Reviving youth rugby in Rhondda! Over 50 girls and boys are now training and playing rugby in one of Wales' most disadvantaged communities! Loads of volunteers, supporters, families and helpers have pitched in to support this new venture which is part of Wattstown RFC. The People and Work Unit's Dynamic Communities Project Leader, Mark Hutton, has been instrumental in helping to kick start this exciting development!

1. ‘The dragon awakes’: Community
development through Rugby Union in
the South Wales Valleys
Discussion paper
Written by
Mark Hutton and Rhodri Bowen
February 2014
@Loudoun
Butetown
Cardiff
CF10 5HW
Tel: 029 2048 8536
Email: mark.hutton@peopleandworkunit.org.uk
Website: www.peopleandworkunit.org.uk
Charity Registration No: 515211
Company Registration No: 1809654
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2. Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3
2. What we did, and what happened............................................................................. 6
3. Reflections and the way forward ............................................................................... 9
Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 12
Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 13
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3. 1. Introduction
Background
1.1
Dynamic Communities is a project that aims to learn how best to use sport and
physical activity as a means of encouraging individuals and families to engage
with the development of their own communities. This includes:

learning how to create an environment which encourages community
members to organise community activities and to sustain them; and

helping people from disadvantaged areas to take ownership of local events,
clubs and activities.
1.2.
This report focuses on the part of the project which used Rugby Union as a
vehicle for ‘community development’. Although the project worked mainly with
young people, it also included adults and the aim was to create opportunities for
people to participate in rugby and to benefit from all the positive values that it
brings such as honesty, teamwork, fair play, self respect, respect for others,
and adherence to rules.
1.3.
The project is funded by Comic Relief, and is delivered by the People and Work
Unit (PWU). Mark Hutton is the Project Leader and James Hall manages the
project. The PWU is a not-for-profit company and a registered charity that aims to
make a real difference to people’s lives through its dual approach of quality
research and innovative projects.
1.4.
The project has also benefited from support by Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT)
County Borough Council’s 5 X 60 sports scheme which works with young people
in RCT to encourage them to exercise at least an hour per day five times a week.
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4. Policies and implementation
1.5.
There have been national (WAG, 2008) and local policies and strategies (RCT,
2008a; RCT, 2008b) that highlight:
 the importance of improving levels of physical activity, especially amongst
girls and women; and
 that the public, voluntary and private sectors need to work together in order
to implement successfully health and well being strategies which include
physical activity and social interaction.
1.6.
Despite this, in terms of actually working with young people and adults who need
to engage in greater physical activity and social interaction (i.e. implementation),
evidence from a recent study (Hutton & Bowen, 2013) highlighted that not
enough was being done in many areas of the South Wales Valleys. For example,
the survey study (Ibid) identified:
 low membership of physical activity/sports groups with two thirds of the
survey respondents not being members of any activity groups or sports
clubs.; and
 “women [were] far less likely to do over two hours exercise a week than
men” (p.6).
‘The sleeping dragon’
1.7.
Rugby Union is the national sport of Wales and a large part of the national
culture. Rugby Union in Wales has traditionally been particularly strong in the
‘working class’ communities of South Wales, many of which over recent decades
have experienced high unemployment and associated problems due to the
closure of heavy industries. Although support for the national rugby team has
remained strong, actual participation in rugby (as highlighted in the report (Ibid.))
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5. amongst boys and especially girls is very low in many parts of the South Wales
Valleys.
‘Awakening the dragon’
1.8.
In response to the lack of participation in sport, particularly amongst girls in
rugby, the Dynamic Communities project sought to use Rugby Union as a vehicle
for community development in the Wattstown and Ynyshir area of the Rhondda
Valley.
1.9.
The success of the project means that the PWU is keen to learn how and why
this approach has worked and then to replicate the model in areas of the South
Wales Valleys where there is an identified need.
What this report tells you
1.10. It outlines how the project was implemented, areas of success and how this can
be taken forward.
.
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6. 2. What we did, and what happened
2.1. Figure 1 below summarises the approach of the project and key outcomes.
Identify need
Actions / Approaches
Key outcomes (so far)
 Project leader
identified there had
not been youth rugby
provision (16-19 year
olds) in Wattstown
RFC for approx 12
years.
 Taster Youth Rugby sessions organised separately
for girls and boys in Wattstown and Ynyshir which
were well attended (approx 25 each session).
These demonstrated that the survey evidence for
need was correct.
 Establishment for the first time ever of
the girls’ youth team (‘Team Pink’). Their
first match was in November 2013 and
the team continues to thrive.
 The project’s online
survey and mapping of
voluntary groups (face
to face interviews)
highlighted a lack of
engagement in activity
and sports clubs and a
lack of exercising,
especially amongst
girls and women in
different areas of
Rhondda Cynon Taf
(which included
Wattstown and
Ynyshir).
 New forms of media (Facebook and Twitter) were
used to recruit players, retain interest and help
organise activities.
 Securing an indoor facility at least once a week for
training, thus avoiding cancellations due to
inclement weather (using ‘tag’ and ‘touch’ forms of
training).
 Flexibility and a willingness to change:
a) Initially data suggested girls would be less
interested in ‘full contact’ rugby. Further consultation
showed they were more interested in ‘full contact’;
hence the provision was changed accordingly
b) players were often late to practice (and some still
are): coaches need to be patient and fit in with their
behaviour until changes occur.
 Establishment of Wattstown male youth
provision. Their first match was in
September 2013 (after a 12 year gap)
and the team continues to thrive.
 34 female players and 26 male players
have been registered by the Welsh
Rugby Union (December 2013).
 Forming of the Wattstown Young
People’s Rugby constituted group
(January 2014).
 5 youth players attended district trials
and another 5 attended Cardiff Blues
trials and two made the Blues team (by
January 2014).
 2 coaches achieved the WRU level 1
course and another the WRU level 1
referee course (by January 2014). 6

7. 2.2.
In addition to the key outcomes outlined in Figure 1 other benefits include:
Health and Well-being:
Wider family engagement. For example, families following ‘healthy eating
plans’ and establishing ‘gyms’ within their household;

Increased exercise via other activities such as gym work and swimming; and

Loss of weight. For example, two female participants reported losing half a
stone in weight since taking part.
Social benefits: 
Volunteering by community members (not including rugby players). For
example, arranging food, transport, first aid and building maintenance for the
rugby teams;

The female rugby team’s increased sense of belonging and pride in the
‘Team Pink’ brand which it helped create and a sense of greater belonging
through their membership with the club; and

Rugby players from the same communities who attend different schools (i.e.
Porth County and Ysgol Gyfun Cymer) and who didn’t used to mix - now
socialise.
Economic benefits:
Increased income to local businesses such as the rugby clubs, gyms, and
businesses which sell kit;

The female rugby team has raised money via commission on their ‘Team
Pink’ shirts and other merchandise;

The female rugby team raised £135 for the Breast
Cancer Awareness charity; and
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8. 
Increased understanding amongst rugby players of how to run a club. For
example, how to structure a meeting and arrange activities.
Raised profile of rugby and sport:
Increased local and national awareness of sport through various media
outlets including social media sites (e.g. Facebook), Comic Relief
publications, television (BBC Wales’ Scrum V - pending), and newspapers
(Western Mail and Rhondda Leader – see articles in the appendix).
Challenges
2.3.
The project highlighted that potential volunteers were held back by the fear of
structural factors such as needing checks from the Disclosure and Barring
Service (Police check) and of being part of a governance system (which was vital
for accessing funding streams). This was often down to misunderstandings and,
with the aid of project staff and community members explaining or helping
administer the processes, this challenge was overcome.
2.4.
Another challenge has been the lack of good time keeping by the rugby team
members. This is a challenge which has remained and needs to be overcome
during future provision as such skills are important for participants to develop.
Sustainability
2.5.
Although systems have been set in place for the rugby teams and associated
activities to continue it’s still too early to tell whether the teams will continue in the
long run and this is something which the PWU will continue to monitor. The
Project Leader plans to stay engaged with the teams until the end of the summer
(2014 - before the new rugby season starts) by which point he is confident the
project will be able to sustain itself fully. Moreover, the signs are promising, with
as many as 40 girls actively engaging in training up to three times a week and
volunteers taking on more responsibilities, it is unlikely to lose momentum over
the next year or so.
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9. 3. Reflections and the way forward
Reflections
3.1.
The key outcomes achieved by the project indicate it has been a success. The
most notable indicator is the establishment of youth rugby teams for girls and
boys. Data collected by the project leader has highlighted reasons why it has
been success. In short, three factors were identified, all of which complement
each other (see also figure 2 p.11):-
1) Good communication systems 
A mix of ‘face to face’ interviews (i.e. qualitative data) and a survey (i.e.
quantitative data) to understand the needs of the community and to also help
make links within those communities;

Use of popular social media sites (especially amongst young people),
including young people from disadvantaged communities, making it easy to
communicate with the target audience; and

Demystifying structural elements of participation which can act as a barrier to
volunteering and participation such as the Disclosure and Barring Service.
2) Opportunities  Initial taster sessions for young people;
 Facilities. For example, having access to an indoor training room to cover
training during bad weather; and
 Making the best of the advantages of rugby as a sport. For example, the level
of training to be a rugby coach is less demanding than the level of training
required for other popular sports, such as dancing;
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10. 3) Responsiveness 
Staff and volunteers need to be responsive to the needs and behaviour of
community members. On the one hand, this would include initial acceptance
of behaviour not deemed as good, such as poor timekeeping. On the other
hand, it includes the encouragement of positive behaviour, such as letting
players take responsibility for delivering their own ideas (i.e. encourage selfempowerment).
Figure 2 below illustrates the three factors identified as contributing to the success of
the project.
Communication
Opportunities
Responsiveness
The way forward
3.2.
Initial investigations have shown that youth rugby teams have folded in the Porth
and Treherbert areas of RCT and there is anecdotal evidence of this happening
in many other areas within the South Wales Valleys. Given the success and
lessons learned from the project, a similar approach could be applied in these
areas, subject to identified need. The PWU is interested in having discussions
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11. with other organisations within all sectors in order to expand this model within the
South Wales Valleys.
3.3.
As previously highlighted, the long term sustainability of the project has yet to be
proven and the PWU aims to continue monitoring progress and any further
lessons to be learned.
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12. Bibliography
Hutton, M. and Bowen, R. (2013) Mapping provision and exploring motivations of
voluntary groups in Rhondda Cynon Taf. People and Work Unit: Cardiff.
Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Health, Social Care and Well-being (2008a) - Health Social
Care and Well-being Strategy 2008-2014. RCT.
Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Health, Social Care and Well-being (2008b) - Health Social
Care and Well-being Strategy 2008-2014. It’s all about you. RCT.
Welsh Assembly Government, (2008), Creating an Active Wales, Cardiff: Welsh
Assembly Government
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13. Appendix
From The Western Mail February 6th 2014:-
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14. From the Rhondda Leader, January 30th 2014:-
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