The IRFU (Ulster Branch) is currently in its third year of a three year Community Rugby Programme, funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and Sport NI.

This funding has led to the employment of 11 full time Community Rugby Development Officers (CRDO’s) and 20 part time Youth Development Officers (YDO’s) who play a crucial role in the development of the game in the Province.  Working in Schools and Colleges of Further and Higher Education, the CRDO’s have made great headway in increasing the participation of non-traditional rugby playing schools across Ulster as well as bringing the game to many community groups who have never had the opportunity to play before.

The work of the CRDO’s see them engaging with mostly the 16-18 age group, both males and females, not only to increase the number of people playing the game but also to identify and develop any budding coaches, referees and volunteers. 

As well as organising training sessions, the CRDO’s are also responsible for arranging a series of inter-college competitions.  These are organised in such a way as to give meaningful games to both novice and experienced players with mixed tag tournaments for beginners through to full 15 aside for the more experienced players.

In addition to their role in the Colleges, the CRDO’s supplement the work of the Youth Development Officers (YDO’s) by working in non-traditional rugby playing schools to introduce and grow the game and to identify additional youth players for local clubs.  The YDO Scheme has been running for a number of years and involves YDO’s being attached to a particular club and working with both the primary and secondary schools in that club’s catchment area. 

Since the programme began in October 2005 there have been a number of notable achievements in the Community Development project, which have seen the Ulster Branch working in partnership with community based agencies to increase participation in rugby based activities throughout the province.  These include:

Young Farmers Tag Tournament
For two years the Ulster Branch has been involved with the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster in their annual Tag Rugby Tournament.  Teams from all over the Province take part in this competition which has regional qualifiers prior to a big finals night and the Ulster Branch development officers help to run this competition by refereeing.  It has proved a very successful event and continues to grow each year.

Youth Justice Agency
The Ulster Branch has also been working in conjunction with the Youth Justice Agency for the past two years running a tag rugby tournament in the North West.  The scheme, first launched last August, is run between City of Derry and Londonderry YMCA RFC and supported by the Youth Justice Agency and the Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch. Kids within the local area, including Waterside and Cityside are invited to take part in this 4 week scheme which is free for all participants. 

Belfast Community Sports Development Network
A Belfast based community sports development group who are working to increase participation in community sport in Belfast. Our development officers have provided Tag rugby education courses to community based volunteers to empower the communities to lead the projects locally.