Rugby's Core Values: An RFU Document
Posted by Webmaster | Date created 2010-01-12 14:17:35
Article furnished via Keith Wilkinson
RUGBY'S CORE VALUES : An RFU Document 6th January 2010
Rugby is a growth sport in
Rugby's Core Values Task group.
In 2007 the England RFU put together a task group to run an extensive consultation exercise. The charge was to evaluate what the game stands for and what it should represent in the future. The group, chaired by RFU Past President Bob Rogers, was set up in response to a perception that standards of behavior were changing as more and more people become involved in
Examples included parents shouting and acting aggressively towards referees and opponents; the hostile behavior of some spectators at elite matches; and players adopting a less respectful attitude towards match officials. The group’s terms of reference were to determine the behaviors and define the core values that shape the ethos and culture of the game; to determine the factors and behaviors that undermine those core values; to determine strategies that will promote and monitor the defined core values and how they should be presented; and to review existing codes of conduct for all participants and see how they could be extended to the whole game.
The Core Values project – the first time a sport has set out to define its value system in formal terms – identified the following principles that lie at the heart of
The group commented in their interim report: “The game has, through its values, a uniting force. It helps to build characters. The social aspects of the game must not be understated and these have great benefits for local communities and society in general. The game is a way of life.”
The group also concluded: “There is little doubt that maintenance and promotion of the core values will increase the attractiveness of the sport to new participants. Positive strategies will need to be developed to promote these unique values.”
Teamwork
Teamwork is essential to our sport. We welcome all new team members and include all because working as a team enriches our lives. We play selflessly: working for the team, not for ourselves alone, both on and off the field. We take pride in our team, rely on one another and understand that each player has a part to play. We speak out if our team or sport is threatened by inappropriate words or actions.
Respect
Mutual respect forms the basis of our sport. We hold in high esteem our sport, its values and traditions and earn the respect of others in the way we behave. We respect our match officials and accept our decisions. We respect opposition players and supporters. We value our coaches and those who run our clubs and treat clubhouses with consideration.
Enjoyment
Enjoyment is the reason we play and support
Discipline
Strong discipline underpins our sport. We ensure that our sport is one of controlled physical endeavor and that we are honest and fair. We obey the laws of the game which ensure an inclusive and exciting global game. We support our disciplinary system, which protects our sport and upholds its values. We observe the sport's laws and regulations and report serious breaches.
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is the foundation upon which
