Please see the agenda below and make a date in your diary for this very important meeting.
WRU Junior Association Gogledd Cymru
AGM Agenda Denbigh 05.06.2013
1. Taking of the Names
2. Apologies
3. Establishment of Quorum
4. Reading of the minutes from previous AGM 23.05.2012
5. Matters arising
6. Chairman’s Report
7. Secretaries Report
8. Treasurers Report
9. Registration Secretaries report
10. Affiliation
11. WRU (Tim Hoare) report on changes regarding courses.
12. WRU Officer’s report
13. Election of Officials
A.O.B: At the discretion of the Chairman and dependant on time restrictions.
Set date & venue of next meeting.
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WRU, Junior Association, Gogledd Cymru
AGM Minutes 23/05/2012
Attendee’s:
Penny Wingfield (Nant Conwy), Barry Williams (Welshpool), Phil Lewis (COBRA), Gareth Edwards (Wrexham), Ian Kyffin (Llandudno), Vaughn Williams (Llandudno), George Hughes (Llandudno), Sean Kelly (Bangor), Rhys Davies (Bangor), Robin Elias (Pwllheli), David Jones (Denbigh), Nigel Davies (Abergele), Sian Griffiths (Mold), Graham Edwards (Glyn Ceiriog), Hugh Jordan (Glyn Ceiriog), Dave Furneaux (Rhyl), Will Morcombe (RGC), Brian Johnson (Mold), Dai Higgs (WRU), Mervyn Pickton (Referee’s), Tim Hoare (WRU), Marc Roberts (WRU), Julian Ferrari (Secretary), Keith Hulse (Chair), Morgan Parry (Caernarfon).
Apologies:
Bala, Bethesda, Bro Ffestiniog, Dolgellau, Flint, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Newtown, Ruthin, Jim Salisbury (WRU), Richard Morgan (Referee’s), Gary Williams (Welshpool), John Prebble (Caernarfon).
WRU Presentations
Marc Roberts: Marc talked to the room detailing plans for RGC regional age grade rugby.
Dai Higgs: Dai talked to the room detailing plans for U12s, U13s & U14s
Tim Hoare: Tim talked the room through a powerpoint presentation.
Questions:
George Hughes (Llandudno) – How do club teams cope with the number of players being called away for provincial duties and fulfilling club team fixtures? We need better communication links between clubs and D.O.’s regarding notice of forthcoming fixtures so that club matches can be planned when they are not affected by provincial duties. To view the larger picture, club rugby is diminishing due to the demands placed upon clubs by RGC and the provincial setup.
Marc Roberts replied: Fixtures are made public as soon as they are arranged. Players will be developed by provincial setup but will be playing club rugby up until Xmas. After Xmas plans are afoot to organise less fixtures to be used as selection matches. Again players will then be playing more club rugby. Regional fixtures are a problem because we are at the mercy of Cardiff to provide dates for regional and Dewar Shield Fixtures. All good players should be pointed towards the RGC system, unfortunately this may impact upon some clubs that have a number of provincial/regional players. It is more difficult to get kids into the game and we need support to encourage them.
Dai Higgs replied: There will be set weekends for Dewar Shield teams however external factors may impact these, i.e. weather. Welsh Schools AGM provide these dates, usually at end of July. My clubs have attempted to organise the fixtures that best suit the teams left after provincial players are taken.
Morgan Parry (Caernarfon): What is the standpoint in regards to competitive fixtures for the earlier age groups. Question driven by requirements of WRU audit.
Dai Higgs Replied: Need as many players playing as possible so emphasise should not be on winning but personal development, teamwork and participation.
Penny Wingfield (Nant Conwy): When will we know when the Development Days are being planned for.
Julian Ferrari Replied: Your development officer will get in contact with all of their clubs to announce the planned days before the beginning of the next season.
Reading of Previous Minutes AGM 01/06/2011
Keith Hulse provided copy of minutes provided by previous Secretary. Minutes are unfortunately incomplete.
Matters Arising
No Matters Arising.
Minutes proposed by Gareth Edwards and seconded Will Morcombe without amendment.
Chairman’s Report
My Chairman’s report for the season will be short and concentrate on the role of the Association all other relevant aspects of the season are covered separately THIS EVENING.
This season we have seen major changes to how the Association runs due to a new approach from the WRU in, which we saw the end of our North Wales Representative teams at ages 12-16.
As we do not have these teams the associated roles of the Association have now also been reduced or removed accordingly.
However, North Wales as a region at all levels continues progress and we should thank and congratulate all those responsible for our young players development.
There are now plans in place for the development an progression of our talented players, these have been discussed at length at previous meetings and later in this meeting the WRU through their relevant Officers will outline those plans and their perceived requirements from clubs and players to support those plans.
We do need to establish better communication links with RGC and the Dewar shield management to ensure everyone concerned knows what is going on, where and when and who it involves. And, if we can do that it should avoid the problems that we had during this season.
At the last National meeting of the District Associations in Cardiff we were reminded of the importance of the Junior Associations which provide a direct link for clubs back to the WRU and, at meetings it is an opportunity for clubs to receive and share up-to date information.
It is a requirement for Mini & Junior Sections at established clubs to be properly affiliated to the WRU through their District Junior Association and, that they should attend meetings. The WRU are now looking at making a number of attendances a requirement as part of the annual grant allocation process to encourage clubs to play a more active part within the Association.
For the next season as an Association need to ensure that we have sufficient numbers on the committee to take on roles overseeing such issues as discipline and registration compliance, we also need to look at the frequency and venues for meetings.
I would like to thank John Prebble for once again organising the Eryri cup this season, it was a pity that the East could not get something together as they have done in the past.
I would also like to thank our committee members, Julian for taking minutes and Dave for assisting with registration checks.
Secretaries Report
The Junior Association has met on five occasions this season (including this one).
Attendance has been sporadic and has been held at Rhyl and Denbigh RFC .
Treasurers Report
This season we received a one off payment from the WRU of £500, this is several thousand pounds less than previous seasons due to the abolition of the North Wales representative teams who took most of the finance in one form or another.
Our declared costs this season total £504.92:
• £229.40 for Chairman’s & Stationary expenditure.
• £125.52 for Registration Secretaries expenditure & Stationary.
• £150.00 for Venue hire & facilities.
Which would have meant a £4.92 deficit, fortunately we carried over a balance of £151.40 from last season which gives us a surplus balance to date of £146.48.
Registration Secretaries Report
We currently have:
• 4089……... Players registered
• 1332…….. .New registrations
• 439 …….....Deregistration
• 38………...Transfers granted
• 434.............u17’s (last seasons u16’s) Deregistered
REGISTRATIONS:
This season we have seen a significant rise in new registrations this was very similar to the rise we saw four seasons ago both seasons of course where World Cup seasons. The success of our National team seems to have a direct bearing on the numbers of young players wishing to take up or return to the sport.
To accommodate the new players we increased the maximum number of players clubs could register in each age group to 40, this is a temporary measure and will now be reviewed in the close season when data supplied regarding the numbers of fixtures played by clubs has been reviewed.
Those clubs found to have not played a reasonable number of fixtures when they have sufficient numbers registered may be invited to give an explanation and, an opportunity to remove inactive players which may be giving a false indication of their ability to play fixtures.
Please note that the National policy on the maximum number of players remains at 25 per age group, Gogledd Cymru has dispensation to increase that number to geographical locations of clubs.
TRANSFERS:
The WRU have now relaxed the transfer restrictions which in short means that: Where all parties are in agreement, subject to the transfer & registration criteria (National & Local) being met and, once ratified by the District Registrar then a transfer may be granted at any time.
Full details of the transfer process and updated transfer forms etc will be published during the close season.
AFFILIATION:
To my knowledge all North Wales Mini & Junior Sections have affiliated to the WRU, those clubs including the number of players registered are listed in the document
“North Wales Clubs Registered players”, a brief history of the numbers of players registered at clubs over the past seasons is attached to that document.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW TEAM LIST AND ID CARD VERIFICATION PROCESS:
We are looking to try and simplify the process for checking ID cards prior to games whilst at the same time ensuring the legality of players.
Julian Ferrari has kindly produced a document which we hope to roll out for the start of next season, Clubs will have the close season to comment on the document which will be sent out following this meeting.
SUMMARY:
Whilst our progress overall continues with registration and affiliation we still have a small number of clubs giving concern, I intend to contact those clubs over the close season to try and sort out any issues that I may have highlighted, all clubs will be informed prior to the start of the new season of any actions taken.
All relevant documents should be available on the North Wales Web Site.
Affiliation – Raising of Fees
Currently at £25 per annum but in an attempt to maintain some monies coming back into the Junior Association. Keith Hulse has requested that fee be raised to £30, proposed by Dave Furneaux and seconded Gareth Edwards.
WRU Officers Report
Nothing further to report
Election of Officials
The committee members were selected this evening. They are as follows:
Chairperson: Keith Hulse (proposed Will Morcombe, seconded Gareth Edwards)
Secretarty: Julian Ferrari (proposed Will Morcombe, seconded Gareth Edwards)
Treasurer: Dave Furneaux (proposed Will Morcombe, seconded Gareth Edwards)
Registration Secretary: Keith Hulse (proposed Julian Ferrari, seconded Gareth Edwards)
Fixture Secretary: Role now obsolete.
Committee Members: Gareth Edwards (Wrexham), Dave Furneaux (Rhyl), Mervin Picton (Referee’s Society), John Prebble (Caernarfon), Gary Williams (Welshpool) & Nigel Davies (Abergele).
Registration and Pathway Officers to be announced at next meeting; 13th June at Nant Conwy.
Discussion of Events
Representative Rugby
NFTR (see Dai Higgs above)
RGC
NFTR (see Marc Roberts above)
North Wales U10s & U11s
Question was asked if we should continue with U10s & U11s competition. Any club wishing to run the festival should provide written attention for nomination for next committee meeting on 13th June at Nant Conwy.
Pwllheli
Issues regarding the cost of travelling to fixtures, currently running at £9k per annum. Request was made that clubs should make the effort to travel to them in an attempt to cut down this cost.
Unfortunately Pwllheli have not been able to plan the forthcoming seasons fixtures. This could be used to commit teams to meet fixtures in the future.
Suggested that Pwllheli contact Chris Williams for assistance in solving the problem with internal infrastructure.
A.O.B.
Mervyn Pickton: Discipline issues regarding parental control. Clubs to ensure that all areas are correctly marked off with a physical barrier.
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