Thanks for bearing with us, as we’ve been going through a full restructure. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the coverage of staff across Durham.

Rugby Development Officer (RDO)

The Durham RDO role is now just that, the RDO for the whole of Durham County Rugby Football Union area. Formerly, I covered the majority of Durham, whilst Alec Porter picked up the Hartlepool and Stockton & Billingham area. As some of you may already know, I am leaving this post on 12th September, to take up a new role within the RFU, developing our competitions framework. The Durham RDO role has been advertised, with a closing date of 9th September, and a re-appointment will be made. You can view the advert here. Please do help with the promotion of the vacancy. The phone number will stay with the role, so will remain the same (07711185219). In the shorter-term, however, please take note of one of the FAQs, below, as to who to contact. Once the new RDO comes into post, I’m sure they will be in touch with you, to introduce themselves.

Community Rugby Coaches (CRCs)

We have three CRCs covering the area of Durham, Jon Benson, Matthew Bradford & Phil Wallis. They are CRCs for Durham, and are not, necessarily, fixed solely to clubs, as they were in the past. They will do targeted pieces of work with clubs, based around growing and sustaining the game. Where this work is taking place, you will already be in touch with them.

FAQs

Q. Who should I contact and for what?

A. Where you are currently engaged with a CRC, on a particular piece of work, for example, growing new girls’ teams for the 18-19 season, you should continue to keep in touch with them, and they you. Where you have general enquiries about club development issues, or to discuss new types of support needed, you should always contact the RDO, in the first instance.

Q. Who can we contact before a reappointment is made?

A. Matt Bradford, who many of you will know, will be picking up the day-to-day queries of the RDO role, until a reappointment is made. You can contact him at MatthewBradford@RFU.comor on 07718706552.

Q. What other changes have there been?

A. Durham is a part of an RFU administrative area called Area 6. We have a new Area Manager for this area, as Mike Barnett has moved to another, internal role. Hamish Pratt has taken up this post. Hamish was formerly the RDO for West Yorkshire. Please see next FAQ for one, further change.

Q. Is RDO Alec Porter covering any of Durham?

A. No. Alec’s patch is now solely in Yorkshire. The Durham RDO role now covers the whole of the DCRFU CB area.

As I mentioned to many of you a week, or so, ago, it’s been an absolute pleasure, honour and privilege to perform this role for 14 years. No doubt, I will see many of you out and about, still, doing the amazing and fantastic work you do

All the best

Matt

Job Vacancy link

https://rfu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=1800002Z&lang=en