WRU club consultation / Ymgynghoriad a’r clybiau

The Welsh Rugby Union has completed a series of club workshops around Wales as part of a wide-ranging consultation exercise to help shape a ‘club of the future’ strategy.

Following a series of club visits by WRU Chief Executive Martyn Phillips, consultation with the WRU Board and external partners and an initial survey of club representatives at the 2019 WRU AGM, the workshops in every WRU District provided a platform for clubs to share insight on challenges faced and solutions found across a number of areas on and off the field, from player and volunteer recruitment to club governance, from facility development to income streams.

WRU Head of Community Geraint John said, “The aim of this consultation period is to recognise and share good practice between clubs and use that insight to help clubs prepare for the next generation. I was lucky to grow up in a rugby club surrounded by all my family and fell in love with the game. We want to continue that tradition and to help our 300 clubs to thrive but we acknowledge that probably won’t be possible unless we tackle certain issues head on and learn from each other’s successes – and failures.

“We are well aware of the socio-economic changes facing certain Welsh communities while clubs all over Wales are finding they need to adapt to changing societal demands by becoming more flexible, more inclusive and more open to collaboration with other community groups and new audiences.”

Nine club workshops were held around Wales and produced a great deal of thought-provoking ideas and examples, which will now be fed back to them in the next stage of the process. Further consultation is also taking place with other sporting and community-based groups and within educational settings involving current players and young people not currently part of a rugby club or team to gather their views on the club game.

Although volunteer recruitment and retention was a recurring theme at the workshops, there were many examples of clubs not only increasing their pool of off-field talent but harnessing the skill-sets of young people .

Some clubs are working together to provide playing opportunities at junior and youth level and by injecting new blood and ideas into the running of clubs, many spoke of a boost to numbers at senior level, with increased second teams one of the benefits cited.

The running of club facilities is sometimes seen as challenging, especially around the issue of capital asset transfer and clubs welcomed an offer of additional training for volunteers and club management.

Ystradgynlais secretary Alun Jenkins said, “We are very keen to modernise and adapt in whatever ways we can. Our coach, Vernon Cooper is now a trained groundsman, we have joined forces with Abercrave to form a youth team which is going well and we are in the process of updating our kitchen and clubhouse facilities in order to attract more community groups and host parties and meetings.

“We found that younger people, including former players didn’t want to commit to joining the club committee. However, they were more than happy to become volunteers and a group of two has now become a group of 15 volunteers who are on hand for whatever needs doing on matchday or during the week. We also have a 16 year old who’s put himself forward to be a committee member which is exactly the kind of young blood we need to sustain the club for many years to come.”

Cwmgwrach chair Jeremy Williams added, “We have seen an increase in senior playing numbers through making sure the club is a fun place to be which means we are now running a second team. We have brought young volunteers on board and many of our players are tradesmen and happy to help out.

“Our clubhouse is vibrant with flower arranging, indoor crown green bowls and boxing clubs amongst those making use of it but there are always challenges and it’s very useful to talk to other clubs to learn from each other on various issues.”

Martyn Phillips added, “The best clubs just have the right people running them – ordinary people like you and I achieving extraordinary things – and we want to ensure they feel supported in their efforts to ensure rugby opportunities and facilities are attractive environments that suit the busy lifestyles of our current and future players, parents and volunteers.

Optimistic clubs see the opportunity in every difficulty, are smart at building relationships and are adapting to make themselves inclusive on and off the pitch. What was clear from my visits to clubs was that one size doesn’t fit all. A club in a city centre needs a different plan to a rural club. The club of the future strategy sets out to provide those people and clubs with the tools to help them thrive based on their needs and local catchments.”

Geraint John added, “As a result of the consultation with clubs and other groups and individuals, we will now go back to clubs at District meetings with a summary of the consultation process so far and a chance to provide further input as we work towards a strategy which responds directly to the needs of our volunteers to enable clubs to thrive in the future on and off the field.”

YMGYNGHORIAD CLWB YN CYNORTHWYO LLUNIO STRATEGAETH I’R DYFODOL

Mae Undeb Rygbi Cymru wedi cwblhau cyfres o weithdai clwb o gwmpas Cymru fel rhan o ymgynghoriad pell-gyrhaeddol i gynorthwyo ffurfio a llunio strategaeth ‘clwb y dyfodol’.

Yn dilyn cyfres o ymweliadau clwb gan Brif Weithredwr URC Martyn Phillips; ymgynghoriad gyda Bwrdd URC a phartneriaid allanol yn ogystal ag arolwg dechreuol o gynrychiolwyr clybiau yn CCB 2019 o URC, bu i’r gweithdai ym mhob Ardal URC roddi llwyfan i glybiau i rannu mewnolygon ar yr heriau a wynebir a’r datrysiadau a ganfuwyd ar draws sawl lle ar, ac oddiar y maes, o recriwtio chwaraewyr a gwirfoddolwyr i lywodraethiant clwb; o ddatblygiad cyfleusterau i ffrydiau cyllido.

Dywedodd Pennaeth Cymunedol URC Geraint John, “Amcan y cyfnod ymgynghori yma yw i adnabod a rhannu arfer ddarhwng clybiau a defnyddio’r hyn a ganfyddir er cynorthwyo clybiau baratoi ar gyfdeer y genhedlaeth nesaf. Roeddwn i’n ffodus cael tyfu i fyny mewn clwb rygbi a amgylchynwyd gan fy holl deulu gan syrthio mewn cariad gyda’r gȇm. Rydym eisiau parhau’r traddodiad hwnnw ac er mwyn cynorthwyo’n 300 clwb i ffynnu ond cydnabyddwn na fydd hynny’n bosibl mae’n debyg onibai’n bod yn taclo rhai materion yn uniongyrchol gan ddysgu oddiwrth lwyddiannau’n gilydd – a’n methiannau.

“Rydym yn hollol ymwybodol o’r newidiadau socio-economaidd sy’n wynebu rhai cymunedau Cymreig tra bod clybiau ledled Cymru’n canfod fod angen iddynt addasu i ofynion newidiol cymdeithas drwy ddod yn fwy hyblyg, yn fwy cynhwysol ac yn fwy agored i gydweithio gyda grwpiau cymunedol eraill a chynulleidfaoedd newydd.”

Cynhaliwyd naw gweithdy clwb o gwmpas Cymru gan gynhyrchu nifer fawr o syniadau ag engreifftiau sy’n herio’r meddwl, fydd yn awr yn cael eu bwydo’n ôl iddynt yng ngham nesaf y broses. Mae ymgynhoriad pellach yn digwydd yn ogystal gyda grwpiau chwaraeon cymuned- seiliedig eraill ac oddimewn i sefyllfaoedd addysgol sy’n cynnwys chwarewyr presennol a phobl ifanc sydd ddim, ar hyn o bryd, yn rhan o glwb rygbi neu dîm er mwyn casglu’n barnau hwy am y gȇm glwb.

Serch fod recrwitio a chadw gwirfoddolwyr yn thema ail-adroddus yn y gweithdai, roedd nifer o engreifftiau o glybiau ddim yn unig yn cynyddu’u pwll o dalent oddiar y maes ond yn defnyddio ystod sgiliau pobl ifanc yn effeithiol.

Mae rhai clybiau’n gweithio gyda’i gilydd er cynnig cyfleon chwarae ar lefelau iau a ieuenctid a thrwy ychwanegu gwaed a syniadau newydd i redeg clybiau, soniodd llawer am yr ychwanegiad i niferoedd ar lefel hŷn, gyda chynnydd mewn ail dimau’n un o’r buddion a grybwyllwyd.

Weithiau, gwelir rhedeg cyfleusterau clwb yn her, yn enwedig o gwmpas y mater o drosglwyddiad ased capital ac roedd clybiau’n croesawu’r cynnig o hyfforddiant ychwanegol ar gyfer gwirfoddolwyr a rheolaeth clwb.

Dywedodd Ysgrifennydd Ystradgynlais, Alun Jenkins, “Rydym yn awyddus iawn i foderneiddio ac addasu mewn unrhyw ffordd y gallwn. Mae’n hyfforddwr, Vernon Cooper bellach yn dirmon hyfforddiedig, bu inni ymuno gydag Abercraf er ffurfio tîm ieuenctid sy’n mynd yn dda ac rydym yn y broses o ddiweddaru ein cegin a chyfleustrau’r clwb fel ag i ddenu mwy o grwpiau cymunedol a gwesteio partion a chyfarfodydd.

“Bu inni ganfod fod pobl ieuengach, gan gynnwys cyn chwaraewyr ddim eisiau clymu’u hunain i ymuno gyda phwyllgorau clwb. Fodd bynnag, roeddenyt yn hollol hapus i fod yn wirfoddolwyr ac mae grŵp o ddau bellach wedi dod yn grŵp o 15 gwirfoddolwr sydd wrth law i beth bynnag sydd angen ei wneud ar ddiwrnod gȇm neu’n ystod yr wythnos. Yn ogystal, mae gennym berson 16 oed sydd wedi rhoi ei hun ymlaen i fod yn aelod pwyllgor sydd yn union y math o waed ifanc yr ydym ei angen i gynnal a chadw’r clwb am nifer o flynyddoedd i ddod.”

Ychwanegodd Cadeirydd Cwmgwrach, Jeremy Williams, “Bu inni weld cynnydd mewn niferoedd hŷn sy’n chwarae drwy sicrhau fod y clwb yn le hwyliog i fod ynddo sy’n caniatau inni bellach redeg ail Dîm. Daethom o gwirfoddolwyr ifanc ymlaen ac mae llawer o’n chwaraewyr yn grefftwyr ac yn hapus i gynorthwyo.

“Mae’n Clwb yn gryf a phrysur gyda gosod blodau, bowlio gwyrdd tu fewn a chlybiau bocsio ymysg y rhai sy’n ei ddefnyddio ond erys nifer o heriau ac mae’n ddefnyddiol iawn siarad a thrafod gyda chlybiau eraill er mwyn dysgu oddiwrth ein gilydd ar faterion gwahanol.”

Ychwanegodd Martyn Phillips, “Mae gan y clybiau gorau y bobl iawn yn eu rhedeg – pobl gyffredin sy’n cyrraedd uchelfannau arbennig – ac rydym eisiau sicrhau eu bod yn teimlo cefnogaeth i’w hymdrechion i sicrhau cyfleon rygbi a chyfleusterau gydag awyrgylch atyniadol sy’n siwtio y bywydau prysur sydd gan ein chwaraewyr presennol a rhai’r dyfodol, ein rhieni a’n gwirfoddolwyr.

Mae clybiau optimistaidd yn gweld cyfle ymhob rhwystr, yn glyfar wrth adeiladu perthynas ac yn addasu i wneud eu hunain yn gynhwysol ar, ac oddiar, y maes.Yr hyn a oedd ynglir o’m hymweliadau i glybiau oedd nad yw un maint yn addas i bawb. Bydd clwb yng nghanol dinas angen cynllun gwahanol i un clwb gwledig. Mae strategaeth clwb y dyfodol yn ceisio cynnig i’r bobl hynny, ag i’r clybiau, yr arfau i’w cynorthwyo i gynorthwyo’u hunain.”

Ychwanegodd Geraint John, “Fel canlyniad i’r ymgynghoriad gyda chlybiau a grwpiau ac unigolion eraill, byddwn yn awr yn dychwelyd at y clybiau mewn cyfarfodydd Ardal gyda chrynodeb o’r broses ymgynghori cyn belled a chyfle i gynnig mewnbwn ychwanegol fel yr ydym yn gweithio tuag at strategaeth sy’n ymateb yn uniongyrchol i anghenion ein gwirfoddolwyr fydd yn galluogi’n clybiau i ffynnu’n y dyfodol ar, ac oddiar y maes.”