Hampshire RFU Safeguarding Team
Safeguarding the welfare of children in rugby is a top priority for Hampshire RFU. Our safeguarding team is here to ensure that all young players enjoy rugby in a safe, inclusive, and positive environment.
Meet the Team
Sarah Whatmore
Constituent Body Safeguarding Manager (CBSM)
Sarah Whatmore
Email: safeguardinghampshire@gmail.com
Phone: 07778934468
The Constituent Body Safeguarding Manager (CBSM), plays a crucial role in supporting clubs to safeguard and promote the well-being of all participants in rugby so that they can deliver and grow the game in Hampshire.
As CBSM, I am here to offer guidance and advice to clubs in developing robust safeguarding practices and ensuring that Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) feel supported in complying with RFU Policy and Regulation 21.
I support CSOs in maintaining up-to-date records, ensuring compliance among volunteers, managing and coordinating safeguarding training and ensuring they are aware of their own training requirements. I lead and advise CSOs to ensure their clubs comply with RFU safer recruitment practices, managing applications for volunteers involved in regulated activity and following RFU best practice.
Additionally, I ensure that clubs within the CB comply with the annual RFU Safeguarding audit and assist them in completing it by the deadline. I ensure that new guidance, updates, and information from the RFU is shared with CSOs, encouraging communication and best practice sharing within our clubs. I attend the RFU’s CB Safeguarding Manager Conference, and share information from this at the annual CB CSO event.
I offer safeguarding advice to those in other CB roles; such as for tour applications and festivals. I review requests for all players who wish to play out of age grade and also collaborate with the Discipline Team on cases and complaints involving safeguarding concerns, supporting any CSO involved and referring to RFU guidance.
- Deputy CBSM (Audits): Angela Horner
- Safeguarding Assistants: Sandra Coffin
What We Do
Our Safeguarding Manager and team support clubs to meet all RFU safeguarding standards by:
- Advising and supporting Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) in their roles.
- Helping clubs complete the RFU Safeguarding Audit to ensure compliance with safeguarding criteria.
- Ensuring clubs maintain an up-to-date Children’s Workforce List of volunteers working with children.
- Overseeing Youth Rugby Tours to ensure they are properly organised and approved.
- Ensuring assessments and consents are in place for players competing outside their age grade.
- Responding swiftly and appropriately to concerns of abuse, neglect, harm, discrimination, or poor practice.
Safeguarding in Hampshire Clubs
Hampshire RFU is committed to safeguarding every child engaged in rugby activities at our member clubs. We fully adhere to RFU Safeguarding Policies and promote their principles:
- The welfare of children is paramount.
- All children, regardless of background or identity, have the right to participate in rugby safely and positively.
- Concerns about abuse or harm are taken seriously and addressed swiftly and fairly.
- Collaboration is key to ensuring children’s welfare and development.
Under Child Protection Laws and RFU policy, a “child” is defined as anyone under the age of 18 participating in rugby.
Key Resources
Incidents/Complaints
All safeguarding concerns should be reported to the RFU Safeguarding Team so that they can either advise clubs or lead an investigation. All club members and CSOs should now be aware that the RFU Referral form is now live and online only.
For further information and access to the form be found on the RFU Sharing Concerns section of the website:
Establishing a positive Club ethos
The most important aspect of our strategy to combat bullying is the creation of a positive and inclusive ethos in all our member clubs.
This begins with how adults in clubs treat each other, parents, and players: with respect and understanding, even in difficult situations.
Concerns expressed by players and parents are always listened to carefully and taken seriously.
We promote and follow the RFU Core Values –TREDS
Everyone involved in rugby in England, whether as a player, coach, referee, administrator, parent or spectator is expected to uphold the Core Values of our sport:
Teamwork – Respect – Enjoyment – Discipline – Sportsmanship:
- Play to win – but not at all cost
- Win with dignity, lose with grace
- Observe the Laws and regulations of the game
- Respect opponents, referees and all participants
- Reject cheating, racism, violence and drugs
- Value volunteers and paid officials alike
- Enjoy the game
We aim to be constantly promoting and reinforcing positive behaviour and developing all children’s self-esteem through celebration of achievement. In this way, by aiming to ‘include’ everyone in the rugby community, it is much less likely either those children will become a focus for bullying, or that others may resort to bullying
We encourage children, parents and club personnel to report any suspected instances of bullying to a member of the coaching staff or to the Club’s Safeguarding Officer.
Managing Touchline Behaviour
We do not tolerate poor touchline behaviour at any of our member clubs, it will be addressed at every level.
Spectators and coaches alike MUST NOT enter the field of play without the referee’s permission whilst a game of rugby is in progress, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Poor behaviour on the touchline is no more acceptable than poor behaviour on the pitch.
