The Rugby World Cup is one month away and the IRFU has commenced a campaign to encourage clubs to use the tournament, and Ireland’s progress, as a platform for engaging more closely within their local communities.
A series of roadshows and seminars are under way across the country providing advice on how clubs can benefit from the six weeks of action across England and Wales.
The benefits for the clubs are outlined in a seven point plan:
- Ignite community engagement with Rugby and the Irish team around the Rugby World Cup
- Engage with the community
- Build the club’s profile and reputation
- Focus on the clubs potential ‘customers’
- Sell the facilities as a venue to watch matches together
- Provide events that can bring the community together
- Promote Rugby and the Values of the game.
There will be a Festival of Youth Rugby at the Aviva Stadium on October 11th and the Your Club, Your Country draw will also be promoted throughout the tournament.
“It’s about reaching out to the wider community, including those who may have played in the past, and promoting the idea that rugby is a sport for everyone,” said Anne Marie Hughes the IRFU’s Inclusion Officer.
Bespoke packs of sweepstake kits, tournament posters and other material will be sent out to each club in the next two weeks to heighten awareness of the tournament and the role the club can play in promoting Ireland and themselves.
This is being supported and branded by DHL as an official partner of the IRFU and worldwide partner of the tournament. This enables use of all the branding around the tournament which would otherwise be carefully monitored and in many cases prohibited to secure value for the high end supporters.
The campaign within the Irish club structure is being led by the IRFU and facilitated by English training company Pro Stream.
