Club Rugby Issue 8

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 8

Mission impossible?

The British & Irish Lions head to New Zealand

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

Entries now open for ‘Rugby Club of the Year’

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

We talk to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison

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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.

Contributors

Mike Braidwood

Chris Colverd

Sean Ferris

Karen Foreman

David Foster

Larry Hardcastle

Jonathan Hardy

David Lucas

Leigh Ann Ogilvie

Justin O’Regan

Victoria Romero-Trigo

Jill Slingsby

What a fantastic end to the season we’ve just enjoyed with any number of thrilling matches to enjoy in the latter stages of the Aviva Premiership, Pro 12 and European Champions Cup. With Exeter Chiefs, the Scarlets and Saracens all setting the pace this season with some fanastic performances which earned them their much-deserved silverware, it would seem that Northern Hemisphere rugby has much to be proud of at the moment.

The success of these teams is underpinned by the fact that rugby continues to flourish at the grassroots level with the sport welcoming new people into our clubhouses on a weekly basis. Whether they join as players, referees or supporters, they can be assured of a warm welcome into the heart of the rugby family where the ethos of fair play and respect holds sway from the lowliest league to the international game.

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

That ethos will be front and centre during this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand as the cream of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh rugby come together as one to take on the world champions New Zealand in their own backyard.

As these elite players undertake their mighty challenge thousands of miles away, clubhouses across the UK and Ireland will be packed to the rafters as they cheer on their heroes from afar. Lions tours are always special so be sure to savour every moment of the action as it unfolds on Sky Sports in the coming weeks.

Incidentally, as you’ll see in this issue, there is still time for your club to enter the ‘Rugby Club of the Year’ category in this year’s Club Awards which take place in November.

We all know how much hard work goes into running a rugby club and this is your chance to let everyone know about it and perhaps follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners. For more information, see pages

JUSTIN O’REGAN

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

Contents 20

8

12

6 News A round-up of the latest news from the rugby scene, including the dates for next season’s World Sevens Series.

8 View from the box We chat to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison about the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

12 Mission Impossible?

Club Rugby examines the opponents which the 2017 Lions will face during their gruelling 10match schedule against quality opponents.

24

16 Players to watch

30 Sports listings

Club Rugby picks some of the Lions who could write their names in the history books this summer by inspiring their team to victory.

Sports4Bars.com highlights June’s top sporting events, including the US Open golf from Erin, Wisconsin.

20 England’s young guns

32 Building the Business

The men in white head to Argentina for a twoTest tour that will put the spotlight on England’s up-and-coming players.

Want to cut club spend while increasing efficiencies? Well now you can. Introducing HQ Building the Business. Completely free to clubs.

24 Saracens are Kings of Europe

34 Legal Eagle

A look back on Saracens’ European Champions Cup victory over Clermont-Auvergne at Murrayfield.

HQ’s Legal Eagle fields your questions on a number of subjects.

36 Amendments to the Licensing Act 2003 26 A dream finish for Exeter Chiefs Just seven years after winning promotion to England’s top flight, Exeter Chiefs are the Aviva Premiership champions.

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Just what are the implications of the Licensing Act 2003 amendments? And what do you need to do to comply with them? Licensing specialist David Lucas explains.

41 Call for entries

53 Website content blunders

55 Building website traffic

Social media is one of the biggest and most cost effective marketing tools for clubs. Is your club facebook friendly? Are you an app aficionado maybe? Time to enter the 2017 Hospitality Social Media Awards then and show the world that you’re fully connected.

Club Mirror’s expert advisors Larrytech examine some classic errors when it comes to creating engaging content on club websites.

Link building is a great way to increase traffic and spread the club word via interesting and engaging content. But just what’s involved?

50 Insurance advice Club Insure examines adequate insurance of Gaming and lottery machines in your club as well as the risks of Cybercrime, a very hot topic at the moment.

52 Personal Injury Damage With the Lord Chancellor confirming a discount rate reduction for Personal Injury Damages by 3.25 points to -0.75%, now is the time to review your current Limits of Indemnity.

58

56 Confidence – a reputation maker Confidence is infectious. You will be judged on how much or how little you display, more than any talent, knowledge or skill set you have. So how confident a manager are you seen to be?

58 Calling all clubs... Time to shine With the Club Awards closing for entries on June 30, Club Rugby offers up a whirlwind tour of just some of last year's inspiring entries. Have you entered yet?

61 It’s classified!

Showcasing club-supporting suppliers.

CLUB RUGBY 5

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News from the touchline European accolade for England’s Owen Farrell Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell was the inaugural winner of the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy – awarded to the European player of the year – after guiding his team to their second successive Champions Cup title.

The England and Lions back won the award having been instrumental in Saracens’ successful European title defence which culminated in the 28-17 win over Clermont in the final staged in Edinburgh in May. The other nominees for the award were Maro Itoje (Saracens), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Garry Ringrose (Leinster) and CJ Stander (Munster).

The trophy was named in memory of former Munster coach and captain Anthony Foley whose untimely death in October at the age of 42, shocked the rugby world.

New clubhouse opened by the Princess Royal Minchinhampton RFC in Gloucestershire were honoured by a royal visit from HRH Princess Anne in March at the Grand Opening of their new clubhouse.

The completion of the £370,000 development is the result of five years of hard work on the part of the club’s members and has been paid for from a combination of grants and fundraising events.

Rugby fan Princess Anne, who lives very close to the club, said: “I have watched the development taking place at this rugby club for a long time and I am pleased it is finally finished. I wish you all the best for the future.”

To mark the occasion, a rugby match was held between a Mike Tindall Guest XV and a Gloucestershire RFU XV. World Cup winner Tindall, who also happens to be Princess Anne’s son-in-law and a member of the club, said: “It’s a great facility and we need to take advantage of it.

“We have 300 juniors playing on a Sunday and it’s extremely important they have somewhere to go after the game.

‘Minch is a grat community and very family orientated club, it was no good when it was just a field and a few portable buildings.

I’ve played three games for the team so far and I hope I can play a few more.”

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Dates set for the 2017/18 World Rugby Seven Series

The 2017/18 schedule for the HSB World Sevens Series has been announced.

World Rugby has announced the dates for the 10 rounds of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in 2017-18.

The schedule sees one change from last season as Hamilton takes over from Wellington as the destination of the New Zealand Sevens, the third round of the series, in February.

Next season will also see room in the schedule to accommodate the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, which takes place between the Hong

Kong and Singapore rounds.

“After yet another record-breaking HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, we look forward to what promises to be a very special 201718 season for men’s and women’s rugby sevens,” said World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont “We have 10 stellar series destinations for the men's series that will build excitement ahead of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, which promises to be a huge event as New Zealand men’s and women’s

teams seek to defend the trophies they won in 2013.”

The series begins in Dubai on December 1-2, 2017, before moving to Cape Town the following week. After the December break, Sydney will welcome the 16 teams over three days, from January 26-28, 2018 before teams move to the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton a week later.

The fifth and sixth rounds will then take place in Las Vegas on March 2-4 and Vancouver on March 10-11.

Teams participating in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia in mid-April will travel via the Hong Kong tournament, which takes place on April 6-8. The series resumes in Singapore on April 28-29.

With player welfare considerations at the forefront of schedule planning, rest weeks mean the the HSBC Paris Sevens takes place later than usual on May 26-27, before teams travel to London where the season will come to its climax at the Twickenham event on June 2-3.

Vickery is ambassador for Lions beer Doom Bar Former England and Lions prop Phil Vickery has been appointed as brand ambassador for Doom Bar, the official beer sponsor of the British & Irish Lions.

Vickery will help promote all Doom Bar activities and will travel to New Zealand on behalf of Cornwall-based Sharp’s Brewery to support the team.

As well as enjoying an illustrious England career, including being part of the 2003 World Cup-winning side which lifted the Webb Ellish Trophy in Australia, Vickery toured with the Lions twice, in 2001 and 2009.

“Bringing Phil Vickery on board our already exciting journey with the Lions was an easy decision to make,” said Sharp’s Brewery senior brand manager James Nicholls.

“Phil’s incredible success on the rugby field is based on hard work, dedication, commitment and precision to the last drop, and these are the very same values that go into the craftsmanship of our awardwinning beers.”

Vickery added: “As a fellow Cornishman and personally a huge fan of Doom Bar, I was delighted to hear that they would be

sponsoring the British & Irish Lions throughout this year’s tour. As an ambassador for this sponsorship I feel proud to be part of this new journey with the Lions.”

As part of Doom Bar’s association with the Lions, Sharp’s will be running a series of adverts featuring Lions players under the tag line ‘together to the last drop’.

Red Roses campaign wins award from the Women’s Sports Trust

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 up during the summer, including the Lions tour of New Zealand, England’s tour of Argentina and the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.

We also have details of the key live events in other sports taking place over the next couple of months, including golf’s Open Championship, Wimbledon 2017 and England’s various one-day and Test series. For more information see pages 30-31.

• 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 June 30, 2017. Turn to page 58 for our Express Entry Form.

The England Women’s Red Roses campaign has won the media initiative of the year at the #BeAGameChanger Awards.

Hosted by the Women’s Sport Trust, the #BeAGameChanger Awards celebrates the organisations and individuals who are doing the most to progress and showcase women’s sport.

Bringing together elite athletes, groundbreaking journalists, grassroots sports clubs and national governing bodies, the #BeAGameChanger Awards recognises a diverse range of talented individuals and projects that are helping to boost women’s sport.

In October 2016, during Women’s Sports Week, England Rugby unveiled the new look for the England Women team: the Red Roses.

Designed to raise the profile of the team

and create an identity for supporters to get behind, the England Women’s team adopted the brand at the start of a significant year for the sport, which will culminate in this year’s 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Having outlined plans to double the number of women and girls playing rugby by 2021, as well as introducing a new domestic competition, England Rugby premiered their Red Roses film, depicting the journey of a young girl from grassroots rugby to playing for England.

The event sparked widespread national media coverage in traditional media, showing an estimated reach of 2.9 million across broadcast, print and online.

On social media, the Red Rose film spread organically, attracting over one million views on Facebook alone within a period of 24 hours.

Ireland announce fixtures for autumn international series Ireland will face South Africa, Argentina and Fiji in Dublin in November 2017.

The first game of the Guinness Series will come against the Springboks on Sunday, November 12 at 2.30pm.

This will be the first meeting of the sides since Ireland’s tour of South Africa in 2016 when the men in green recorded their first away victory over the Springboks.

Their next autumn opponents will be Fiji on Saturday, November 18 at 5.30pm.

The series is rounded off by an encounter with Argentina on Saturday, November 25 at 5.30pm.

CLUB RUGBY 7

LIONS TOUR

Stuart Barnes (left) and Miles Harrison (right) have been working together in the rugby commentary box for Sky Sports since the 1990s.

View from the box With all 10 games of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand showing exclusively live on Sky Sports, Club Rugby caught up with the broadcaster’s commentary duo, Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison, to get their opinions on how the tourists will fare in the three-match Test series.

I

t’s something of an understatement to say that Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison have clocked up a fair few air miles during their time as Sky Sports rugby commentators.

The duo, who have been working together for over 20 years at Sky, have forged their muchadmired professional partnership in commentary boxes at iconic stadiums all over the world.

From Welford Road to Waikato, from Dublin to Dunedin and all points in-between, the authoritative and expert voices of Barnes and Harrison have accompanied some of the most iconic moments in recent rugby history see on our screens, not least the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour when Sam Warburton’s men won an historic 2-1 series victory.

Now the pair are preparing for another epic Lions adventure as they travel the 10,000-odd miles to New Zealand to cover the class of 2017 a

8 CLUB RUGBY

they take on the World Champion All Blacks in their own backyard.

Club Rugby caught up with the pair at Sky Sports HQ just days before their departure for the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ to find out just what they’re expecting during the tour as the Lions aim to win their first series in New Zealand since 1971.

“This is a massive challenge,” says Barnes. “The fact that New Zealand haven’t lost a home Test since 2009 and haven’t lost a Test in Auckland – where they will play the Lions twice on this tour – since 1997 just gives you the scale of the task for the team.

“If the Lions go out there and win the series they’ll be the greatest rugby team in the history of the sport, eclipsing the achievement of England winning the World Cup in 2003.”

Barnes, who was part of the Lions squad which

toured New Zealand in 1993 and lost the series 21, knows more than most about the arduous nature of touring the toughest rugby environment on earth.

“I absolutely loved touring New Zealand as a player,” he says. “The team bus would roll into a small town and you’d be greeted by a party of Maori elders and a huge crowd of fans all wanting to catch a glimpse of the players.

“New Zealanders are fanatical supporters of the game and while they want the All Blacks to win, they also want them to see their team test themselves against the best, hence the massive excitement around the Lions. You really feel like you’re at the epicentre of world rugby when you’re in New Zealand.

“As a player, it’s the ‘boy scout’ adventure of the whole enterprise which appeals to you and the chance to be part of the history of the Lions.

Can skipper Sam Warburton lead the Lions to a series victory in New Zealand?

CLUB RUGBY 9

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LIONS TOUR

New Zealand have not lost a home Test in Auckland since 1997.

“But it’s not just the players who feel that affinity with the team and the fans also have a huge connection. Whenever I’m walking around Bath or London or wherever, I’ll see people wearing the Lions jersey and it’s a brand which unites rugby people from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They really feel that connection with the team.”

While a huge army of travelling fans will make the long pilgrimage to New Zealand, the vast majority of fans will be back at home, enjoying the action unfold on Sky Sports at a time when they’d normally be polishing off a bowl of cornflakes.

“For many rugby fans, a Lions tour is bigger than a World Cup,” says Harrison. “The Lions transcends the sport in many ways and it attracts interest from people who probably aren’t rank and file rugby supporters the rest of the time.

“The New Zealanders are also really excited about taking on the cream of British and Irish players, particularly as the 2005 series was so one-

sided with the Lions failing to deliver on the rugby front.

“The breakfast time kick-offs in the UK offer a really fun aspect to watching the game.

We’re seeing pubs and clubs really encouraging people to come down and watch the rugby in the bar alongside like-minded people by offering breakfast deals and the like.

“When you’re on tour it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘tour bubble’ but when I’m commentating, foremost in my mind is the image of the supporters back in the UK, packed into a bar with their mates, yelling on their team and enjoying the experience.”

So, do the pair think that the Lions have a chance of turning the tide of history and recording their first series win in New Zealand for 46 years?

“Of course the Lions have a chance,” says Barnes. “In a game of rugby with 15 blokes against another 15 blokes, anything can hap-

pen. You only need four or five players on one team to be slightly off their game and you’’ll get a shock result.

“Look at how the Scarlets upset the odds to win the Pro 12 Cup, beating Leinster and Munster in successive weeks or how Exeter Chiefs turned over Saracens in the Aviva Premiership semi-final before going on to win the title.

“The Lions have some exceptionally talented players at their disposal, including some world-class goal-kickers. While All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett is one of the most exciting players in world rugby, his goal-kicking is most defintely not world-class.

“So, if come the Tests, it rains and the conditions are wet and muddy and it turns into a six-point game, then I’d back the Lions to kick their goals and win.”

Harrison also believes that the Lions’ chances should not be dismissed out of hand.

“Of course it’s going to be tough against a side of New Zealand’s pedigree on their home turf but there are definitely some good arguments which suggest that the Lions could be competitive this time around,” he says.

“We’ve just experienced a very high-quality Six Nations Championship which has shown northern hemisphere rugby in a very good light.

“There’s also the recent success of England in the Test arena, winning two successive Six Nations title as well as whitewashing Australia 3-0 in the Test series last summer.

“Many of the standout players from that series are now with the Lions, alongside the best players that Ireland, Scotland and Wales have to offer.

“And don’t forget Ireland’s magnificent 4029 victory over New Zealand in Chicago back in November which showed that the All Blacks are not invincible.”

As a New Zealander, Lions coach Warren Gatland knows only too well the challenge facing the Lions.

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LIONS TOUR The All Blacks have been reigning World Champions since 2011 and have not lost a home Test since 2009.

Mission Impossible?

The Lions’ intinerary has been branded ‘suicidal’ by Sir Graham Henry such is the quality of the teams that the British and Irish players will face during their five-week tour of New Zealand.

Here, we assess the opponents who will all be aiming to make life difficult for the famous tourists.

W

hen it comes to possessing a deep knowledge of New Zealand rugby, few men can match the wisdom of Sir Graham Henry, the former New Zealand, Wales and British & Irish Lions coach.

So when this esteemed knight of the realm brands the Lions’ schedule as ‘suicidal’, you would do well to listen to his opinion.

The Lions play all five of New Zealand’s Super Rugby side and the New Zealand Maori as well as taking on the World Champions in a three-Test series during their gruellling tour.

Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with this season’s Super Rugby competition will know that the New Zealand teams have been outstanding throughout, playing a high-paced brand of rugby that can blow away opposition in a flurry of tries.

Add in the fact that the chance to play the

12 CLUB RUGBY

Lions is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the vast majority of these Super Rugby players, with the British and Irish side only heading to New Zealand once every 12 years and there is no lack of motivation on the part of the home opposition.

“The Lions are playing New Zealand Maori, they are playing the five franchised teams – and those five franchised teams have nothing to lose, no pressure on them at all, so they will fire everything at the Lions and take them on.

“Hopefully the Lions have the ability to overcome that. But, really, when you tour you need to ensure some momentum is created by results and you just wonder how they are going to go into the Tests with that intinerary, “It is very demanding. You just want the Lions to do well because it is such a marvellous brand in world rugby and they need to do pretty well to maintain the potency of the brand, because it’s

huge for the southern hemisphere countries to have the Lions tour.

“The Lions are on of the cornerstones of the games and must be fostered and safeguarded.

Warren Gatland and his Lions will be welcomed with open arms in this country. There is no greater interest in anything in New Zealand than in the Lions tour. Their supporters are great value and great company. It is the pinnacle for all concerned.”

So, who are these teams who will be lining up against the Lions during this frighteningly intense tour?

New Zealand Provincial Barbarians XV This team will provide the Lions with their weakest opposition of the tour drawn as it is from the Provincial teams which play in the second-tier NPC competition.

The squad, who will come together just a week before they face the Lions, have a number of promising players for whom this will be a priceless opportunity to mark themselves out as ready to make the step up to Super Rugby level.

Notable players include former New Zealand Sevens back Sam Vaka, Bay of Plenty scrum-half Richard Judd and former NZ Under-20s wing/fullback Kaveinga Finau of Canterbury.

The Blues The Auckland-based side are the lowest ranked of New Zealand’s Super Rugby side but are still generally considered a cut ahead of any of the teams from Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Japan.

Coached by former All Black captain Tana Umaga, the Blues boast a number of illustrious players in the ranks, although, of course, they will be without their international players for the Lions match.

One player who could make an impact against the Lions is young second row Josh Goodhue, who is making his debut season for the Blues this season. He ia good lineout technician with all the necessary skills required of a modern forward.

The Crusaders This Canterbury-based team need little introduction given their stellar record in Super Rugby.

They are the most successful team in the competition’s history and their home base of AMI Stadium is regarded as something of a fortress by visiting teams.

The team has supplied some of the greatest names in New Zealand rugby for many years, including double World Cup-winning skipper Richie McCaw and has admirable strength-indepth with a seemingly unending conveyer belt of

The Crusaders are the most successful side in Super Rugby history.

talented players coming up through its ranks.

One such talent is Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, the six-foot, four-inch backrower renowned for his ball-carrying ability and workrate.

The Highlanders The Lions’ fourth match of their tour takes them to the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin as they face the Highlanders.

Even without their All Black contingent, which includes such luminaries as Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa, the Highlanders are another class outfit who can be guaranteed to take the game to the Lions.

Typifying the Highlanders combatative spirit is ultra-mobile hooker Ash Dixon who has been sidelined for much of the Super Rugby season and will be eager to get back to full fitness and help inspire his team against the Lions.

Maori All Blacks The Maori All Blacks – comprised of players with confirmed Maori genealogy – can always be relied upon to provide some thrilling rugby against touring opposition and many of their battles against the British & Irish Lions on previous tours have been utterly compelling viewing.

In 2005, the Lions slumped to their first-ever defeat against the Maori as the home side tore into Clive Woodward’s tourists with pure ferocity, knocking them off their stride and setting up a 19-13 victory.

That remains the only Maori victory in their six games against the Lions but they will certainly be out to cause another upset this time out.

Their cause has been bolstered with the news that the Maori are likely to be allowed to select any All Blacks not required for the warm-up Test against Samoa on June 16.

The Lions will take on the Highlanders in Dunedin on June 13.

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LIONS TOUR Tour Itinerary

The Chiefs will be lying in wait for the Lions in Hamilton on June 20.

Saturday, June 3, 8.35am Provincial Union Barbarians v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Wednesday, June 7, 8.35am Blues v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Saturday, June 10, 8.35am Crusaders v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Tuesday, June 13, 8.35am Highlanders v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD)

The Chiefs Based in Waikato, the Chiefs are another side with a proud tradition against international touring sides and in 2016 beat Wales by 40-7 with an all-action performance which ran the tourists ragged.

They will go into the Lions game on the back of a highly effective Super Rugby season which started in excellent fashion but admittedly faded somewhat in the latter stages.

The Lions would do well to look out for wing/fullback Shaun Stevenson, a very effective attacking player who seems to be improving in every outing in the Chiefs jersey.

The Hurricanes The Hurricanes won the 2016 Super Rugby title and have been fitfully brilliant during the 2017 season, utterly destroying some of the weaker teams they have faced with their irrestible brand of attacking rugby.

They were in fine form for their Super Rugby

encounter against the Crusaders held in the Fijian capital of Suva recently and contributed to a fine spectacle even if they did eventually succumb to defeat.

One of their unsung heroes is blindside flanker Brad Shields, another in the long line of superb New Zealand backrowers who seem to revel in doing the basics brilliantly well.

New Zealand New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Test statistics make sobering reading for Lions supporters.

The reigning World Champions since 2011, the All Blacks have not lost a home Test since 2009 and have not lost at Eden Park (where they will play the Lions in two Test on the 2017 tour) since 1994.

They also beat the Lions 3-0 in the 2005 Test series and have not lost a series to the British and Irish team since 1971, a staggering run of 46 years.

Saturday, June 17, 8.35am Maori All Blacks v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Tuesday, June 20, 8.35am Chiefs v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Saturday, June 24, 8.35am New Zealand v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Tuesday, June 27, 8.35am Hurricanes v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Saturday, July 1, 8.35am New Zealand v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD) Saturday, July 8, 8.35am New Zealand v Lions (Sky Sports 1 HD)

The Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; final midweek match will be against the Hurricanes on June 27 in Wellington.

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LIONS TOUR

Ready to roar!

As the British & Irish Lions embark on their mission impossible in New Zealand, Club Rugby picks out several players who could come to the fore during what is sure to be a thrillling, epic tour.

TAULUPE FALETAU The late withdrawal of England backrower Billy Vunipola from the Lions squad means that his cousin, Taulupe Faletau, looks likely to nail down the No.8 Test berth in the coming weeks.

The Wales star may lack the sheer bulk and ball-carrying power of his relative but his athleticism and handling skills undoubtedly surpass those of Vunipola. He is also highly effective as a lineout jumper, a battleground which will be crucial during the Test series given the set-piece skills of All Black No.8 and skipper Kieran Read.

At 26, the Tongan-born Bath player is in the prime of his playing career and is already a Lion, having toured Australia with the team in 2013 and playing in the final Test against the Wallabies, a 41-16 victory which clinched the series for the Lions.

Except when injured, Faletau has been an everpresent for Wales since his impressive debut against South Africa in RWC 2011. He is one of the few players to have scored a try on his debut and he finished up the World Cup as the tournament’s top tackler and ball carrier, the first time that a player had ever topped both tables.

STUART HOGG Scotland’s outstanding player during the 2017 Six Nations Championship and a Lion in 2013, the 24year-old fullback is an incredible talent in attack and a very safe pair of hands under the high ball.

Hogg has won the Six Nations player of the year trophy two years in a row and must surely be in the reckoning for a Test spot when the series against New Zealand begins.

Few players can unlock defences as adeptly as the Glasgow Warriors and he began the 2017 Six Nations in superlative style with a man-of-thematch performance against Ireland on the opening weekend of the tournament.

Just eight minutes into the match, he cut inside Irish centre Garry Ringrose and went over for the first try of the tournament. He mesmerised the Irish defence again just 12 minutes later to cross the line again, this time dummying a pass and then scorching through for the score.

While his defensive play may not quite be up to the standard of his attacking skills, Hogg remains a player who most definitely has the ‘x-factor’ and could potentially be a match-winner for the Lions if coach Warren Gatland adopts a high-rise gameplan for the Tests.

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GEORGE KRUIS The Saracens lock will be one of the most rested players lining up for the Lions this summer given that he has missed a significant portion of the season, including the entire Six Nations Championship, with a knee ligament injury.

Such a serious ailment suffered during the key period for Lions selection would have ruled out most players from contention for the tour of New Zealand but coach Warren Gatland has made an exception for such an obviously outstanding international talent.

Kruis has been highly influential for both England and Saracens where his phenomenal fitness, huge frame and set-piece skills have marked him out as a potentially world-class second row.

The 27 year old was arguably England’s best player during their 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam season, playing like a back row around the pitch but also offering massive power in the scrum and deft, ballet-like skills in the lineout.

If the Lions are aiming to tame the All Black pack by dominating them in the lineout and scrum then Kruis is highly likely to be one of the first names down on the Test selection sheet.

JONATHAN DAVIES The Scarlets outside centre has enjoyed a fine season for both his regional side and country and is likely to feature heavily in Gatland’s Test plans given that he was the man controversially brought in to replace living legend Brian O’Driscoll for the final Test of the 2013 tour. On that occasion, Gatland’s faith was vindicated handsomely as Davies proceeded to play his socks off in the 41-16 victory. The 29 year old – known as ‘Fox’ due to the fact his parents ran The Fox and Hounds pub in the village where he grew up – is now one of the senior players in this Lions squad with eight years of international rugby under his belt and has been one of the standout turns during the Pro12 season. A powerfully built player with a fine turn of pace, Davies’ stock-in trade is the swift change of direction and killer hand-off which more often than not takes him through the gap. In defence, he is an absolute rock and a real arch-exponent of the blitz defence which can so often turn defence into attack. While there are several good options open to the Lions management in terms of their centre pairing, it would be a surprise if Davies were not to figure in the Test series.

CLUB RUGBY 17

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LIONS TOUR JACK NOWELL The England wing has had a season to remember and has been in stunning form for his club side Exeter Chiefs where his willingness to come off the flanks and look for the ball has paid dividends and marked him out as one of the most exciting players in the game.

He may not be an out-and-out paceman but Nowell is the type of wing who repeatedly pops up in unexpected places to cause chaos in opposition ranks and his try-scoring feats have kept the Chiefs at the forefront of English rugby.

Perhaps surprisingly, Nowell was not a constant presence for England during their Six Nations-winning rugby in 2017 but when he did play he always caught the eye and he has now scored 10 tries in 22 England appearances.

The proud Cornishman, who is an ambassador for the St Austell Brewery, has never played against the All Blacks and will eager to amend that by pushing for a place in the Test side.

Nowell has spoken of his reverence for the concept of the Lions, a feeling that was forged at Penzance & Newlyn RFC when, as an eight year old, he watched the 2001 Lions doing battle with the Wallabies on the club’s television.

Now, some 16 years later, Nowell has the opportunity to add to the history of the illustrious touring side and perhaps inspire other young players to embark on their own professional careers.

CONOR MURRAY It’s not for nothing that Irish scrum-half has been compared to Joost van der Westhuizen, sharing many of the attributes of the late, great South African No.9, including a similar 6 foot 2 inch, 14-stone frame. Making his international debut in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Murray has developed into one of Ireland’s key men and his partnership with fly-half Johnny Sexton has been the guiding force behind Ireland’s rise in the World Rankings. If he can remain injury-free for the duration of the tour, Murray will be in pole position for the Test series, given his track record against Southern Hemisphere opposition, not least his starring role in the victory over New Zealand in Chicago earlier this year. Murray was simply outstanding in that memorably intense match which ended New Zealand’s lengthy winning streak. He was the epitome of the all-action scrum-half, harrying his opposite number, box-kicking to perfection and providing a perfect service to his outside back. The Munster man is a real class act but does come into the tour short of match time having been on the sidelines for a protracted period since he injured his shoulder in the Six Nations defeat against Wales. Gatland will undoubtedly want to pitch Murray straight into the action early on the tour in the hope that he can recover his best form.

18 CLUB RUGBY

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ENGLAND TOUR England’s squad for their twoTest series against Argentina is a mix of youth and experience.

England’s young guns With many of his first-choice men on Lions duty in New Zealand, England coach Eddie Jones will be expecting a number of younger players to step up to the task of matching a powerful Argentina side in a two-Test series. Club Rugby looks ahead to what is sure to be a very arduous challenge.

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he main event may be taking place in New Zealand as the Lions attempt to end their 46-year wait for a series win against the All Blacks but you can be certain that the players selected for the England tour of Argentina will be fully focused on their own mighty challenge.

A two-Test series against the Pumas awaits the men in white and the days of Argentina being a second-tier nation are well and truly gone and the home side are now firmly in the top rank of nations and battle hardened from their annual tussles against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

Argentina is a tough place to tour at the best of times but with several key players missing from the ranks due to Lions call-ups, England will find themselves in the unaccustomed position of underdogs for the series as they introduce a number of new faces into the matchday squad to play alongside a spine of senior players.

20 CLUB RUGBY

But whatever difficulties England may face in South America, you can bet that coach Eddie Jones will not be dropping his famously high standards just because a few famous faces are missing from the squad.

“We’re looking forward to going down to Argentina,” he said at the announcement of his tour squad.

“It’s a new squad so it’s like starting from day one. We have focused particularly on youth because we want to find players who are going to be better than the players who are going on the Lions tour.

“If I can develop three or four of these guys to be better than the Lions guys, it has been an enormously successful tour.”

There are certainly some highly rated young players named who have found themselves thrust into the spotlight probably earlier than they expected.

18-year-old twins Ben and Tom Curry from Sale Sharks, Saracens second row Nick Isiekwe and London Irish’s wing Joe Cokanasiga – both 19 – are all fine prospects and have played international age group rugby but lack experience at senior level.

Tom Curry was one of the standout players during the recent non-Test outing against the Barbarians at Twickenham and won the man of the match award in the 28-14 victory.

“What I want these young guys to do is not wait for the senior players to ask them to do things,” said Jones.

“I want them to come into the squad and push the envelope. I’m looking forward to working with the Curry twins because I want to find out if I can tell the difference between the two of them.

I only had to watch them play once and I could see they have got something about them.

“I want them to come in and raise the intensity

of training. I want them to be the new energy in the team.

“The only thing the senior players ought to ask of them is to tone it down. And find them a steak restaurant at night. Apart from that I want them to get on with it.”

It will certainly be an education for the squad’s younger members as they train alongside the likes of Dylan Hartley, Danny Care, Chris Robshaw, George Ford, Mike Brown and Joe Launchbury, all proven warriors at Test level.

A number of other experienced players have been left behind, including Danny Cipriani, Christian Wade, Dan Robson and Semesa Rokoduguni but Jones is writing off anyone’s chances of making a comeback into the England squad in the future.

“There is no reason why other players can’t come back into it but they’ve got to be desperate to improve,” he said. “I always saw 2017 as an opportunity to build the depth of our squad.

“This is the ideal opportunity to bring young guys through. The talent there is just so exciting good young athletes, desperate to play for England, willing to die for their club, obsessed by being great. If players aren’t like that they won’t play for England.”

And while the more high-profile players on this tour will know that they are potentially one injury away from being asked to join the Lions party in New Zealand, they are admirably focused on doing their utmost for the England cause.

Fly-half George Ford could perhaps be justified in feeling a bit sorry for himself at his non Lions selection given his starring role in England’s key achievements over the past two years, but he is looking forward to heading to Argentina.

England coach Eddie Jones is expecting his young players to bring youthful energy to the squad.

“Eddie rang me on the afternoon of the Lions squad announcement,” said Ford. “Basically we just said: ‘look, we’re cracking on here’.

“I don’t think it was even a question whether I wanted to go or not. I want to be part of this team, I want to be part of this journey.

“I don’t think you would want to go to Argentina thinking ‘let’s just try our best and see what happens’. We want to go there and win twonil and we are expecting to do so regardless of who is here.

“England is my sole focus - the Lions is irrelevant to me now. I’m trying to make myself a better player and be part of a great England team that can go to the World Cup in 2019 and try to win it.”

Of course, following the recent Rugby World Cup draw, England know that Argentina will be

in their pool – the so-called ‘pool of death’ which also includes France – adding an extra dimension to the upcoming Test series.

Putting a marker down here, even at such a distance from Japan 2019, would be a major psychological blow for the victors of this summer’s twomatch series.

Live Coverage Saturday, June 10, 8pm BBC2 1st Test: Argentina v England Saturday, June 17, 8pm BBC2 2nd Test: Argentina v England

Teenager Tom Curry has been called up to the Argentina tour alongside twin brother Ben.

CLUB RUGBY 21

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EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP Saracens celebrate after winning their second successive European title with victory over Clermont.

Euro glory for Sarries Saracens were crowned kings of Europe in May as they beat Clermont-Auvergne 28-17 in the European Champions Cup Final in Murrayfield, their second successive European title. It was a mightily impressive performance from the North Londoners with plenty of excitement throughout.

S

aracens became back-to-back champions of Europe as they beat Clermont Auvergne in a thrilling Champions Cup final at Murrayfield in May. Saracens' domination of Europe this season was built on a resolute ‘blitz’ defence, relentless focus and a ruthless desire to win and all these qualities were on display in spades during the final.

With No.8 Billy Vunipola smashing over the gainline throughout, ably assisted by his heavyweight colleagues in mighty Saracens forward effort, Clermonth were never able to hit their stride and match their opponents.

Saracens wing Chris Ashton, in many ways the forgotten man of international rugby, scored a fantastic try to open his team’s account, racing on to a grubber kick from team-mate Alex Goode.

Ashton is now the leading all-time try scorer in the Champions Cup with 37 scores to his cred-

24 CLUB RUGBY

it, an astonishing total which marks him out as one of the great finishers in world rugby.

George Kruis was another hero of the day, the England and British & Irish Lion showing great strength to crash over the line for Saracens’ second try.

At 12-0 up it looked as if Sarries would cruise to the title but Clermont were not about to throw in the towel and cut the gap to five points after a break from veteran centre Aurelien Rougerie led to a try for Remi Lamerat and the subsequent conversion.

Clermont scored another try in the 52nd minute through Nick Abendanon and began to look increasingly dangerou.

But Saracens responded by exerting a stranglehold on their opponents, allowing them to keep the scoreboard moving forward through the boot of Owen Farrell.

The reigning champions went on the attack in

the final quarter of the match, coming close to scoring on two occasions but just being denied by desperate defence.

But the relentless driving play of Sarries eventually breached the Clermont defence again as Alex Goode – one of the day’s standout players – darted through a gap to ensure glory for the North Londoners.

After this highly impressive season, Saracens will once again be the team to beat in next season's Champions Cup as they set their sights on becoming the second side in history, after Toulon, to win the European title three times in a row.

Their coach certainly believes that his men have the potential to do just that.

“If we’re hungry enough and humble enough, then there's no reason why we can't get better," said coach Mark McCall. “The age profile of the group is good and the manner in which we won was encouraging.”

Billy Vunipola thunders into the Clermont defence during the European Champions Cup Final in Edinburgh.

CLUB RUGBY 25

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP

A dream finish It was a season to remember for Exeter Chiefs as they rebounded from the disappointment of their defeat at the hands of Saracens in the 2016 final at Twickenham to regroup and return the following year to clinch the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Aviva Premiership title in thrilling fashion.

26 CLUB RUGBY

CLUB RUGBY 27

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AVIVA PREMIERSHIP

T

he ascent of Exeter Chiefs to the summit of English rugby has been a heartwarming story, especially in light of the fact that the South West club has stayed true to its original ethos of teamwork and family values since reaching the top flight seven years ago.

Winning the Aviva Premiership title at Twickenham in May was a real testament to the hard work that has been put into the club on so many levels, not least by Tony Rowe OBE, the chairman of the club and the chief architect of their rise to glory.

The Devon-based businessmen has put the structure in place that has allowed the management and players to realise their dream of building a successful title-winning club and Rowe is not finished there.

“We had a seven-year plan when we came up to become Premiership champions,” he said following the Chief’s epic extra time 23-20 victory over Wasps at Twickenham. “This success confirms where we are, but my ambition now, and that of Rob Baxter, is to become the best in Europe.”

Baxter, of course, has been just as crucial in the execution of the plan as Rowe, the former club player and captain turned Head Coach fashioning a side that has taken on and beaten the best all season.

At the final whistle, Baxter was in tears, seemingly overcome by the the enormity of what his club had just achieved.

“The emotional stuff after the whistle is hard to describe – it just happened,” he said. “I’ve worked a lot with the players and some have had to leave, some have stayed and some who have been massively emotionally involved with this club are not here today and do not get that reward of today.

“There are a lot of coaches and other people who are massively involved in what has gone on at this club and nobody even knows about them, but I know about them.

“It’s been a long journey to get here. The players have been very strong and for a long time at Exeter things have not gone our way.

“People ask me if every day I wake up and feel like it’s a dream. Not once have I ever woken up and felt like I’m in a dream because the people who have lived and breathed it every day know how hard we have worked and the sacrifices we have made the hard times we’ve come through.”

After this title win, Baxter will doubtlessly be tipped as a future England coach but the man himself has plenty more to achieve with Exeter before he heads for pastures new, including punching their weight on the European stage.

“We’ve let ourselves down in Europe in the last couple of years and we have to address that,” he said. “Europe should be a marker for us. As great as today is, it can’t be the defining thing about Exeter. If it’s a downward spiral from here I’ll be massively disappointed and I’ll have failed.”

The Chief’s Champions Cup pool defeat to Clermont in October, a 35-8 drubbing at home, proved to be the turning point of the season for

28 CLUB RUGBY

the club with the players and management putting their heads together in the immediate aftermath and working out a way forward.

It certainly seemed to work and from that point on, the Chiefs devoted themselves tirelessly to the task of pushing ever upwards in the Premiership, finishing off the normal season in second spot to guarantee themselves a home semi-final against reigning champions Saracens who, just a week earlier, had won their second European title in a row with a win over Clermont in Edinburgh.

Even with home advantage the Chiefs were underdogs for the clash against a team packed with international talent, but they rose magnificently to the task in hand and played some magnificent rugby to take the game all the way to the wire.

When Saracens went ahead with just four minutes on the clock, it seemed as if the Chiefs were going to be denied the chance to reach their second consecutive Premiership final, but the players had other ideas.

Henry Slade fired a perfect kick deep into the Saracens’ 22 and Exeter secured the resulting lineout before Sam Simmonds was driven over for the decisive try that made it 18-16.

Then to Twickenham to face a confident Wasps side who had finished top of the Premiership table and had just squeezed past Leicester Tigers to book their place in the final.

And what a final it turned out to be, a fittingly epic end to what has been a highly entertaining season and a treat for the 80,000 spectators who had packed into the home of English rugby.

Unlike last year’s final when they were outplayed by Saracens from the beginning, Exeter were firmly in the driving seat in the first half of the contest and were dominating territory and possession.

Exeter were 14-10 up at half time having crafted two superb tries which demonstrated just why they have earned so many plaudits this season.

The first try came after just 13 minutes when Exeter won a penalty and then opted to kick into the corner in order to press home their advantage against Wasps. The resulting lineout was won securely Kai Horstmann and it seemed as if the Chiefs would, in time-honoured fashion,

Gareth Steenson of Exeter Chiefs.

drive the ball over the line.

But hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie had other ideas and took the ball wide before slipping an inside pass to wing Jack Nowell who crashed over the line.

Phil Dollman added another seven-pointer for the Chiefs but Wasps struck back just before the break after Jimmy Gopperth finished off a flowing backline move to cut Exeter’s lead.

Wasps went ahead three minutes into the second half through a try from Elliot Daly, converted by Gopperth and it seemed as if Exeter’s dream was fading.

But such was the parity between the teams that it was to go all the way to the wire with the score tied at 20-all by normal time.

That set up a nailbiting 30-minute period of extra time with neither side prepared to budge an inch and no score taking place in the first period.

In the second half of extra time, Exeter battered the Wasps defence for phase after phase and looked to have driven over before the TMO ruled ‘no try’.

But from the resulting scrum Exeter were awarded a penalty and fly-half Gareth Steenson duly kicked the points to give the Chiefs a thrilling 23-20 victory.

Aviva Premiership Final Saturday, May 27 Twickenham Stadium Exeter Chiefs 23 Tries: Nowell, Dollman Conversions: Steenson (2) Penalties: (3)

Wasps 20 Tries: Gopperth, Daly Conversions: Gopperth (2) Penalties: Gopperth (2)

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LIVE SPORTING FIXTURES FROM

The best of Tuesday June 6, 10.30am – Sky Sports 2 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: England v New Zealand Action from the ICC Champions Trophy as hosts England take on New Zealand at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The Black Caps have a number of formidable players, including Martin Guptill, a batsman of rare ability who set the 2015 edition of the tournament on fire.

Saturday June 10, 5pm – Sky Sports 1 HD

Football - World Cup Qualifier: Scotland v England A massive game for both sides and a fixture which has a rich history and always brings footballing passion to the fore. The earlier qualifier between these sides, which took place at Wembley last November, ended in a convincing victory for England, Sturridge, Lallana and Cahill each scoring a goal apiece from headers.

Sports4Bars.com looks ahead to the biggest sporting fixtures coming up in June, including the ICC Champions Trophy and the British & Irish Lions rugby tour.

Tuesday June 6 10.30am Sky Sports 2 HD

Saturday June 10 8.35am Sky Sports 1 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: England v New Zealand

Rugby Union: Crusaders v British & Irish Lions

There is little room for error given the intense nature of this one-day tournament and England will be eager to make home advantage count over the Black Caps.

The Crusaders are one of the most successful teams in Super Rugby history and will be pulling out all the stops to claim the scalp of the illustrious tourists.

Wednesday June 7 8.35am Sky Sports 1 HD

Saturday June 10 10.30am Sky Sports 2 HD

Rugby Union: Blues v British & Irish Lions

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: England v Australia

The Lions’ intinerary has been judged as harsh in the extreme by rugby pundits familiar with the incredible strength-in-depth of New Zealand rugby and Super Rugby franchise the Blues will provide very stern opposition.

Contests between these two nations on the cricket field are always passionate affairs and this group game will be no exception. Expect a very close finish between these two great rivals.

Wednesday June 7 1.30pm Sky Sports 2 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: Pakistan v South Africa A key match for Pakistan who have slipped down the ODI rankings in recent years and will want to cause an upset against South Africa, currently the No.1 ranked team in the world.

Saturday June 24, 8.35am – Sky Sports 1 HD

Thursday June 8 10.30am Sky Sports 2 HD

Rugby Union: New Zealand v British & Irish Lions

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: India v Sri Lanka

Action from the first of three tests between the World Champion All Blacks and a team comprised of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Facing New Zealand on home soil is one of the biggest challenges in rugby and the Lions, very short on preparation time after a tough domestic season, will need to perform mightily to have any chance of winning.

Reigning champions India will not give up their title without a mighty fight and face a tricky assignment against Sri Lanka who boast some highly effective one-day players in their squad.

Saturday June 10 5pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Football - World Cup Qualifier: Scotland v England Scotland would appear to have a mountain to climb to gain anyy points from this game given the comprehensive 3-0 victory enjoyed

by England in the earlier qualifier between these two sides, although the ‘Hampden Park factor’ could come into play.

Sunday June 11 10.30am Sky Sports 2 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: India v South Africa On paper there is very little between the two sides and it will be interesting to see how the teams adapt their play to English conditions.

For latest news and timings on sporting events coming to the club screen, visit Sports4Bars.com 30 CLUB RUGBY

June’s live sport The US Open, Thursday, June 15, 6pm, Sky Sports The Players HD

ALSO COMING UP...

Thursday June 8 8pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Super League: Leigh Centurions v Wigan Warriors Friday June 9 10.30am Sky Sports 2 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand v Bangladesh Friday June 9 7.45pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Football - World Cup Qualifier: Sweden v France

Sunday June 11 7.45pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Thursday June 15 6pm Sky Sports The Players HD

Wednesday June 21 6.30pm Sky Sports 2 HD

Football - World Cup Qualifier: Serbia v Wales

Golf: The US Open

Cricket - Twenty20: England v South Africa

After their stunning turn in the 2016 Euros can Wales battle their way into the 2018 World Cup? A win against a highly motivated Serbian side would certainly edge them towards their objective.

Wisconsin’s Erin Hills club hosts the US Open as the world’s top golfers compete for this Major. Dustin Johnson won the title last year in controversial circumstances after being handed a one-shot penalty after his final round had finished.

Tuesday June 13 8.35pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Saturday June 17 8.35am Sky Sports 1 HD

Rugby Union: Highlanders v British & Irish Lions

Rugby Union: New Zealand Maori v British & Irish Lions

Another tricky game for the Lions as they travel to Dunedin to take on the Highlanders who won the Super Rugby title in 2015

Another epic rugby match to savour as the Maori, a side comprised entirely of players with Maori heritage, take on the Lions. In 2005, the Maori won 19-13 with an allaction attacking display.

Wednesday June 14 10.30am Sky Sports 1 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: Semi-Final The winners of Group A take on the runners-up in Group B for a place in the final.

Sunday June 18 10.30am Sky Sports 1 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: The Final Action from the Oval.

Sunday June 11 5pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Football - World Cup Qualifier: Republic of Ireland v Austria

The first of three Twenty20 games between these sides. This should be a cracking series given the number of big-hitters on both sides. England fans will be hoping that Ben Stokes can show the sort of Twenty20 form he demonstrated during his recent stint in the Indian Premier League.

Sunday June 11 7pm Sky Sports F1 HD

Saturday June 24 8.35am Sky Sports 1 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: Sri Lanka v Pakistan

Rugby Union: New Zealand v British & Irish Lions

Thursday June 15 10.30am Sky Sports 1 HD

The moment of truth for Warren Gatland’s team as they head to Eden Park, Auckland, the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby, to take on the All Blacks in the first of a threematch series. This is one of the greatest challenges in world sport given New Zealand’s astonishing home record. They last lost a Test on home soil in 2009 and have won 43 times at home since then.

Formula 1: Canadian Grand Prix Monday June 12 7.45pm Sky Sports 1 HD

Cricket - ICC Champions Trophy: Semi-Final

www.Sports4Bars.com

For latest news and timings on sporting events coming to the club screen, visit Sports4Bars.com CLUB RUGBY 31

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

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

Your name: _____________________________________

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n All n Other (please list): _____________________________

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*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 33

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Legal eagle HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

David Lucas, Head of the Licensing Team at Fraser Brown Solicitors, answers your club questions.

Proof of age Is it correct that I should only accept specific documents as proof of age?

Under the current licensing regime alcohol must not be sold or supplied in a members’ club to anyone under 18 years of age.

The type of document which may be accepted as proof of age is specified in the mandatory conditions which apply to all premises licences and club premises certificates.

Under the mandatory condition relating to age verification, the premises licence holder or club premises certificate holder must ensure that an age verification policy is operated at the premises in relation to the sale or supply of alcohol.

As a minimum, the policy must require individuals who appear to be under the age of 18 years of age to produce appropriate identification before being served alcohol.

Identification will be appropriate if it contains: • The holder’s photograph.

• The holder’s date of birth.

• Either a holographic mark or ultraviolet feature.

them this year. Do I also need to renew my permit every 10 years?

A licensed premises gaming machine permit lasts indefinitely subject to payment of an annual fee unless: • The on-premises licence ceases to have effect.

• Thepermit holder no longer holds the on-premises licence.

• The permit is surrendered.

• The permit is cancelled by the licensing authority.

• The permit is forfeited by a court.

It is important to be aware that a club premises certificate which authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises is subject to the following statutory conditions: • The supply must be made when the premises are open for the supply of alcohol to members for consumption on the premises.

• Any alcohol supplied for consumption off the premises must be in a sealed container.

• Any supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises must be made to a member in person.

It is worth noting that a licensed premises gaming machine permit can be transferred to the new holder of the on-premises licence.

Examples of acceptable proof of age include photocard driving licences, passports, military identification cards or proof of age cards containing the PASS hologram.

This condition does not prevent schemes such as Challenge 21 or Challenge 25 from being implemented.

Gaming machine permits I have a licensed premises gaming machine permit which allows me to provide more than two gaming machines in my premises. I have read that clubs which hold machine permits may need to renew

34 CLUB RUGBY

Off-premise sales I manage a clubhouse which has the benefit of a club premises certificate. Am I allowed to supply alcohol for consumption off the premises?

Provided that a club premises certificate authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises it is also possible for the certificate to authorise the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises.

It will therefore be a question of looking at the certificate to confirm precisely what activities are authorised.

If there is no authority to supply alcohol for consumption off the premises it is possible to apply for a variation of the certificate to include the activity.

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

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Legal eagle HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Licensing Act updates In the April issue of Club Mirror [a sister title of Club Cricket] I read about the latest comments from the Select Committee regarding the Licensing Act 2003. Please can you provide any updates on this?

A number of amendments came into effect on 6 April, 2017 which amend the Licensing Act 2003.

Policing and Crime Act 2017 This Act amended the Licensing Act in the following ways: • The definition of alcohol contained in the 2003 Act was extended to include powdered alcohol and vaporised alcohol which will now be regulated in the same way as liquid alcohol.

Just what are the implications of the recent amendments to the Licensing Act 2003? Legal Eagle David Lucas explains.

• The provisions relating to interim steps following an application for summary review of a premises licence have been clarified to make it clear when they apply and how they may be amended or removed.

• Licensing authorities have been given the power to suspend or revoke personal licences following conviction of the licence holder for a relevant offence specified in the 2003 Act. • The list of relevant offences contained in schedule 4 of the 2003 Act has been extended and now includes Immigration Act penalties (see below).

• It is no longer necessary for amendments to the statutory guidance issued under the 2003 Act to

be approved by Parliament.

Two further amendments introduced by the 2017 Act have yet to come into force: • Introduction of a statutory scheme for cumulative impact policies (saturation zones).

• Amendment of the late night levy requirements.

Immigration Act 2016 This Act amends the 2003 Act in several ways: • Premises licences to sell alcohol or provide late night refreshment and personal licences cannot be issued to anyone who does not have permission to be in the United Kingdom, or is not entitled to undertake work relating to the carrying on of a licensable activity.

• Licences issued to anyone with limited permission to be in the UK will lapse when their permission to be in the UK and work in a licensable activity comes to an end.

• Immigration offences, including civil penalties, become relevant offences as defined by the 2003 Act. • Home Office (Immigration Enforcement) is added to the list of responsible authorities contained in the 2003 Act and must receive premises licence applications (except regulated entertainment only licences) and in some limited circumstances personal licence applications.

• Immigration officers are permitted to enter premises which they have reason to believe are being used to sell alcohol or provide late night refreshment, to investigate whether immigration offences are being committed in connection with the licensable activity.

Application forms Have the application forms used in connection with the Licensing Act been changed?

The forms and notices issued under the Licensing Act 2003 have been amended to reflect changes made by other legislation.The changes came into effect on 6 April, 2017. Since that date anyone making an appli-

36 CLUB RUGBY

cation or issuing a notice under the 2003 Act must be aware that the following forms and notices have been amended: • Application for a personal licence.

• Disclosure of convictions and civil immigration penalties and declaration.

• Notification of an interest in a premises under Section 178 of the Licensing Act 2003.

• Application for a premises licence.

• Application for a provisional statement.

• Application to vary a premises licence.

• Application for the mandatory alcohol condition requiring a designated premises supervisor in respect of a premises licence to be disapplied.

• Application to vary a premises licence to specify a new designated premises supervisor.

• Application to transfer a premises licence.

• Interim authority notice.

• Application for the review of a premises licence or club premises certificate.

• Declaration for a club premises certificate to be granted.

• Application for a club premises certificate.

• Consent to be specified as premises supervisor.

• Temporary event notice.

Since publishing the regulations containing the new forms the Home Office have advised that there are some errors: • The form to vary a premises licence to specify a new designated premises supervisor contains

information which is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998. To avoid a breach of the 1998 Act it is not necessary to provide the existing designated premises supervisor with a copy of the application form until such time as the form has been amended by further regulations.

• In the disclosure of convictions and civil penalties declaration the third box in section 3 duplicates the previous box relating to foreign offences.

Details of any civil immigration penalties should be provided in the third box. This is a typographic error and will be amended without the need for further regulations.

If a trade buyer is found to have purchased alcohol from an unapproved wholesaler, they could face prosecution, be liable to a penalty and alcohol stocks may be seized.

The Government has published guidance which can be found at: • https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-alcohol-wholesaler-registration-scheme-awrs

Approved wholesalers I have read that I could commit a criminal offence if I buy alcohol for sale at my club from a wholesaler that is not approved. Is that correct?

Under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme businesses which wholesale alcohol must be approved by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

With effect from 1 April, 2017 it is an offence to knowingly buy alcohol for re-sale from unapproved UK wholesalers. Penalties can include a fine, imprisonment of up to seven years or both.

There are exceptions for purchases direct from overseas suppliers and licensed retailers who are making incidental sales only.

Otherwise, trade buyers will need to ensure that the wholesalers they purchase from have been approved by HMRC.

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

CLUB RUGBY 37

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Reviewing and Previewing the

CLUB RUGBY 41

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

42 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 43

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

44 CLUB RUGBY

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB RUGBY 45

Let the Awards Commence!

Welcome to sports presenter and host

John Inverdale...

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

46 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 47

ENTRY FORM Open for 2017 Entries The Hospitality Social Media Awards (HoSMA) look forward to your entry and/or nomination. From the smallest club to the biggest chain, we want to hear from you. Just tick which categories you’re interested in, fill in a couple of details and we’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.

NOMINATIONS We’re delighted to announce that these awards are panindustry, covering the broad Hospitality Sector, giving every golf club, sports resort, club, sports resort, pub,pub, hotel, restaurant and everything in-between - the chance to enter and/or nominate other outlets.

42

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

48 CLUB RUGBY

Open for 2017 Entries

Hospitality

HOW TO ENTER Just send us your details as below, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get in touch. It really is that simple! info@hsma.biz will get your entry for 2017 underway.

Good luck!

Deadline: June31, 30,2017 2017 Deadline: March Name: Position: Business Name: Address:

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

We look forward to hearing from you! www.hsma.biz | info@hsma.biz e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022272022 43 sean@alchemymedia.co.uk | 01753

CLUB RUGBY 49

ASK THE EXPERTS – INSURANCE

Protecting your club from criminals and cybercrime Club Insure examines the importance of insuring your gaming and lottery machines and provides an insight into the very real threat of cybercrime.

Cybercrime – what you need to know

G

aming and lottery machines can provide a much needed additional income source in your club but are you adequately insured in this respect?

Many machines are now only emptied by the gaming rental company rather than the club themselves. This means that if collection is on a weekly or bi-weekly basis then the machines can be holding several thousand pounds each which is making them a target in our clubs.

Access to the premises might be gained by tampering with the alarm contacts whilst you are trading.

When you close up for the night you may not notice that the alarm has not armed properly leaving your club vulnerable to an undetected attack. If the alarm is not sounding to notify of a break in the thieves can spend a long period of time breaking into the machines using axes or hammers for example.

It is vital that anyone who is responsible for setting the intruder alarm when the business is closed understands exactly how the alarm works and can recognise if the alarm does not set properly. If you are in any doubt the premises should not be left unattended if the alarm is not fully operational otherwise your claim is not likely to be paid.

50 CLUB RUGBY

Even with a fully operational alarm your Insurance policy may typically only provide cover in gaming machines to a limit of £500 per machine and £1,000 in total unless you have notified the insurer and arranged for the cover to be extended.

Although the gaming machine rental company may insure the machine itself they will usually expect you to insure the contents. Read your rental agreement to clarify your responsibility and if you have any queries please contact your account handler.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Insure covers all aspects of club insurance from start to finish, with Account Handlers and Claims Managers under one roof.

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

Unfortunately Cybercrime is all around us without you even realising it – and it could be affecting you and your business.

There has been a lot in the news recently about cybercrime. It’s clear that all businesses regardless of size are at risk and the threat of hacking attacks are both increasing and intensifying. To be able to protect ourselves from such attacks we need to understand what cybercrime is and the steps we can take.

Cybercrime is a broad term and can include any of the following: • Vishing Contact made by phone. The caller purports to be from your bank, the police or a fraud agency. The purpose is to get you to reveal confidential information.

• Phishing Contact is made by email. The sender impersonates well known companies such as banks. The aim is to get you to click on a link or attachment.

• Smishing Contact is made by text messages. The sender impersonates well known companies and, as above, aims to get you to clink on a link • Modified email This is also known as CEO impersonation. Requests are often timed so that it will be difficult to verify the request – which is exactly what you need to do. These emails are often targeted at new or junior members of staff.

The fraudster is hoping that the targeted business does not have a culture of challenging or asking for help. The emails often begin asking if you are in the office, can you make a payment and what information is required to make this happen. The fraudster will talk about urgent transactions, or a top secret transaction such as a business acquisition. Sometimes they will not even ask for money • Malware/Ransomware Malicious software such as Trojans or viruses, downloaded from phishing emails, illegal websites and ad banners. They sit quietly in the background until you access a UK bank website.

• Hacking Breaking into your emails and/or websites.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand some of these terms. There are many different forms of cybercrime and criminals are becoming more sophisticated in their attacks. The main thing is that it is vital that you protect yourself and your club as a business, taking precautionary steps and buying an insurance product that will respond in the event of a loss.

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2017 HOSPITALITY SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Enter the 2017 Awards

email info@hsma.biz

REGISTRATION HOTLINE 01753 272022

ASK THE EXPERTS – PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES

Discount rate reduction for

Personal Injury Damage With the Lord Chancellor confirming her decision to reduce the discount rate reduction for Personal Injury Damages by 3.25 points to -0.75%, now is the time to review your current Limits of Indemnity in respect of both your Employers Liability and Public/Products Liability covers to ensure these are adequate, advises Club Insure.

What is the Personal Injury Discount Rate?

When assessing lump sum awards for personal injury claims, account is taken of the net rate of return (discount rate) the claimant might expect to receive from a reasonably prudent investment of lump sum compensation. The current rate of 2.5% was set in 2001 and reflects the gross redemption yields of Index-Linked Government Gilts.

What are the changes?

The Lord Chancellor has confirmed her decision to reduce the discount rate by 3.25 points to -0.75%.

The Lord Chancellor has previously conceded that any change could have ‘profound financial consequences’. The revised rate now applies as of 20 March 2017 and will apply retrospectively to all current claims, as well as new incidents.

Who is affected by the ruling?

The new discount rate ruling has significant implications for insurers in respect of the potential additional costs relating to personal injury claims relating to Motor and Casualty risks. Existing reserves on open claims will need to be increased to reflect these changes.

Impacts to Commercial Policyholders The reduction in the discount rate will particularly affect large personal injury claims settlements.

For example: A 30 year old female is disabled due to an accident and cannot work again. She has no educational qualifications and it is determined she would have earned £20,000 a year until retirement at 65. Rest of life care is determined to be £100,000 a year.

Under the current 2.5% discount rate the total sum award (consisting of Loss of Earnings and Cost of Care) would result in a lump sum award of £3,414,350. With the new discount rate of -0.75% this would increase to £8,480,400.

Indemnity limits on Liability policies The record level for a court award in the UK currently stands at £23,000,000 – this was made in 2012 and was based on the previous discount rate.

Bearing in mind the increases that the reduced rate will inevitably produce, we therefore feel that it

52 CLUB RUGBY

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Elizabeth Truss.

“

The Lord Chancellor conceded that any change could have ‘profound financial consequences’.

The revised rate now applies as of 20 March 2017 and will apply retrospectively to all current claims, as well as new incidents.

”

is prudent to reconsider the adequacy of the limits of cover carried under both your Employers and Public/Products liability policies.

Clearly the greatest impact will be to those commercial policyholders with higher potential for large injury claims, as these costs will be disproportionately affected by increases in large awards resulting from the Discount Rate reduction.

The way forward: You need to review your current Limits of Indemnity in respect of both your Employers Liability and Public/Products Liability covers, to ensure these are adequate.

We would recommend that any company now takes minimum limits of £20,000,000 for Employers Liability and £10,000,000 for Public/Products Liability.

However, these are only our recommendation for the minimum limits you require and companies with increased exposures should consider taking even higher limits. We will be happy to discuss this with you.

Please note that any decision not to increase your limits of indemnity to our recommended minimum limits could have serious implications for your business in the event of a loss and we will need to document that any such decision was taken directly against our own professional advice.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Insure covers all aspects of club insurance from start to finish, with Account Handlers and Claims Managers under one roof.

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 – WEB CONTENT

Website content blunders Club Mirror’s expert advisors Larrytech examine some classic errors when it comes to creating engaging content on the club website and offer advice on how to avoid them.

C

ontent is having a tendency to become more problematic from a website perspective since Google introduced Panda into its core algorithm.* The impact this has had is essentially hitting websites with content penalties which has had a significant adverse affect on their rankings. For this reason, getting content right is imperative. Below are some of the regular problems we tend to find with clients and content implications.

Duplicated content Duplicated content is the main problem associated with content gaps on a website. Duplicating optimised content internally across multiple pages will cause a vast amount of issues, which will result in impeding page rankings. Externally duplicated content is content which has either been posted on multiple websites, or plagiarised from other websites. To date, search engines work on the basis of working out the originator of the content and then dismissing any duplicating content from being indexed.

Content gaps across different devices We tend to speak a lot about the importance of

mobile responsive websites from a rankings perspective. In terms of content, desktop websites will be assessed on the content which is displayed on their mobile site first. If you have mobile pages without content where it appears on the desktop, rankings will be significantly damaged.

Thin content Thin content equates to one of the worst SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) practices that a website can deliver. Without an adequate amount of valuable content on a page, Google will not be able to understand the topic of the page, and thus struggle to rank for anything accordingly. The way we depict this from an SEO standpoint is: “How can your website claim to be an authority on a certain topic if it doesn’t contain any information regarding the topic.”

Anything below the 300 words margin we would consider to be thin content. If you are struggling to monitor word count for pages then we would recommend using Screaming Frog. The Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a website crawler, that allows you to crawl websites’ URLs and fetch key onsite elements to analyse onsite SEO. It can be downloaded for free, or, for additional features a license

can be purchased. So, the moral of the article is that getting content right is imperative not only from an SEO point of view, but also for generating more members and more member visits via your website. *Google’s Panda Update is a search filter introduced in February 2011 meant to stop sites with poor quality content from working their way into Google’s top search results. Panda is updated from time-to-time, says Google, and when this happens, ‘sites previously hit may escape, if they’ve made the right changes’. Panda may also catch sites that escaped before.

CONTACT DETAILS For more information on backlinks and help on improving your backlink strategy, contact Larrytech. The team offers a bespoke SEO approach which can be tailored to improve your link building. e. sales@larrytech.com t. 01892 888011 www.larrytech.com

CLUB RUGBY 53

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ASK THE EXPERTS – WEBSITES

Understanding link building Link building is a great way to increase traffic and spread the club word via interesting and engaging content. But just what’s involved? The folk at Larrytech explain.

T

he majority of site owners are unaware of how link building can affect their SEO due to not understanding how it works. It is important to know as much as you can about link building as it can reduce your credibility and rankings from search engines.

What is Link building?

Link building is a process of attaching links from external pages to your website. While link building is a confusing concept to understand, it is a notion all web owners must be able to understand. Here are the basics you need to know: Natural Editorial Links An editorial link is a link that is a consequence of a webpage having good content and marketing techniques, so these links are given naturally to companies to use on their webpage. The backlinks generated are as a result of credible and shareable con-

tent. In turn, this is what is regarded as a natural link.

Outreach Link Building Outreach link building requires a different approach with is considered less ‘natural’. Links are made by making connections to bloggers and much alike by emailing them, submitting sites to directories or paying for listings of any kind. In order to generate the backlink it needs to be addressed how the link will benefit both parties.

This approach towards link building is critical if you want your link building strategy to be successful and not be at risk of being penalised by search engines.

Non Editorial Links Non editorial links are the most dangerous links for any website to possess, despite the fact that they can have a positive impact on some sites. It is

easy enough for any website to create their own links through forum signatures, blog comments, guest book signings or user profiles and thousands of websites are participating in this way of linking external pages. However, this old school approach to link building is now renowned by Google Alogirtihim for being ineffective and bad for search rankings.

CONTACT DETAILS For more information on backlinks and help on improving your backlink strategy, contact Larrytech. The team offers a bespoke SEO approach which can be tailored to improve your link building. e. sales@larrytech.com t. 01892 888011 www.larrytech.com

CLUB RUGBY 55

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ASK THE EXPERTS – CONFIDENCE

Confidence – a reputation maker Confidence is infectious. You will be judged on how much or how little you display, more than any talent, knowledge or skill set you have. So how confident a manager are you seen to be? CMAE MDP presenter Bill Sanderson explores how you can develop the certainty that is the bedrock of confidence.

C

ertainty can be defined as ‘being sincere in your beliefs and values’. Sincerity is that strength of belief that will stand the heat of dispute, disagreement or challenge. It will resist the tough times and negative people and carry you forward.

Control – no control Managers often experience a loss of certainty when they feel at a loss to control events. But there is a simple mantra which will clarify exactly where you stand right now in the daily challenge of doing your job. It will ensure that whatever happens, whoever wants your attention, you remain in control and dictate the terms as to what will be done, when and by whom. You will be – and be seen to be – sincere in all that you do because you have certainty about why you are here and you are confident in the behaviour you have chosen to deliver the ideal outcome.

The mantra that you will begin and end with every day is ‘The main thing is that THE MAIN THING is the main thing’. This philosophy has a process for delivering action to your purpose and creating the aura of a competent and confident manager.

Here is the four step template: 1. The Heart of the Matter Every day most of your thoughts and actions are built around what fires need to be put out and what you usually do on this day at this time. Switch off the auto pilot. Take any day and list your actions with the time allocated. Do not wait for a typical day.

There is no such thing. Repeat on two more days; put everything in without judgement .

2. ‘Why am I here?’

What is your purpose? Why has the Club employed you? Describe success in a ‘rich’ picture. (Clue: the answer should be a close match to your club’s business plan. If your purpose is not congruent with the club’s reason for being – why are you there?)

3. Check your activity Highlight only those tasks that had a clear and direct

56 CLUB RUGBY

impact on delivering your purpose.

Are you acting on how things used to be when the job was first established? It may have little or no relevance to your purpose today.

What percentage of your day is spent on other people’s ‘stuff’?

Are you happy with the percentage? Would your boss be happy with the percentage?

4. Revisit the reason WHY you are here List the activities that you can do tomorrow that will contribute directly (in full or, more likely, in part) to that outcome. Now allocate a slot (maximum 50 minutes) in tomorrow’s diary.

Congratulations you have identified The Main Thing in your business! Now you focus on that.

Now you are in control, feel in control and are seen to be in control.

By focussing on The Main Thing that will deliver your purpose with sincerity and consistency you will feel and act with much greater confidence.

Look in the mirror You need a reflection of your behaviour as it is, not as you think it is. This is where a balanced perspective that sees your situation objectively is so valuable. A mentor or coach is ideal but if that is not available to you find an experienced and knowledgeable listener. Someone who listens, is non judgemental and uses powerful questions to help you work your way to a positive outcome.

Now you can be confident that you have chosen the right behaviour for today and decided on the right way to do it. You will be seen to be sincere and consistent in delivering what you believe to be the right way and this will gain you the respect of everyone. Whether they agree with you or not is irrelevant. They will respect that you are acting in accordance with sincerely held beliefs.

Your reputation for knowing where you are headed and why, will generate respect. Respect will build your confidence. And High Confidence will build your Reputation.

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Your industry

needs you

The Club Awards are back.

And we want you to enter.

The Club Awards recognise the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who work to ensure a healthy future for their clubs.

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.

IT COULD BE YOU Do you think you could be a finalist? Do you have what it takes to beat the best and stand out from the rest?

WHY ENTER? All finalists win the opportunity to appear on set at BT Sport’s acclaimed rugby programme Rugby Tonight, as well as the chance to win Aviva Premiership/Champions Cup tickets, a cellar make-over 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?

• Have a popular food menu?

• Have a thriving junior section?

• Encourage new members?

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

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

• Promote the game of rugby?

In addition: Clubs who make it through to the finals use their success to: • Raise the club’s profile • Gain coverage in the local press and media • Encourage new members • Thank members for their support Finalists will enjoy: • Two FREE tickets to the Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony • Three-course Gala Dinner • Entertainment from a celebrity host • Certificate for all finalists • Award for category winners • Coverage in Club Rugby magazine • Possible appearance on BT Sports Rugby Tonight • Chance to win Aviva Premiership/Champions Cup tickets • Chance to win a clubhouse cellar make-over and many other prizes.

So what are you waiting for?

Fill in the form opposite, email us or fax us We look forward to your entry!

DEADLINE: JUNE 3O, 2017 – T: 01753 272022 F: 01753 272021 58 CLUB RUGBY

ENTRY FORM:

WHICH CATEGORIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR? (Please tick as many boxes as you wish).

CLUB AWARDS 2017 Please enter my rugby club for the 2017 Club Awards.

Name: _______________________________ Job title: ______________________________ Club Name: ____________________________ Address: ______________________________ __________________________________ __________________ Post code: __________ Contact tel nos: __________________________ Email address: __________________________ Website and/or social media contact: _______________ __________________________________

HOW TO ENTER ONLINE: www.awards.clubmirror.com

BY EMAIL: info@clubmirror.com (just email your club details and categories being entered)

BY FAX: 01753 272021

BY POST: Club Awards, Club Rugby Magazine, ACP, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor, Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022

www.awards.clubmirror.com

n Bar Manager/Bar Steward of the Year n Best Business Initiative of the Year n Best Turnaround Club of the Year n Bowls Club of the Year n CAMRA Real Ale Club of the Year n Catering Club of the Year Are you proud of n Charity Club of the Year your teamwork? n Committee of the Year n Community Club of the Year n Cricket Club of the Year n Darts Club of the Year n Entertainment Club of the Year Are you proud of n Football Club of the Year your facilities? n Golf Club of the Year n Green Club of the Year n Grounds Team of the Year n Manager/Secretary of the Year n Marketing Club of the Year n Membership Club of the Year Are you proud of n Most Innovative Club of the Year your members? n Refurbishment Club of the Year n Rugby Club of the Year n Sports Club of the Year n Sports and Fitness Chain of the Year n Sports and Social Club of the Year Are you proud of n Student Union of the Year your fundraising? n Tennis Club of the Year n Traditional Club of the Year Then you n Website of the Year should enter n King of Clubs the Awards

STOP P DEAD RESS: LIN FOR ENTR E IES â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

30 J

UNE

info@clubmirror.com CLUB RUGBY 59

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AWARDS

Could this be you? Congratulations to last year’s winners SPONSORED BY

Rugby Club JOINT WINNER

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Burton Rugby Club

Judges’ comments: “The mini junior section of the club is thriving and going from strength to strength,” says Philip Foster, Operations Manager. “We’ve also tied in with St George’s Park and we’ve been using their training facilities once a week.” The club’s 15-18 year old ‘young ambassadors’ have been to Twickenham and represented the club, all of which has helped to increase membership, as has the promotion of the club via the website and visits to local schools. The club puts on live bands, has staged its first wedding, put on beer and BBQ festivals and hosted rallies bringing in several thousand guests.

Burton Rugby Club collect their trophy from Sean Ferris, ACP Managing Director (publishers of Club Rugby), far left.

JOINT WINNER

Newport Rugby Club

Judges’ comments: Newport Rugby Club is on the up and up.

Membership is on the increase and the club prides itself on being a caring, family friendly venue. It focuses on reaching out to the community and, with a 70th year anniversary coming up, is planning an open day with activities for all the family. The club doubles up as a nursery during the day, thereby getting youngsters involved from a young age and ‘signed up’ as members, with the parents gaining a ‘default membership.’ It holds lunches for the membership on Saturdays prior to games and fundraises for local causes.

Sally Nugent, far right, welcomes Newport Rugby Club on stage.

60 CLUB RUGBY

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CLUB SERVICES

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MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

CLUB RUGBY 61

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CLUB SERVICES BEHIND THE BAR

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62 CLUB RUGBY

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• Stage Curtains • Large Window Curtains • Dividers • Blackout Drapes • Cleaning & Re-flameproofing Contact us today and quote CLUB to arrange a free site visit to discuss your requirements.

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ssk entertainment • disco • quiz nights • master of ceremonies • weddings • birthday parties • award evenings • club events SSK Entertainment is based in West Sussex. We can provide all the ingredients you’ll need for your party, wedding, quiz night or any event at budgets to suit everyone.

We operate anywhere in the Surrey, Sussex and Kent area.

TO CHAT ABOUT YOUR EVENT, REQUIREMENTS, BUDGET ETC PLEASE CALL DAVID FOSTER ON 07710 855295 or visit www.sskdisco.co.uk

GAMING

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BLACKHEATH CORONATION SOCIAL CLUB George Avenue, Rowley Regis B65 9BD Tel: 0121 559 1731 E-mail: juliesperring@hotmail.com EXPERIENCED SOCIAL CLUB STEWARD/ STEWARDESS REQUIRED Accommodation provided Security Bond will be required Please apply in writing with CV & references to: Julie Sperring â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Club Secretary Blackheath Coronation Social Club George Avenue, Rowley Regis, B65 9BD Alternatively e-mail: juliesperring@hotmail.com Closing Date 30th June 2017 CLUB RUGBY 65

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CLUB SERVICES

TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL

07789 870709

REFURBISHMENT

sales@pubfurnitureuk.co.u

Faux Leather RF/5F £39.90

TC/2 From £38.90 Wood Seat

WT/13 £64.90

CF/24 Leather £119.90

TC/1 From £34.90 Wood Seat

Call Our Sales Team Now For Full Brochure and Special Offers or View Our Website

PO/7 £89.90

Ridge bases From £37.00

www.trentfurniture.co.uk

OF/7A £39.90

OF/3G £25.90

RF/16 From £39.90

CI/15D From £64.90

WT/1 From £81.90

From £23.30

From £13.50 66 CLUB RUGBY

From £12.40

150C

151C

From £23.30

152C

153C

Now available in 15 fabrics

154C

JOIN THE WINNING TEAM

Alchemy Contract Publishing Communications specialists and proud publisher of Clubhouse Europe t. +44(0) 1753 272022 e. info@alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk