Minutes - May 12th 2016
SOUTH WEST GROUP
AGM – THURSDAY MAY 12
PRESENT – D LEVY (Chair) – S HARLAND (RFU) – M HILLMAN – J RUSSELL – T ROBERTS – I WOODGATE – T FRIEND
APOLOGIES – M JAMIESON – I HAMILTON – D HINSHELWOOD – P TOPHAM
1 - The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and thanked the various personnel for their time / efforts during the season
2 - APPOINTMENTS – report had been circulated – TF informed the meeting that Towcester had returned to the Midland Group which left 2 spaces – BRACKNELL and BROMSGROVE (although appealing) were the RFU recommended choices
3 - TRAINING – reported circulated – SH reported that all groups would be given a training budget to use as they saw fit – all attending ‘training days’ would be eligible to claim 25p/mile expenses from a central fund – training would continue to be based at Avonmouth RFU - IW reported that he had received communication from several people about the Coherence Day format and some thought was needed for the future days
4 - COACHING – report circulated – AR identified a shortage of coaches in the right areas with 3 possible 4 retirements – it was discussed how people could be identified earlier for this role – the following were mentioned as possibles P Kimber – G O’Hara – B Marshall – P Dent – A Bickle and would be contacted. It was noted that different kinds of coaching was now required depending on the referee pathway (eg - ex professional player – University graduate - Federation nominee)
5 - SELECTOR ROLE – the current system of formal reporting and word of mouth had produced the correct answers for the current season (3 out of the 5 referees promoted had not been known at the start of the season). It was felt that this was simplest and best way forward as long as the Federations were kept informed.
6 - 2016 – 17 SQUADS – circulated - were confirmed with the exception of A Harris (coach) who had recently retired from the group
7 - RFRU UPDATE – IW informed the meeting that the RFRU would become a CB in its own right at the RFU AGM – this could have repercussions for the Society’s and Federations (who could join the CB in their own right). This needs addressing as a matter of urgency
8 - RFU NEWS – SH indicated a training budget for all groups – the AR panel would be confirmed ASAP – Sara Cox had gained promotion – requested the SWG top 3 referees for the coming season (Charlie Gayther – Ben Russell – Richard Trimbrell) – there would be a pre season Conference as last year at Newbury during August involving the SWG and SEG. It is hoped that MO's, Coaches & Exec Committee will be invited this year.
9 - AOB
- the training questions had been answered
- AR had informed T Beddow – that he needed to produce the necessary documentation through his Federation
- D Levy brought forward a couple of questions from his Federation – it was felt he would be able to deal with them internally within his Federation
The Meeting closed at 8.30 pm.