingsholm Stadium

15.00

The Sportsground

v

15.15

Madejski Stadium

Pool 2

v

21.00

Matmut Stadium de Gerland

France Télévisions

Pool 2

v

15.15

Cardiff Arms Park

Sky Sports

Saturday, 16 Dec 2017 Saturday, 16 Dec 2017 Saturday, 16 Dec 2017 Sunday, 17 Dec 2017

!

Pool 5

v

!

v

!

Pool 4

!

!

!

beIN Sports

!

CLUB RUGBY 99

>

CHALLENGE CUP

!

Round 5 (local kick-off times) DATE

11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018 11/12/13/ 14 Jan 2018

100 CLUB RUGBY

!

POOL

MATCH

TIME

v

Pool 1

VENUE

Stade ChabanDelmas

Pool 1

!

v

Kingston Park

Pool 2

!

v

Cardiff Arms Park

!

v

!

Pool 3

v

!

Pool 3

v

Stade Armandie

v

BT Murrayfield Stadium

Pool 2

!

!

Pool 4

!

Pool 5 Pool 5

!

!

v v

AJ Bell Stadium Stade du Hameau

!

v

Pool 4

! !

TV

Madejski Stadium Sixways Stadium Stade Charles Mathon

!

!

Round 6 (local kick-off times) DATE

18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018 18/19/20/ 21 Jan 2018

!

POOL

MATCH

TIME

VENUE

Pool 1

v

Pool 1

v

TBC

Pool 2

v

Matmut Stadium de Gerland

Pool 2

v

Stade Ernest Wallon

Pool 3

v

Kingsholm Stadium

Pool 3

v

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Pool 4

v

Stade Jean-Bouin

Pool 4

v

TBC

Pool 5

v

The Sportsground

Pool 5

v

Stade AmédéeDomenech

TV

Rodney Parade

CLUB '!

RUGBY 101

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