The RFU launch “Play Together, Stay Together” campaign

The RFU has committed close to £1m of additional funding and resource to support the community game as it continues to rebuild after the pandemic starting with it’s “Play Together, Stay Together” campaign.

The increased support is based on a whole package of measures targeting areas of the game most affected by the enforced 18-month break during Covid.

While age grade rugby and the women’s game have bounced back well, fewer games were played by men’s teams below first XV level last season.

The RFU has created a nine-point plan to address these challenges this season, which includes increased support at national, regional, and local level. Further details are available here

At national level, the RFU today launches its ‘Play Together, Stay Together’ campaign to drive participation among two key playing groups – 17-22-year-olds in the men’s and women’s game and male social players aged 30+. The campaign will remind players of everything they love about rugby, just as England prop Joe Marler does in his inimitable style.

A focal point of the ‘Play Together, Stay Together’ campaign will be the annual ‘Pitch Up For Rugby’ weekend on 17/18 September, supported by The National Lottery, when clubs across the country will host events to celebrate the new season.

The RFU is redeploying coach developers to provide targeted practical support to around 100 clubs nationwide who need extra help to retain players. The governing body will also provide guidance and resources for transitioning players from age grade rugby into adult rugby.

An enhanced ‘Game On’ framework will give teams even greater flexibility to complete matches this season, building on previous law adaptations that allow games to be played and results to stand when players and teams aren’t able to field a full 15 or play a full 80 minutes.*  More scrum options will be introduced, allowing more players to participate in and enjoy parts of the game they love. 

At a more local level, the RFU funding will help increase playing and coaching opportunities, and also support students to find clubs close to their universities or to stay connected with their old clubs.

RFU Director of Rugby Development, Steve Grainger, said: “During the pandemic we’ve seen a decline in the number of games being played in the adult men’s game, while the women’s game has stayed flat at a time when growth was planned. Both areas remain extremely important to us. While we are confident in our planned interventions in the women’s game through Allianz Inner Warrior player recruitment campaigns aligned to the Rugby World Cup, it’s really important that we act now to address the immediate challenges we are seeing in the men’s game.

“We have already announced the biggest changes in 30 years to the men’s league structure to better suit players’ lifestyles. The package of measures confirmed today are more targeted and immediate in nature, designed to have an impact on player retention in the first half of the season.

“We hope the whole rugby community will get behind ‘Play Together, Stay Together’ as the game works together to encourage more players back to their local clubs, and we thank The National Lottery players for again supporting our national participation campaign.”