Hope  Rugby  Union  

2010  Plan  of  Action  

 

 

 

 Before  We  Start  

   I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  that  there  is  not  one  person  in  the  squad  who  

would  say  that  the  first  half  of  this  season  has  gone  well  or  has  even  

been  enjoyable.  There  is  no  one  thing  or  person  to  blame  as  the  

replies  on  the  text  have  indicated  that  different  people  feel  different  

areas  of  the  team  need  to  be  worked  on.    

 

Personally,  I  feel  the  squad  is  very  fragmented  at  the  moment  and  we  

all  need  to  be  on  the  same  page  in  terms  of  what  is  expected  and  how  

the  team  functions.    

 

I  hope  you  don’t  think  making  this  little  booklet  is  taking  things  too  

far,  I  just  feel  if  everyone  knows  what  is  what,  then  we  can  all  move  

forward  together  knowing  we  are  all  in  the  same  boat.  

 

We  have  had  a  bit  of  luck  in  semester  one,  in  that  two  of  our  games  

were  cancelled.  This  means  we  have  over  half  a  season  left,  plenty  of  

time  to  turn  the  season  around  and  create  a  team  we  are  all  proud  of.    

 

I  hope  you  all  agree.  

Daz  

                                                                                           

HOPE  RUGBY  UNION  3    

 

Training    

The  main  problem  with  the  team,  and  the  main  reason  we  are  losing  

games  against  poor  teams  and  have  no  team  spirit,  is  that  we  do  not  

get  good  numbers  at  training.  For  the  second  semester,  training  will  

be  as  follows:  

 

Tuesdays  in  The  Sports  Hall  –  500PM  

This  session  will  be  predominantly  taken  by  lead  backs  coach  Dan  

Rowlands  and  will  involve  handling  drill,  support  play,  SAQ  and  going  

over  set  plays  (Backs,  Forwards  and  Team).  

 

Thursdays  on  Astro  Turf  –  500PM  

This  session  will  be  our  main  fitness  session  of  the  week  with  

Director  of  Fitness  John  Clarke.  (It  is  vital  that  we  do  not  rely  on  one  

session  a  week  and  expect  to  be  fit.  Take  responsibility  and  train  in  

your  own  time).  The  session  will  also  include  some  light-­‐hearted  

game  to  finish  (Kicking  Touch  Etc).      

 

Sundays  at  Hope  University  –  1200PM  

This  is  the  most  important  and  worst  attended  session  at  the  

moment.  This  is  the  only  opportunity  we  have  to  practise  our  contact  

skills  and  patterns  in  the  wide-­‐open  space.  Sundays  will  be  coached  

by  Head  Coach  Neil  Hilton  and  lead  forwards  coach  Josh  Lewis.  

 

(Assistant  backs  coach  Darren  Baxter  and  assistant  forwards  coach  

Stephen  Gabbitass  will  also  assist  in  coaching).    

 

 

 

 

Training  Rules    

It  is  vital  that  we  get  as  many  people  at  training.  Simple.  However,  

there  will  be  times  that  people  cannot  attend  all  sessions.    

 

Can’t  Make  Training  

If  you  cannot  make  training  for  a  genuine  reason,  it  is  vital  you  let  the  

team  no  as  soon  as  possible,  and  at  least  three  days  before  the  

session  you  are  going  to  miss.  To  make  this  a  lot  easier  to  keep  track  

there  are  two  ways  to  inform  us:  

1. Phone  or  Text  Daz:  07762896849  

2. If  you  have  no  credit  etc,  write  on  the  wall  for  the  Hope  Rugby  

2009-­‐2010  Facebook  page.  

If  you  are  unaccounted  for  at  training  by  either  a  text  or  Facebook  

post,  you  will  be  issued  with  a  50p  fine  which  will  make  you  

unavailable  for  selection  until  paid.  

 

Punctuality  

 It  has  been  commented  on  by  a  number  or  players  that  the  time  

keeping  of  the  team  is  awful,  even  from  those  in  elected  position.  

Simply  put,  get  to  training  10  mins  before  start  time.  If  you  are  late  

you  will  be  issued  a  50p  fine  which  will  make  you  unavailable  for  

selection  until  paid.  

 

                                             

HOPE  RUGBY  UNION  5    

 

Match  Days  

Another  complaint  people  have  had  is  about  the  commitment  to  the  

team  on  match  days.  

Home  Games  

• Players  to  arrive  on  time  (Time  will  be  texted,  put  on  Facebook  

page  and  put  on  website).  Anyone  late  will  be  issued  a  50p  

which  will  make  them  unavailable  for  selection  until  paid.  

• Players  to  meet  in  SU  on  time  in  their  playing  kit  (This  includes  

everything  strapped  up  etc).  

• £3  subs  (plus  any  fines)  will  be  collected  by  Chris  Billinge  in  the  

SU  prior  to  the  game.  If  you  owe  two  weeks  subs  or  more  you  

will  not  be  allowed  to  play  –  no  exceptions.  

• Those  players  who  have  been  selected  to  start  have  priority.  If  

you  are  named  as  a  sub  for  the  game,  there  is  no  guarantee  you  

will  get  on.  If  you  do  not  get  on  the  pitch  you  will  have  your  

subs  returned  in  full.        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Away  Games  

• Players  to  arrive  on  time  (Time  will  be  texted,  put  on  Facebook  

page  and  put  on  website).  Anyone  late  will  be  issued  a  50p  

which  will  make  them  unavailable  for  selection  until  paid.  

• Players  to  meet  in  SU  wearing  a  shirt,  tie  and  non  jeans  –  no  

exceptions.  Show  some  pride  in  your  team  and  travel  smartly.  

Any  players  not  in  correct  gear  will  be  fined  £1  for  first  offence.  

Any  further  offenses  may  result  in  the  player  being  asked  not  

to  travel.  (Committee  members  are  expected  to  have  Hope  Uni  

Tie)  

• All  players  must  travel  as  a  team  on  the  team  coach.  (If  you  live  

near  the  venue  and  are  driving  up  so  you  can  go  home,  speak  to  

Daz  on  the  Sunday  before  the  game).    

• £3  subs  (plus  any  fines)  will  be  collected  by  Chris  Billinge  in  the  

SU  prior  to  the  game.  If  you  owe  two  weeks  subs  or  more  you  

will  not  be  allowed  to  play  –  no  exceptions.  

• Those  players  who  have  been  selected  to  start  have  priority.  If  

you  are  named  as  a  sub  for  the  game,  there  is  no  guarantee  you  

will  get  on.  If  you  do  not  get  on  the  pitch  you  will  have  your  

subs  returned  in  full.        

• All  players  are  expected  to  sing  on  the  team  coach  when  called  

upon  by  Daz  or  Timmy.  

                                       

HOPE  RUGBY  UNION  7    

 

Games  

We  have  had  a  lot  of  problems  during  games  this  season,  this  must  be  

addressed  or  we  will  be  hated  by  all  referees.  

 

Captain  

The  captain  will  be  published  when  the  team  is  announced  via  the  

website  on  the  Monday  before  the  game.  (It  should  be  noted  that  

those  elected  to  positions  are  those  roles  for  the  club,  ie,  club  captain,  

club  vice  captain,  club  president.  These  roles  do  not  guarantee  a  

started  place  in  the  team).  

During  a  game,  the  captain  is  the  only  player  allowed  to  speak  to  the  

referee.  If  you  have  a  problem  say  to  the  team  captain,  NOT  to  the  ref.  

 

Discipline    

Any  players  found  guilty  of  letting  the  team  down  will  be  punished  by  

a  committee  decision  with  the  exception  of:  

Yellow  Card  =  £5  

Red  Card  =  £10  

If  any  incidents  are  reported  to  committee  (spotted  during  video  etc),  

they  will  be  sorted  by  committee,  or  if  serious  by  the  University.  

 

We  have  a  great  reputation  amongst  the  referees  in  Merseyside  

and  want  to  keep  our  high  standards.  

 

 

 

 

Team  Selection  

The  selection  of  the  team  will  be  based  on  the  following  factors:  

• Outstanding  fines/subs.  

• Attendance  at  training.  

• Attitude  at  training.  

• Performance  in  previous  game.  

• Involvement  in  non  –  rugby  related  events.  

 

Selection  Committee  

There  will  be  a  four  –  man  selection  committee  who  will  pick  the  side  

from  week  to  week  (members  of  the  committee  will  not  

automatically  get  a  starting  place).  

President  –  Darren  Baxter  

Vice  President  –  Chris  Hill  

Lead  forward  coach  –  Josh  Lewis  

Lead  backs  coach  –  Dan  Rowlands  

In  addition  Neil  Hilton  will  have  input  into  team  selection.  

 

 

HOPE  RUGBY  UNION  9    

 

Hope  Rugby  Social  Side  

We  are  very  luck  to  have  Timmy  Young  as  Social  Sec  this  year.  He  

leads  by  example  and  is  a  guaranteed  good  night  out.  We  need  to  

support  him!  

 

Circles  

Circles  is  on  every  Wednesday.  Players  are  expected  to  attend  circles  

after  every  away  game  (at  the  very  least).  We  realise  that  some  

people  don’t  find  drinking  fun.  Please  show  up  and  have  a  few  cokes  

and  a  bit  of  banter  with  your  team-­‐mates,  even  if  it’s  for  an  hour.    

Hope  Rugby  hosts  one  circle  a  semester,  and  we  rely  on  the  funds  

from  this  to  keep  the  team  running.  All  players  are  expected  to  

support  Timmy  on  this  night  and  dress  in  the  appropriate  theme  he  

picks.  

 

Social  Events  

We  will  arrange  one  non  –  booze  related  social  event  each  term  (near  

the  start  when  we  have  our  loan).  Again,  please  make  the  effort  to  

attend!