Community Rugby League: Regional development forums driving development beyond traditional heartlands

Regional development forums are making progress on further developing and strengthening Rugby League’s community game across the south and midlands. 

Four forums, representing London and South East, Midlands, West of England and South West regions, were established in 2023 under the Southern Regions Development Framework. The groups met three times during the year, bringing their experiences, knowledge and regional focus to improve connections between different areas of the sport, and to identify priority focus areas to be developed across the south. 

Progress to date includes the development of a Southern Regions Volunteer Action Plan and a Southern Competition Management Group. 

The volunteer action plan was created taking into consideration all elements of the sport and aligning with the wider RFL National Volunteer Strategy which has started to be implemented in 2024. 

Cross regional groups have also worked together to support the RFL develop several programmes and projects across the South. On the back of this framework a Southern Competition Management Group was also formed focusing on the OA Men’s competition, rejuvenating and realigning the regional structures across the South, re introducing the Harry Jepson Trophy and Southern Open Age Men’s representative programme and supporting the RFL with competition rules review and league management areas. 

The regional groups are currently focused on looking at ‘How do we lift the profile of the sport across the Community Game in the South?’’ and will then look to audit the current levels of activity and landscape of the sport and start to draft Regional Development Plans with the aim to implement these in 2025.

Marc Lovering, RFL Director of Participation says: 

“In the south of the country we have a significant number of well-established clubs, organisations and experienced volunteers who drive the sport and provide a firm foundation from which to build. 

“It is vitally important that these stakeholder groups and volunteers feel supported, valued and an integral part of the sport regardless of geographical location. They are at the coal face and fully understand the particular and often unique challenges in growing the sport in their regions and local communities. We need to listen to those organisations and volunteers, ensure their views inform our decision making and crucially ensure they have a strong voice in terms of strategic direction.”  

Stephen Guan, RFL Southern Regions Development Manager, adds:

“There is a significant community Rugby League presence in this part of the country, with many playing opportunities, competitions, innovative clubs and leaders, talented and engaged players and passionate volunteers committed to growing and developing the sport. 

“Part of my role is focussed on supporting our key stakeholders and managing connectivity across the regions. This has included the implementation of this framework and the management of our Regional Development Forums.

“I see these stakeholder groups being instrumental in supporting us to produce Regional Development Plans and feeding their knowledge and experiences into an overarching Southern Regions Development Forum framework. In doing so we will ensure there are stronger feedback loops and greater insight informing decision making and give those that are instrumental in driving the game across the Southern Regions and the RFL the ability to work more collaboratively and effectively together.” 

Fred Baker, Chair Southern Regions Development Forum says:

“It has been a pleasure to work on the regional forums with stakeholders who have a wide variety of experience of the community game, some long serving, some new to the game, people with a ‘can do’ attitude, and a desire to drive the game forward. The forums have helped to facilitate cooperation and coordinate efforts amongst all stakeholders across the regions and will help enormously in developing, implementing and managing a sustainable growth strategy.” 

The Southern Regions Strategic Framework is currently being refreshed since its conception alongside the Community RL Strategy in 2022 however the key vision to grow and develop the sport of Rugby League across the four Southern Regions remains. To have a robust infrastructure in place to provide a stronger foundation for the sport, lifting the profile of Rugby League and highlighting the activity that takes place in Southern England and having clear and concise pathways and structures for players, volunteers and Rugby League organisations to follow and believe in is key.