With the Rugby World Cup well underway I think it is fair to say all the talk at the moment is about who is going to come away with the famous Webb Ellis Cup. Conversations on the street and on public transport seem to be dominated by it….South Africa vs Japan must be the most talked about match so far!
As you might expect for a sports organisation we have a few intra – Alliance competitions going on related to the competition. The more die hard rugby fans amongst us are taking part in the Fantasy Team competition and everyone is part of the slightly more light hearted “Celebrate in your workplace” competition, which over the next six weeks will see us dress our desks, wear national costumes and cook the food related to our adopted country. Some are definitely easier than others!
But great though the competition is – one of the enduring reasons why the country wanted to host it is the opportunity to build a legacy for rugby in this country as a result. Of course England is the home of the game but that doesn’t mean there isn’t the opportunity to introduce it to more people – more girls and into more schools specifically – and although there is a great cadre of coaches and officials and volunteers that make rugby what it is, there is always a need to develop and inspire the next generation of these as well as players.
This is why the RFU thought about the legacy from the RWC well in advance of this summer and as far back as October 2012 published a strategy for their approach “Lead up and Legacy” and set up a legacy oversight board - which drew on some of the knowledge and experience from London 2012 - with a view to informing and advising them on their plan and action.
I have had the pleasure of being part of that oversight board – rather as a hang over from my previous job on London 2012 legacy – but it has been great to stay on the board in my role here at the Alliance. Not least because one of the things that the RFU has also been focussed on is how they can pass on their learnings and experience to other NGBs hosting major events in the UK over the next few years – of which of course there are many.
You can read more about the RFU’s specific legacy projects here and in the meantime it is back to the action and from my perspective working out what Fijian food I can easily prepare and bring in….suggestions on email welcome!
