Reviewed England: Sir Ian McGeechan
A review into England's elite structure has recommended that the Rugby Football Union develop a National Performance Centre that should be up and running by 2016.
The findings of the five-month review headed up by Sir Ian McGeechan and Peter Keen were presented to the RFU board on Wednesday with a performance centre similar to the football version opened at St George's Park in Burton last year topping the list of four main recommendations.
According to the review, the centre should "provide the world's best developmental environment for players and staff. The RFU should aim for it to be operational within 12 months of the end of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 to take advantage of the momentum gained."
Although it found that rugby was in "good shape with a bounty of young talent," the reviews also judged that the RFU's structure was "complicated" and that the demands of club and country are "a challenge".
The lack of a dedicated national training centre was deemed a "barrier to the alignment of all England senior and age-grade team activities, as well as the development of coaches".
RFU chief executive officer Ian Ritchie said: "I am very grateful to both Ian and Peter for being so thorough and for spending so much time analysing the various aspects that surround and underpin England performance.
"Both are acknowledged leaders in their respected fields of expertise, and it is heartening to hear we are in a good place.
"We are, however, determined to provide greater clarity and focus to the performance pathway and these recommendations will help us deliver that."
Keen, the architect of Great Britain's Olympic success from his time as performance director at UK Sport, said: "My task was to apply the same analysis to England Rugby as I have to other sports striving to be the very best in the world.
"What I found compared favourably with some of the very best practice I have observed in elite sport. I have been impressed by the quality of the people, their thinking and their actions.
"I have also been struck by the strong values and culture of rugby. Although areas for change and improvement have been identified, these align well with the momentum already building towards the 2015 World Cup.
"England Rugby needs accelerated evolution, not revolution."
McGeechan stressed the need for co-operation between the RFU and clubs, adding: "The strength of relationships between the clubs and the RFU is paramount for the professional game in England to develop fully.
"We have spent many months talking to a wide variety of people on this very subject, and it is clear that great strides have been taken in this area, particularly with the coaches.
"The collaborative relationships must continue to be strengthened for the good of the game, so that everyone benefits.
"This integrated approach, across every facet of performance, will create a thriving base of professional players. From this base a strong club game, and even stronger international game, will continue to evolve so all the game's inherent potential is realised."
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Centre12: I though Chiefs facilities were cutting edge? However I get your point. Wasps in their prime had low budget facilities.
Posted 12:35 01st February 2013
APV1 says...
@ kybone - I agree. I think the problem is that their poncy silky shorts might get muddy and their carefully coiffeured perms might get a bit messed up.
Bless 'em.
Posted 16:43 31st January 2013
kybone says...
APV1- I agree, i don't see why we couldn't use burton for rugby as well as football. It really irritates me that whenever we have national facilities for football, they're for football only, but when we have national facilities for other sports they have to accomodate football aswell before funding will be granted.
Posted 16:07 31st January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
"aggregation of marginal gain" - a philosophy that's done British cycling no harm. What's frsutrating as an England fan is that its a philosophy that a certain head coach of 10 years ago was trying to introduce and getting laughed at for.
I wonder how SCW feels now we're finally getting it.
Posted 14:08 31st January 2013
APV1 says...
I think the performance centre is an excellent idea. I've seen the Football one and it's just incredible.
If set up, why couldn't the promising youngsters spend "rugby camps" there too? Get Academy and 1st team AP players there, rubbing shoulders with the Saxons and EPS. A real hub of rugby excellence.
@ Centre12 - our issue isn't the facilities (you're right Farley House is magnificent), it's our recruitment. The coaches are now in place (although I do miss Steve), we just need a better player-base, combining wisdom and experience, with youthful flair.
@ jamesliveinhope - nice.
Posted 11:20 31st January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
always embarrassing isn't it - you go in for the final fitting - get chatting to the tailor then walk out without taking the jacket off.
Posted 09:33 31st January 2013
Centre12 says...
I think reviews like this are a bit of a waste of time, effort and money, take Bath for example, they have some of the finest training facilities in the country, they will be lucky to finish in the top have of the league let alone be one of the top European Clubs. Then lets have a look at the likes of the world champions New Zealand and while we are at it Super 15 champions the Chiefs, both teams have very modest training facilities, yet are the dominant force in each of their genres. I have always said rugby is a simple game and its about the basics being done correctly to a high standard. I would rather the money go into the clubs, "Grassroot Clubs" right through to Premiership Clubs.
Posted 06:11 31st January 2013
melkdave says...
Im pretty sure the RFU will folow though on the recommendations tbh,Qestion is just where do you put the performance center.My suggestion somewhere along the M6 corridorin the midlands so everyone has easy access
Posted 20:28 30th January 2013
astrospange says...
Can't more money be injected into the clubs and the development of the junior age groups? This would provide firmer foundations, stronger teams and cut out the "elite" tag.
Posted 19:36 30th January 2013