26th November 2003

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England’s triumph in the Rugby World Cup must provide the platform for innovative thinking on the development of the sport in the home nations, a University of Ulster sports lecturer and former All-Blacks mentor said today.

Dr Robin McConnell, a former High Performance Manager for the New Zealand Rugby Union, who has worked closely with All Black coaches, called for a new approach to the way rugby is promoted and developed right from primary school to international level.

He said innovation is the key to ongoing success in all areas of the sport, including:

• Schools: Rugby should not just be taught as another school sport. It could be embedded across the curriculum if the rugby authorities produced educational aids and teaching materials in all areas, such as music (composing music with rugby movement themes), art or maths (exploring rugby statistics).
• More talent spotting at schools. Children playing games like Gaelic football, volleyball, basketball and football would have easily transferable skills.
• More also needs to be done to allay parental fears over the risk of injury in rugby matches. Parent education, proper coaching support at an early stage and the fact that mini-rugby has little physical intensity could put parents’ minds at rest. Innovative activities could be developed around key rugby actions and skills.
• Greater emphasis must be put on retaining schoolboy players. Many leave the sport when they start work or go to another area for work or study. There needs to be greater communication between clubs so that young players going to another city could be picked up by the club there. This should apply for all levels of ability.
• There should be comprehensive research to establish why young players give up the game and to see if those issues can be addressed in a positive manner.
• International coaches should have the support of a select confidential and creative research and development group who could explore cutting edge techniques – including those of other sports – to boost performances on the pitch.
• Planning for the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups needs to start now.

Dr McConnell, a senior lecturer in Sports Studies at the University of Ulster and past Professor of Sport, said: “Interest in rugby is now at its highest in the northern hemisphere following the success of the England team. That provides the rugby authorities with a great opportunity to promote and develop the game and to attract a greater player pool.

“But the authorities have to be innovative. By attempting to make rugby part of the wider school curriculum they are introducing the game to young people and making it a part of their everyday life. In that way there is more chance that those young people will play the game or, at least better understand it and be potential supporters.

“We also need to address parental fears over injury. Research carried out in all schools in New Zealand reflected a depth of parental concern. We need to ensure proper coaching at every stage of a player’s development to minimise the risks and to better support the school teachers who coach, often giving so much of their own time.

“Having got people interested in the game and playing it, we are foolish in allowing so many to drift away from it when they leave school. We need more research on why people stop playing and how we can keep them interested.

“Innovation must continue right up to international level. We can learn a lot from other sports. Why shouldn’t a basketball or volleyball coach, for example, help rugby forwards to perform better in line-outs and improve their jumping ability? When I was working with coaches through to All Black level we sent some of them to check out Australian Rules and rugby league and to the USA to research how coaches there developed fitness, skills, and tactical and technical aspects that could be adapted to rugby,” he added.

Dr McConnell, who has written a best selling book about New Zealand rugby “Inside the All Blacks” and two rugby biographies, warned that unless Ireland, Scotland and Wales adopt new thinking on rugby development they will continue to under-achieve at World Cup level. He fully supported the present rugby review by the IRFU as a positive step forward.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk