These 100 officers, part-funded by the WRU, educational establishments and partner organisations, deliver rugby activities to young people across Wales which is a vital source of fun and learning, essential to growing the game in Wales. This 2022/23 season Hub officers have smashed targets with over 3,000 new registered players at local rugby clubs, over 30,000 children from primary school to secondary school age engaged in rugby at their school. The officers also supported deployment of 520 student coaches resulting in over 4,000 deployment opportunities and 182 referees, refereeing over 900 games. In the community officers delivered in the boys and girls pathway programmes and provided over 290 coach and referee development sessions.

WRU community director Geraint John, said: “The Hub programme is a vital component of our strategic plan to increase participation across the girls and boys game and we are grateful for the support and partnership of our educational establishments.

“To have over 100 hub officers in schools and working within our communities is fantastic and it would be great if we could have a hub in every school moving forward.”

A key area of success for the WRU Community this year has been the deliver and execution of the unions Fit, Fed, Fun camps throughout the summer. Free to attend, the camps are set up with the aim of engaging children through the medium of rugby whilst ensuring that the children are well fed throughout the holiday period as all children who attend receive a welcome breakfast and lunch as part of the initiative.

This year the initiative reached over 14,000 young people across Wales more than doubling delivery on the previous year. Each camp was open to all children but a total of 49 rugby clubs and over 120 schools were targeted because they sit in areas of high deprivation (based on WMID). The WRU worked alongside rugby clubs, schools and regional rugby foundations, however HUB Officers were key to the successful delivery of each programme.

The WRU’s HUB Programme has undergone regular reviews through its partnership with The Open University (OU) and key stakeholders. The OU helps to analyse work carried out each year and collaboratively refine the programme according to its findings. In the programmes three year cycle the current return on investment is estimated at over £3million and the current review phase is due to conclude in Summer 2024.

Dr Joanne Jordan, Research Fellow at The Open University said: “The Open University in collaboration with WRU, continue to explore the impact and effect that the HUB programme is having on children and their families in Wales.

“The project has now reached a pilot phase after completion of a co-creation phase this last summer which included a number of schools, teachers and children to ensure a real focus on how we might successfully evaluate this model of support.”

WRU Interim CEO, Nigel Walker, added: “The WRU HUB Programme is vital to rugby in Wales. The young people that join our programme get the opportunity to engage in leadership training, coaching and development that enables them to deliver exceptional rugby experiences across the country.

“I’m a firm believer in the motto, ‘if you can see it, you can be it’, and our HUB Officers are young adults that can relate to pupils or children within their communities improving fitness and wellbeing, confidence, and have a positive influence on inclusivity and team-work.

“Its been remarkable to witness the positive impact the Hub Programme has had to local communities and schools across Wales and also to witness the personal development of the HUB Officers too, enabling rugby to thrive but not only through playing but as vehicle for positive change within communities.

“I’m encouraged by the 22/23 results so far and look forward to the continued development of our HUB Programme.”

Educational establishments, rugby clubs and other organisations should email participation@wru.wales for more information on the WRU HUB Programme, or to apply to become a HUB Officer in your area please contact Ben Rose, National Hub Programme Lead brose@wru.wales