The Club and Community Outreach programme, sponsored by Ulster Carpets, plays a crucial role in growing participation, retention, and transition within Mini, Youth, and Disability rugby. By employing dedicated development officers, clubs are empowered to reach out to their local communities and offer engaging participation programs.<br>
The CPD day featured a variety of workshops and presentations designed to equip CCROs with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in their roles. Attendees had the chance to learn from experts in various areas, including:
- Coaching: Our Rugby Development leads conducted practical coaching workshops, providing CCROs with valuable insights and techniques.
- Inclusive Rugby: Our Disability Rugby Officer, Shel Laffin discussed the importance of clubs being able to offer inclusive rugby and shed light on how CCROs can help with this.
- Ulster Rugby Foundation: David Johnston from our Foundation gave a talk on the importance of CCRO participation to the Foundation’s work.
- Women and Girls Rugby: Becky Irvine discussed the importance of growing women and girls rugby and shared strategies for promoting participation.
- Refereeing: Richard Kerr our Provincial Referee Development Manager discussed his role and the growth of refereeing across the province.
The day was a resounding success, with CCROs leaving feeling inspired and equipped to make a positive impact in their clubs and communities. As one participant noted, "The CCRO programme is vital for clubs. Without it, clubs would not be able to grow their participation successfully. The CCROs are the vital link between clubs and schools, and without them, clubs would struggle to develop and sustain numbers."