Hampshire RFU launches Strategy 2025–2028: Building a Stronger Future for Rugby in Hampshire

Hampshire RFU is proud to announce the launch of our new Strategy 2025–2028, marking an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to strengthen rugby across the county – from grassroots participation to representative performance.

This strategy sets a clear direction for the next three years, built on a foundation of simplicity, integrity, and accountability. It outlines how we will work collaboratively with our clubs, schools, colleges, and volunteers to grow the game, support our people, and build sustainable rugby communities.

Our Journey to Here

The new strategy is the result of a comprehensive and inclusive process that began in November 2024 with a full review and restructure of Hampshire RFU and the recruitment of a refreshed Board.

  • Nov 2024 – Jul 2025: Review & restructure of Hampshire RFU and Board recruitment
  • Jul – Sep 2025: Development of our new Vision, Mission, and Values
  • Sep – Dec 2025: Alignment with the RFU’s 2030 Strategy, feedback from clubs through the Club Needs Survey, and wider stakeholder engagement
  • Sep – Dec 2025: Board Directors shaped detailed plans under three missions, each supported by clear budgets and outcomes
  • Nov 2025: Soft launch and feedback at the Clubs Meeting
  • Dec 2025: Final sign-off and launch

All of this has been achieved while continuing to deliver the day-to-day work of Hampshire RFU — a testament to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and Board.

Guiding Principles

Our strategy has been designed with the same three principles that guided our restructure:

  • Simplicity – Clear, concise, and easy to understand for clubs and volunteers
  • Integrity – Doing the right things for the right reasons, with transparency
  • Accountability – Setting clear baselines, measurable targets, and transparent reporting through our annual review process

Looking Ahead

This is more than a document, it’s a shared roadmap. The Hampshire RFU Strategy 2025–2028 sets out how we will deliver on our missions to Grow the Game, Increase Investment and Support Our People.

You can explore the full strategy and supporting materials here: Hampshire RFU Strategy 2025–2028

We’re excited to take this next step together with our clubs, partners, and volunteers as we continue to strengthen rugby across Hampshire.

Hampshire RFU Welcomes Shane Castle as New Revenue Generation Consultant

Hampshire RFU is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Castle as its new Revenue Generation Consultant, as part of the county’s ambitious 18‑month pilot project to support grassroots clubs in becoming more financially resilient.

This initiative, one of only 2 pilots in Constituent Bodies in England, is funded by the RFU and fully aligns to Hampshire RFU’s mission of increasing investment in Hampshire clubs. It is designed to help community clubs unlock new income streams, reduce costs, and build long-term sustainability.

Strategic & Practical Support

In his role, Shane will work hands-on with a cluster of 4 clubs across Hampshire, helping them to identify and capitalise on under‑utilised assets such as clubhouse bars, function rooms, car parks, and pitches. He will also advise on operational efficiencies, enabling clubs to reduce costs and reinvest savings into their core rugby activities.

Shane brings a wealth of proven experience and passion to the role, with over 20 years of hospitality, revenue generation and business development, including being National Account Manager with Diageo. His voluntary roles within rugby include managing, coaching and being an active member of the committee at Gosport & Fareham RFC, where he has also supported their sponsorship and commercial growth. His appointment reflects Hampshire RFU’s commitment to bringing fresh, expert-led investment and ideas into the grassroots game.

Neil McRoberts, Chair of Hampshire RFU, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Shane Castle into this key role. His expertise will be instrumental in helping our clubs maximise their potential, not just on the pitch, but as thriving community hubs. This pilot is a demonstration of our long-term commitment to our mission of increasing investment into the game we love.”

How It Works

Over the duration of the 18-month programme, Shane will:

  • Collaborate with club leadership teams to run financial diagnostic reviews.
  • Develop tailored commercial strategies for each club, based on its unique assets and opportunities.
  • Facilitate shared services and best-practice sessions across the cluster of clubs, promoting knowledge exchange and economies of scale.
  • Support clubs in implementing new revenue-generating initiatives, such as venue hire, hospitality, and non-matchday events.

These efforts are aligned with Hampshire RFU’s broader facilities and funding work, which includes helping clubs to secure grant funding, optimise their physical infrastructure, and modernise operations.

Looking Ahead

The next step will be for Shane to establish a criteria to help select clubs to be part of this pilot, ensuring that we can deliver on the ambitious target of helping clubs to increase their revenues.

By the end of this pilot, Hampshire RFU aims to provide a proven, replicable model for sustainable growth that can be scaled. The learnings from Shane’s work will inform future support structures and potentially shape how community rugby clubs across the county approach commercial development.

For more information, go the Revenue Generation website page here or contact Shane at revenue-generation@hampshirerfu.com

Hampshire RFU AFGM & Clubs Meeting – summary and updates

Last week, Hampshire RFU welcomed club representatives to the Annual Financial General Meeting (AFGM) and Clubs Meeting at Romsey RFC. It was a great turn out, with 38 club volunteers representing 19 Hampshire clubs, engaging in the current and future plans of Hampshire RFU. The presentation shared at the event can be found below, along with summary notes and useful links.

AFGM:

  • Clubs unanimously approved the accounts presented by Stefan Hargrave, Director of Finance.

RFU Club Developer Update (Alex Roe, RFU):

  • Significant investment is being made into Hampshire rugby, responding to club needs identified in last year’s Club Development Survey.
  • This year, 76% of clubs reported being in a better position than last year.
  • The top three areas of focus for clubs this year: Player Recruitment, Revenue Generation, and Player Retention.
  • These priorities will guide the Club Developer work programme for 2025/26 and align to the mission of Hampshire RFU.

Hampshire RFU Vision, Mission & Values (Neil McRoberts, Chair of Hampshire RFU):

  • The new Vision, Mission, and Values were shared, alongside progress updates against the new mission statements of:
    • Enhancing the rugby offer across all ages and formats
    • Increasing investment and resources for our community
    • Optimising the time, talent, and impact of our volunteers
  • All of our efforts and focus as Hampshire RFU will be directed towards these mission statements, aligning brilliantly with the club needs, ensuring our core services and planned projects will make a real impact.
  • A full strategic plan is being finalised, enabling progress to be shared at the spring Clubs Meeting and July 2026 AGM.

Announcements & Updates:

  • Updated Hampshire RFU logo – cleaner and updated to reflect the change in monarch but retains the history of Hampshire.
  • WhatsApp and social media improvements – new Hampshire RFU communities established on What’s App and Facebook.
  • Investment in a Revenue Generation Consultant role – advert is live
  • New kit partnership – read more here
  • Volunteer appointments:
    • Tommy Gentleman as Facilities Lead
      • Reporting to George Winch, Club Investment Director, Tommy will work alongside Terry Foreman, who is retiring at the end of the season, ensuring a smooth handover. Tommy will support clubs to map facility assets, prioritise needs, and become “Investment Ready.
    • Matt Davis as Representative Rugby Lead
      • Responsible for the management and delivery of the county representative rugby programme and reporting to the Directors of Adult and Youth Rugby, Matt brings not only a wealth of knowledge but a proven record of leadership and development at county level.

Regulation 15 Review:

  • A full review is underway, and club feedback is encouraged, particularly regarding Age Grade rugby.
  • Provide your input here: Smartsheet Form.

Hampshire Clubs Invited to Complete the 2025/26 Development Support Survey

England Rugby (RFU), in partnership with Hampshire RFU, is inviting all clubs across the county to take part in the Hampshire Club Development Support Survey 2025/26.

The survey is designed to help identify the current priorities, challenges, and areas where clubs would most value support. Insights gathered will directly shape how both Hampshire RFU and the RFU Development Team plan and deliver tailored assistance for the 2025/26 season.

“This is an important opportunity for every club to share where they are now and what support would make the biggest difference for the season(s) ahead,” said Tim Dancer, Executive Director of Hampshire RFU. “By working together, we can ensure that the right resources and guidance are directed where they’re needed most.”

All Hampshire clubs are encouraged to complete the survey and to discuss their responses within their committees or wider volunteer teams before submission, to ensure a full and accurate reflection of club needs.

Soft deadline: Tuesday, 5 November 2025
Findings presented: HRFU Clubs Meeting – Monday, 10 November 2025

Complete the survey here: Hampshire Club Development Support 2025/26 Survey

For any questions about the survey or club development support, please contact Alex Roe, alexroe@rfu.com

World Cup winning Red Roses visit Hampshire rugby club

World Cup winning Red Roses players will be continuing their celebrations at Trojans Rugby Club in Hampshire as part of a national festival of the women’s game.

Following England clinching the World Cup with a convincing victory over Canada, the Eastleigh based club has been selected to host a visit by Abby Dow and Lucy Packer.

The event is part of the RugbyFest initiative, a nationwide celebration of rugby designed to inspire the next generation of players by building on the national team’s success.

With over 140 girls across four age groups and a further two senior women’s teams, Trojans is proud to be one of the largest and most inclusive female rugby sections in the region.

Girls from the club will be joining the England players for some craft activities, a mass warm up before taking part in a festival at the Stoneham Lane ground on Saturday, 4 October.

Chair Stefan Hargrave said:

“The Red Roses haven’t just inspired young players—they’ve inspired a nation and we can’t wait to host Abby and Lucy at our RugyFest this weekend.

“Many of our girls were among the crowds cheering them on through their World Cup winning campaign, so to have these players come to the club they play for will be beyond exciting for them.

“It will be a day to remember for our club and an inspiring experience for the next generation of Red Roses!”.

Hampshire RFU Celebrates Selection of the 2025 England Rugby U16 Girls PDG Squad

Hampshire RFU is proud to announce the 43 players selected for the 2025 England Rugby U16 Girls Player Development Group (PDG). Nominations were openly offered to all clubs to share with parents, and we were delighted to see nearly every girls’ section across the county engage with us. This reflects the continuing growth of the game and the strength of club support behind it.

The PDG programme offers a full season of development aligned to the RFU Girls’ Curriculum and delivered by Hampshire’s coaching team. The purpose of the programme is to develop players holistically; technically, physically, and mentally,  while opportunities remain open through mid-season reviews and assessments to ensure standards remain high.

Club Representation

Players in this year’s squad come from across Hampshire’s rugby community, including:

  • Basingstoke RFC
  • Eastleigh RFC
  • Ellingham & Ringwood RFC
  • Farnham RFC
  • Fawley RFC
  • Havant RFC
  • Petersfield RFC
  • Portsmouth RFC
  • Trojans FC
  • Alton RFC (dual registered)
  • Winchester RFC

This county-wide spread demonstrates the growing strength of the girls’ game, inspired in no small part by the ongoing success of the Red Roses.

Stefan Hargrave, Hampshire RFU Girls’ Lead, said:

“The level of commitment and athleticism this year has been outstanding. What excites us most is the potential for growth as the season progresses. With the balance of returners and new players, plus mid-season reviews, the squad will continue to be challenged, and opportunities will remain for others to step in and impress.”

Hampshire RFU looks forward to supporting the U16 Girls PDG squad through a season of development and progress, confident that the pathway will continue to raise standards and create future Red Roses.

Hampshire’s Young Leaders Inspired by Red Roses as part of Rugby World Cup 2025

The Women’s RWC inspiring the next generation.

Three of Hampshire’s young rugby leaders were given a unique opportunity this week when they attended a Red Roses training session in Brighton as part of preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2025.

Jasmine Knight, Ruby Rees-Stoner and Rosie Wragg – all young coaches and referees who are already giving back to the game – spent the day watching England’s stars up close, seeing first-hand the standards and values that underpin the world’s number one women’s rugby team. They were accompanied by the new Hampshire Girls PDG Lead Stefan Hargrave (mainly as the photographer!).

Girls Inspiring Girls

The experience was designed not only to showcase the Red Roses’ preparations but also to inspire Hampshire’s next generation of coaches and match officials as they begin assisting with the Girls Player Development Group (PDG) and county representative programmes for women and girls.

Stefan Hargrave, Girls PDG Lead for Hampshire RFU, said;
“These young women are already leaders in their own right. Watching the Red Roses has energised them for the season ahead, and they’ll now take that inspiration back into Hampshire’s PDG and county environments. It’s a brilliant example of how the Women’s Rugby World Cup is impacting the game beyond the host venues.”

Carrying the Torch Forward

For Jasmine, Ruby, and Rosie, the chance to stand just metres away from their England heroes was about more than just rugby. It was a reminder of what’s possible when hard work meets opportunity – and a spark to carry into their own leadership journeys.

With the Rugby World Cup 2025 being the biggest celebration of women’s rugby ever held in England and proving to be hugely popular, Hampshire’s commitment to developing coaches, referees, and role models for girls has never been stronger.

Find out more or get involved:

  • Hampshire RFU Girls Pathway and Representative Rugby here
  • Young Match Officials here
  • Coaching in Hampshire here

Fareham Heathens – facilities improvement for 2025!

At Fareham Heathens, we were delighted to receive a generous grant from the Hampshire RFU Rugby Force Grant.

At Heathens, we are experiencing a period of success and growth. Over the last couple of seasons, our 1st team has been promoted from Counties 3, to Counties 2. Alongside this, we have managed to regularly put out a 2nd team of a good standard, and will look to build on this success in the merit league this year.

To continue this momentum we want to give our members good value for their subs. Part of this offer, will be the provision of a gym/indoor tackle centre. We have been converting a derelict, poorly used, building belonging to the club for this purpose.

With the generous donation of the Hampshire RFU Rugby Force Grant, we have managed to arrange professional clearance of the building, and conduct a significant amount of decoration. This will allow us to meet our ambition of providing an excellent facility for the future of the club.

We will use the facility to continue improving the fitness of our players, and continuing vital Rugby skills during the winter months, when inclement weather may cause waterlogging and unplayable pitches.

Thank you Hampshire RFU again.

Fareham Heathens

 

Launch your season with RugbyFest

RugbyFest is a nationwide celebration of rugby, taking place from Friday 3 to Monday 6 October 2025. It follows the conclusion of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England and is a chance for communities to come together and celebrate the tournament.

Supported by the Red Roses, clubs, schools, colleges, universities and community organisations are invited to run their own local events, such as taster sessions, family fun days or mini festivals, to celebrate the sport, welcome new faces and mark the start of the season.

Why Run a RugbyFest Event?
Running a RugbyFest event helps your club:

  • Celebrate rugby union at all levels
  • Attract new players, supporters and volunteers
  • Engage families and promote inclusion
  • Inspire the next generation especially girls and young women
  • Be part of a national movement, celebrating off the back of the Red Roses’ journey in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

By registering your RugbyFest event, your club could:

  • Be in with a chance to host a visit from a Red Rose
  • Be one of the first 200 clubs to register and claim either a women and girls rugby event pack or a T1 Rugby equipment pack
  • Enter a competition to SuperCharge your RugbyFest with a game-changing prize

How to get involved
1. Read the Terms and Conditions here
2. Register your event by completing our form to host a RugbyFest event between 3 and 6 October 2025 here
3. Plan, Promote, Celebrate!

The clubs below have already signed up for the event and it would be great if you could join them:

• Havant RFC
• Trojans RFC
• Alton RFC
• Eastleigh RFC

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Alex Roe (RFU Club Developer) via email – alexroe@rfu.com

 

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.

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