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Children 'let down' as WRU community programme cut

Ben Price
BBC News
BBC Joshua smiles at the camera. He has short, curly hair is wearing a navy down jacket with a club badge on the right hand side. There is a rugby pitch behind him where there are children and adults standing by the rugby goals.BBC
Semi-professional rugby player Joshua Phillips says he tried to be a role model for the children he coached as a hub officer

A rugby coach said he almost broke down in tears when he found out his job as a hub officer would end.

Last month the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced funding for its community hub programme would be "discontinued" in a bid to save £5m.

Around 30,000 children have benefited from the scheme which has been part-funded by the WRU and schools since 2014.

Joshua Phillips, 23, who is a hub officer in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said he "struggled" to come to terms with the union's decision when he learned about it through media reports.

The union has promised an improved offer for grassroots rugby but said the details of its restructure would be unveiled in due course.

Since the WRU made its announcement in April, more than 4,500 people have signed a petition calling for the hub programme to be saved.

Up to 20 jobs could be lost as a result of the changes.

"I was gutted, just heartbroken when I found out. I did shed a tear because I love my job, and the boys and girls have been a pleasure to work with," Mr Phillips said.

"It feels a bit like I'm letting them down.

"I take it that some things need to change but it's sad really for the kids and what opportunities they might not have."

When it first announced its restructure plans in April, the WRU said it would ensure a "consistent level of support" for the community game.

It also said it would be up to schools, who employ the officers, how they re-invest their share of the funding.

There were more than 3,000 new registered players at local rugby clubs as a result of the hub programme during the 2022/23 season.

Grassroots participation continued to increase for boys and girls the following year according to a WRU impact report.

Amber smiles at the camera. Her dark hair is tied back and she is wearing a navy Rhinos rugby shirt with a pink collar. The rest of her team can be seen in the background on the rugby pitch.
Amber, who plays for Llantwit Fardre Rhinos, is worried there might not be as many rugby opportunities in school if Joshua leaves

While working at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg Mr Phillips said the boys teams had enjoyed success on the pitch and he had helped to increase girls' participation by introducing them to a local club.

Amber, 13, who plays rugby in school and for Llantwit Fardre Rhinos, said she was "sad" to learn Mr Phillips' job would end this summer.

"He's made me a more confident individual and he's helped us as a team to get better. He comes here to our training with the Rhinos as well, and he comes to watch our games so he's helped us a lot," she said.

Darcy, 13, who is also a pupil at Garth Olwg, said the decision was disappointing because Mr Phillips had "definitely helped us to improve because he's been able to arrange more games".

A recent study of the programme by the Open University found it had "clear benefits for young people in terms of their physical fitness and wider social and emotional wellbeing".

A woman with long brown hair is wearing a blue denim jacket and a flowery top underneath. She's standing alongside a rugby pitch. There's a blue sky and some trees and houses beyond the pitch in the background.
Ceri Parri at Caernarfon RFC said it would be a concern if the new grassroots structure is not in place before the start of the new school year

Speaking to the BBC's Scrum V podcast in April, the WRU's chief executive Abi Tierney said a proposed restructure of the community game in Wales would ensure every school and club would be linked with a named officer.

But concerns about the proposed changes have been raised by a number of community clubs on social media.

Ceri Parri, director at Caernarfon RFC in Gwynedd, said it was one of the first to be used in a pilot for the hub programme when it started.

"It was quite a shock when then WRU announced it would stop the funding. It felt like the decision was being made without consulting with the clubs," Ms Parri said.

"In some parts of the country children live in quite remote areas, far away from a rugby pitch. Having hub officers in schools has really helped to engage children in rugby - it's really important."

Geraint John, WRU executive director of community, said: "Due to an internal consultation process we are unable to expand on our future plans for community further than the statement published last month.

"Once this process is complete, I look forward to sharing information on the next chapter of our education programme."