Hampshire RFU Conference 2026 Brings the Rugby Community Together

More than 120 volunteers from across Hampshire gathered at Totton College for the Hampshire RFU Conference 2026, bringing together coaches, Club Coaching Coordinators, Safeguarding Officers, Rugby Safety Leads and Youth Chairs for a day of learning, collaboration and sharing best practice.

This year’s conference introduced a new format, bringing together several key volunteer roles under one roof. The approach created greater opportunities for collaboration, encouraging delegates to share experiences, discuss common challenges and explore new ideas to support rugby across the county.

The day began with an engaging keynote from Nigel Redman, who shared his thoughts on succession planning and the importance of developing the next generation of volunteers and leaders within the game.

Following the keynote, delegates moved into role-specific sessions. The coaching programme, delivered by LMP and supported by Hampshire RFU’s U16 Girls Player Development Group, generated excellent discussion and practical ideas, with coaches sharing experiences.

Safeguarding Officers and Rugby Safety Leads spent the morning sharing updates, discussing current priorities and exchanging best practice to help clubs continue providing safe, enjoyable environments for everyone involved in the game.

One of the most thought-provoking sessions of the day focused on Neurodiversity, prompting valuable conversations about how Hampshire RFU can better support clubs by signposting resources, developing coaches’ understanding and creating more inclusive environments where every player has the opportunity to thrive.

Following lunch, the coaching group reconvened for a practical pre-season session led by Theo Rhodes, Hampshire RFU Senior Women’s and Trojans RFC Lead Coach. Focusing on retention, connection and preparation, the session offered coaches fresh ideas to take back to their clubs ahead of the new season. The practical demonstrations were supported by U16 and U17 boys from clubs across Hampshire, whose enthusiasm and commitment helped bring the session to life.

At the same time, Youth Chairs explored the RFU Inclusion Framework, with Hampshire RFU proud to be one of the Constituent Bodies piloting the initiative. The Club Coaching Coordinators also had a sneak peak at the new templates produced by Hampshire RFU to help them better recruit and develop their volunteers – CCC, Lead Coach, Team Manager and Coach role descriptors alongside a coaching skills matrix.

Throughout the day, delegates embraced the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from colleagues working in different areas of the game. The collaborative format generated positive feedback, with attendees valuing the opportunity to share best practice, challenge thinking and leave with practical ideas to take back to their clubs.

Hampshire RFU would like to thank Totton College for hosting this year’s conference, all of the presenters and facilitators for sharing their expertise, and every volunteer who gave up their time to invest in the future of rugby across the county.

The success of the 2026 Conference demonstrated the strength of Hampshire’s volunteer network and reinforced the collective commitment to developing a safe, inclusive and thriving game for players, coaches and volunteers across Hampshire.