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New Investment Secured for Hampshire Clubs

Hampshire RFU joins a new and innovative 18-month pilot project aimed at helping grassroots rugby clubs become more financially resilient and sustainable.

Supported by the RFU, the pilot will see the appointment of a specialist contractor working on behalf of Hampshire RFU to support a cluster of community clubs from across the county. By bringing clubs together to share services, as well as ideas and good practice of successful activities, the initiative will focus on unlocking new revenue opportunities from existing club facilities, such as bars, function rooms, car parks, and pitches – while also identifying cost savings across key operational areas.

Working closely with each participating club, the appointed contractor will provide tailored, hands-on support to explore commercial opportunities and improve operational efficiency.

Steve Grainger, Executive Director of Rugby Development of RFU said:

“Community clubs are the heartbeat of rugby union, and we understand the financial challenges many of them face. This pilot project reflects our commitment to supporting clubs beyond the game itself – helping them become more sustainable, more resilient, and more able to thrive in the years ahead.”

Neil McRoberts, Chair of Hampshire RFU, added:

“This is an exciting moment for Hampshire rugby. Being chosen to join this pilot can be attributed to the hard work we’ve put in over the past year to reposition and restructure our Constituent Body. It’s also proof of our commitment to bringing new ideas and fresh investment into our clubs. We’re proud to be involved and see huge potential for this project to help build stronger, more financially sustainable rugby communities across the county.”

The role of the specialist contractor is currently open for applications. To find out more about the role, view the full scope of work and apply, visit the Hampshire RFU Vacancies Page.

The intended outcome for this role will be to prove its financial worth, with all the learnings used to inform future support models across the rugby landscape.

Hampshire RFU AGM & Awards: A night of progress, recognition and celebration

Hampshire RFU welcomed representatives from 25 of its 34 clubs to a successful Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, marking a pivotal moment for rugby governance in the county. The evening, hosted at Trojans FC, was a celebration of both the business of rugby and the people who make it thrive.

New Board Appointed to Lead Hampshire Rugby

At the heart of the AGM was the appointment of a new Hampshire RFU Board, tasked with steering the county into the future. The new board reflects a blend of continuity and fresh leadership, aiming to develop a vibrant, safe, and inclusive rugby environment across Hampshire. This was just one part of a fantastic season, more details of which can be found in the 2024 Annual Report here.

New President, Gary Self, formally took over from outgoing President Ed Neville, paying tribute to his dedication. A special mention was also given to Richard Showan, a stalwart of Hampshire RFU and Hampshire Referees.

The restructured board brings together a team with a broad range of skills, all committed to growing the game at every level, from grassroots to representative rugby.
(For full details of the new board appointment, visit: Hampshire RFU appoints new board)

Celebrating Rugby’s Unsung Heroes at the Hampshire RFU Awards

Following the AGM, the evening transitioned into the Hampshire RFU Awards 2025, recognising the players, volunteers, clubs, and officials who embody the spirit of rugby in Hampshire.

Representative Rugby Awards

  • Senior Men’s Player of the Year (FMT Bunney Trophy)
    Winner: Fraser Bruce (Worthing RFC / Club Hampshire 1XV)
    Recognised for his leadership and commitment in the Bill Beaumont County Championship.
  • Senior Women’s Player of the Year (Gill Burns Trophy)
    Winner: Natasha Bullock
    Celebrated for her outstanding performances and leadership during this year’s campaign.
  • Brian Short Memorial Trophy
    Winner: Chase Thomas (Hampshire U17s)
    Awarded to a young player who epitomises team spirit and selfless effort.
  • Robbie Keast U16 Award
    Winner: Beattie Markby Brans (Ellingham & Ringwood RFC / Hampshire Girls U16 PDG)
  • Robbie Keast U18 Award
    Winner: Rosie Wragg (Trojans FC / Hampshire U18 Girls)
  • John Sneezum U20 Captains Tankard
    Winner: Luigi Forconi (Winchester RFC)

Club League Champions 2024-2025

  • Counties 1 Hampshire – Havant II (22 wins from 22) – NEWS Challenge Trophy
  • Counties 2 Hampshire – Millbrook RFC (16 wins from 16) – ECHO Cup
  • Counties 3 Hampshire – Andover II (16 wins from 16) – PINNOCK Cup
  • Counties 4 Hampshire – Alton RFC
  • Hampshire Premiership South – Millbrook II
  • Hampshire Premiership North – Basingstoke II

County Badges for Outstanding Service

  • Sandra Coffin – For contributions to girls’ rugby and safeguarding.
  • Amie Boyes – For long-term commitment to U16 Girls DPP rugby.
  • Adam Leal – For services to Hampshire Referees and international officiating.
  • Matt Davis – For dedication to the County Women’s team.

Special Volunteer Awards

  • Administrator of the Year – Mel Chiwera (Aldershot & Fleet RFC)
    For exceptional leadership in rebuilding the club’s mini and junior section.
  • Fundraisers of the Year – Tristan Pattison & Nick Smith (Romsey RFC)
    For the inspirational Rugby4MND campaign, raising nearly £7,000 for Motor Neurone Disease research.
  • Unsung Hero – Alison Edmonston (Trojans FC)
    For tireless work in girls’ rugby and safeguarding initiatives.
  • Young Volunteer of the Year – Alfie James (Hampshire Rugby Referees)
    Recognised for his commitment to officiating and developing as a Young Match Official.

Club of the Year

This year’s Club of the Year Award was jointly awarded to Havant RFC and Trojans FC, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the rugby community. Both clubs have hosted numerous county events, festivals, and training opportunities, going above and beyond to support rugby at all levels.

As the baton passes to a new leadership team, Hampshire RFU looks forward to a season of growth, collaboration, and innovation to support the game across the county.

Welcome to Hampshire’s first Schools Rugby Manager

Hampshire RFU and TKAT (www.tkat.org) are proud to announce the appointment of Luke Worthington as the county’s first Schools Rugby Manager.

This landmark role, made possible through match-funding by TKAT and the RFU’s National Schools Rugby Manager (SRM) network, will focus initially on the Havant, Portsmouth and Gosport areas. This is a vital step towards boosting school rugby in the county.

The new 3 year funded position brings with it a set of exciting responsibilities: introducing and growing non-contact and contact rugby across primary and secondary schools, upskilling teachers and young leaders through CPD, building partnerships with clubs and community organisations, and collecting and reporting on impact to ensure sustainability.

TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust), which operates 45 primary, secondary, special and all through academies across southern England, including Havant Academy, Front Lawn Primary, Bridgemary and Miltoncross Academy, are co-sponsoring the post. TKAT is recognised for its strong school-to-school support and continuous professional development ethos. This aligns directly to the SRM post as it looks to work with state schools from across the area. Hampshire RFU is proud to have played a central role in brokering this partnership with TKAT and supporting recruitment.

Neil McRoberts, Chair of Hampshire RFU, said “Our thanks go to the RFU for funding such a crucial role and to TKAT for engaging with us. This is a fantastic example of collaboration between Multi Academy Trusts, the RFU and Hampshire RFU, bringing much-needed resources into Hampshire to support school rugby and create a pathway into our clubs.”

Luke will be based in the Havant, Portsmouth, and Gosport cluster, establishing rugby programmes and opportunities, including T1 (non-contact) in local state primary and secondary schools. The role starts on 1st September 2025.

For more information on Luke’s work, or to get involved, contact Hampshire RFU at admin@hampshirerfu.com.

Hampshire RFU Coaching Conference 2025: A World Cup Year Celebration of Learning and Inspiration

In a landmark World Cup year, Hampshire RFU welcomed over 80 coaches from 18 clubs and 5 colleges to its 2025 Coaching Conference — a day packed with insight, innovation and inspiration. Held at Totton College, the event brought together coaches from across the age grade and senior game to share knowledge, challenge ideas and raise the bar for coaching across the county.

With a programme designed to reflect this years women’s world cup and its impact on the game, the line-up of CPD (continuing professional development) was nothing short of outstanding. From grassroots to performance environments, the day showcased the very best in coaching thinking — all delivered in the collaborative, inclusive spirit that defines rugby in Hampshire.

Celebrating Coaching Excellence

The conference also hosted the annual Hampshire RFU Coaching Awards, recognising two exceptional coaches who embody the values, commitment and impact of great coaching:

Age Grade Coach of the Year – Andy Stevens (Barton Peveril College & Ellingham and Ringwood RFC)
Andy has made an outstanding contribution to both club and college rugby. He coaches the U16s at Ellingham and Ringwood RFC and both the men’s and women’s teams at Barton Peveril College — leading them to become the last remaining state school in the Roslyn Park 7s. Andy is also the lead coach for the Bath U16 PDG (Player Development Group), playing a vital role in shaping the next generation of talent.

Senior Coach of the Year – Theo Rhodes (Trojans FC)
Theo’s achievements in 2024/25 speak for themselves. Coaching two women’s teams to promotion — each with only one loss all season — Theo has helped propel Trojans’ women’s rugby to new heights. The club’s first team now competes in Championship 1 South, making them the highest-placed women’s team in Hampshire and the top side outside the Premiership.

Standout Sessions

The morning featured a truly memorable session “On Both Sides of the Ball” led by former England Women’s Head Coach Simon Middleton. With 26 U16 Girls PDG players taking part, coaches filled their notebooks and fired off questions as Simon broke down principles of attack and defence in dynamic, player-led sessions.

After a great lunch and a networking break, the afternoon brought a practical, high-tempo session delivered by Bath Rugby’s PDG coaching team. With 20 PDG players on hand, the focus was on conditioned games for learning — challenging coaches to adapt and apply the constraints for their own contexts. The pitch-side dialogue was rich and reflective, sparking ideas to take straight back to clubs and schools.

The day closed with an impactful and myth-busting session on Inclusive Coaching: SEND in Rugby. Coaches explored the importance of inclusive practices, gained awareness of the support available, and were introduced to key resources from the RFU to make rugby truly a game for all.

From elite insight to grassroots innovation, the 2025 Hampshire RFU Coaching Conference was a celebration of the coaching community’s energy, creativity and shared passion for the game.

For more information on coaching in Hampshire, resources, and the full list of Hampshire RFU and RFU CPD opportunities, visit Coaching in Hampshire

Hampshire RFU Adult Male Competitions – 2025 Season Update

The fixtures for the 2025 Hampshire Premiership are now complete and available – click Hampshire RFU Premiership Fixtures 2025 to see them.
As well as being on our website, they will also shortly be accessible via GMS and England Rugby. 

Fixture Adjustments

As in previous seasons, club Fixture Secretaries are welcome to reverse or amend fixture dates with the agreement of the opposition and approval from the League Secretary, Zoe Jones.
  • Minor adjustments (e.g., moving to a Wednesday-Sunday evening or changing kick-off times) are permitted up to the Tuesday before the scheduled match, again with agreement from:
    • The opposition club
    • The Referees’ Society
    • Zoe Jones
Potential Addition: Guernsey 3
We are currently exploring the inclusion of Guernsey 3 in Premiership North. If confirmed, they would take the final slot in the eight-team league.
  • If Guernsey 3 does not join, the club has been granted full flight funding to host up to 10 visiting teams, helping to ensure regular and meaningful fixtures in their calendar.
End-of-Season Playoffs
A promotion playoff series will take place across four weekends:
The format:
  • The top two teams from each Premiership conference will qualify.
  • Each qualifying team will play the top two from the opposite conference.
  • Two promotion places will be awarded based on the final standings at the end of the playoff series.
Engagement with Other Teams

For clubs not involved in the promotion playoffs, Zoe Jones and I will work closely with team representatives during the first half of the season via the Hampshire Premiership WhatsApp group to agree the most suitable post-season format for their squads.

Chris Budden
Adult Male Competition Lead

Hampshire RFU Delivers Rugby Fun at Hampshire School Games 2025

Hampshire School Games 2025

Hampshire RFU was proud to support the Hampshire School Games Sport & Physical Activity Festival 2025, held at Winchester Sport & Leisure Park and surrounding venues on Thursday 26th June.

In a huge celebration of inclusive sport, 130 children from 13 different schools from across Hampshire & IOW enjoyed an exciting introduction to rugby, with sessions delivered by a team of enthusiastic and aspiring young coaches from Barton Peveril College, Bitterne Park Sixth Form and King Edwards School. The event was a non-competitive, positive experience focused on encouraging less active children in Years 4–6 to get involved in new sports and physical activity.

The Hampshire RFU team was delighted to be part of this county-wide showcase alongside over 40 different activities, helping to inspire the next generation of players through fun, engaging rugby experiences.

As the young coaches delivered an exciting carousel of rugby activities, including Rugby Rounders, Rugby Relays and Tag Chaos, conversations with the schools teachers took place, exploring the state of rugby in schools, discussing T1 Rugby and building connections for the future.

We are proud to have contributed to such a fantastic festival and to play our part in making rugby accessible and enjoyable for all.

A special thank you to the amazing leaders who created such wonderful memories for all those who attended.

Groundforce Day 2025 at Ellingham & Ringwood RFC

Groundforce Day 2025

Ellingham members from across ERRFC teamed up on Saturday 14th June to get the club ready for the new season. A huge thank you to Hampshire RFU for providing funds to re-point the paving stones, fix some of our fencing and spruce up our physio room.

We have a huge project underway this summer to prepare the club for the Women’s RWC and the superhuman efforts of our people, from 8-80 years old will make all the difference.

 

Adult Male Competition Update – 2025 Season

Adult Male Competition Update – 2025 Season

Following a brief delay caused by issues higher up the league structure, the RFU league fixtures, originally scheduled for release on 14th June, are now confirmed. They will shortly be available on GMS and the England Rugby website.

The Merit League fixtures will be released soon after.

We’re delighted to report that the Merit Leagues have continued to grow, building on the fantastic volume of rugby played across Hampshire last season. A huge thank you to all the clubs, volunteers, and players who made that possible!

This season, the Merit Leagues will be structured into three geographic divisions of eight teams each, designed to minimise travel—a key factor in last season’s number of walkovers. In addition, a playoff series will take place in weeks 15 to 18 of the standard 10-team structured season.

As of this season, two promotion places to Counties 4 will be available.

We also plan to run a full programme of County Cup competitions. Final details will be confirmed once the RFU releases its schedule for the National Cup and Regional League Playoffs. We expect to announce these by early July.

Click here to view all the league fixtures for season 2025.

Keep Your Golden Roles up to Date in GMS

Keep Your Golden Roles up to Date in GMS

As we move through AGM season, there may be some reshuffles in your clubs’ or CB’s volunteer roles. This makes it especially important that your Golden Roles in GMS reflect your current team — ensuring you get the right information and support for your clubs.

The Game Management System (GMS) is the primary source of information for the RFU and CBs when contacting clubs. Making sure these details are accurate — and that the appropriate GMS Access is set for each person — helps keep communication clear and effective.

Additionally, Hampshire RFU’s new website uses this information to keep clubs up to date with relevant and tailored messages — whether that’s related to facilities, coaching, safeguarding, or other key aspects of community rugby.

If you’re unsure how to make these updates, please see the guides below:

Should you need further assistance, please reach out to Community Rugby Help or raise a ticket directly with the GMS Help Desk through the Feedback tile.

Thank you in advance for keeping your Golden Roles up to date — this guarantees we’re able to reach the right people with the right information at the right time. If you have any specific GMS inquiries, please feel free to get in touch with us – admin@hampshirerfu.com

 

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