Hampshire RFU would like to clearly set out its position on the upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) and the Governance and Representation Review (GRR2), based on both our experience through the process and ongoing engagement with our clubs.

Supporting Clubs in a Challenging Landscape

Our role as a Constituent Body (CB) is to support our clubs to govern, deliver, and grow the game. Across Hampshire, over 40 clubs are currently managing significant pressures, both shared and unique, while approaching the end of a long season.

Throughout this period, our focus has been to help clubs understand GRR2 and encourage informed participation in the upcoming RFU SGM vote, ensuring their voices are heard.

Why We Opposed GRR1

Hampshire RFU opposed GRR1 not out of resistance to change, but because it did not go far enough.

Specifically, GRR1 failed to address the deeper structural issues within the governance of the game, most notably:

• The role and effectiveness of the Community Game Board (CGB)
• The relationship between the community game and the RFU Executive
• Accountability and representation across the system

We believed then, and still believe, that meaningful reform must address how decisions are made and who makes them, not just the processes around them.

How GRR2 Addresses These Concerns

GRR2 represents a significant step forward and directly responds to many of the concerns raised during GRR1.

The proposed changes to the Community Game Board are a key example. The CGB will have 12 members:

• An independent Chair drawn from the Community Game – the very best rugby can get
• RFU Director of Rugby Development
• At least 5 members will come from the RFU Council
• The remainder will either come from the RFU Council or will be selected from the Community Game to specifically offer more diverse insights or different skills from Council Member

This creates a Board that is both representative and accountable to the community game.

It is worth reflecting on this: what greater level of control and accountability could clubs reasonably expect than having the vast majority of decision-makers drawn directly from the game, either Council Members or selected from within it?

The Role of Council – A Time for Evolution

We must also be honest about the current Council structure.

Hampshire RFU has been fortunate to be represented by our Council Member, Terry Burwell, for nine years, who has served the role with distinction. However, it is clear across the wider game that not all Council Members interpret or deliver their roles in the same way.

This raises a fundamental question:
How can one individual realistically represent the views of over 12,000+ players and 2,700+ volunteers across a county such as Hampshire? How can they, even in a 3 year term, effectively engage with every club, coach, volunteer and player across adult and age grade rugby?

GRR2 begins to address this through a more structured and inclusive system of:

• Communication (sharing information clearly)
• Engagement (actively listening)
• Feedback (reviewing and responding to input)

This framework will operate across CBs, Council, and the RFU Executive, enabling clubs, players, coaches, and volunteers to contribute directly to shaping the game in a timely and meaningful way.

Moving from Reactive to Proactive Governance

Historically, Council has often operated in a reactive capacity, reviewing, challenging, or approving decisions that are already well underway. In many cases, this intervention comes too late to meaningfully shape outcomes.

GRR2 presents an opportunity to shift this dynamic. It enables Council Members to become more proactive, engaging earlier, influencing direction, and representing their clubs in a more impactful way.

Addressing Concerns Around Power and Influence

There has been concern expressed in some quarters about a perceived loss of power or voting influence under GRR2.

Hampshire RFU does not share this view.

The proposed changes do not remove influence, they reshape it. Council Members retain a vital role, but one that is more focused on early engagement, representation, and shaping decisions before they are finalised.

In this sense, the debate risks becoming overly focused on a single issue, rather than recognising the broader opportunity to improve how the game is governed.

A Step Forward – Built on Trust and Opportunity

As with our own governance transformation within Hampshire RFU, we recognise that change always involves an element of trust.

Are we 100% certain that, as a result of these reforms, the views and the opinions of our clubs will always be better heard and acted upon? No.

But we are confident that GRR2 creates a more progressive and more direct opportunity for this to happen.

It provides a structure where the voices of the game, clubs, players, coaches, and volunteers, can be heard more clearly and more consistently, rather than being filtered through a single representative route.

If that opportunity is embraced, by the RFU, by Council, and by CBs, then this has the potential to significantly improve how the game listens, responds, and evolves.

Hampshire RFU will be at the forefront of ensuring this happens on behalf of our clubs.

And if we achieve that, we believe this represents a genuine step forward for the game.

Call to Action

We fully respect the rights of clubs to determine their own approach to this decision but on balance Hampshire RFU supports the principles of GRR2 and the resolutions being voted on.

What is certain is whatever the views of your club and members, we would encourage you to exercise your democratic right to vote.

Club Honorary Secretaries can pre vote now or nominate Terry or Hampshire RFU as their proxy.

If you would like to discuss GRR2 and the RFU SGM further, we encourage you to speak directly with Terry Burwell or Tim Dancer, who will be happy to answer questions and hear your views.

Your voice matters, please take the time to engage and vote.