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| URU President Mr. Kayangwe Godwin, URU Hon.Secretary Odong Peter and URU CEO Ramsey Fidel Olinga at the launch of the 2020-2024 URU Strategic Plan at the Uganda Olympics Committee offices. |
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| Members of the press at the launch of the 2020-2024 URU Strategic Plan. |
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| Part of the summarised strategic plan. |
The Strategic plan was launched to the members of the Press almost a fortnight ago and Rugby256 interacted with some members of the URU to get a better understanding of the overall plan and help break it down to the members of the public further.
In summary, the plan concedes that the fraternity has not yet really pushed the game forward. The plan will help drive Rugby into being the most popular sport in Uganda with an ‘unbeatable fan experience’. On where it will lead to it is summarized into 3 peaks (by 2023). Encourage mass participation and progression pathway. Strengthen the most iconic properties and events and finally empower the best people.
Goal 2023
The URU looks at making the sport as the most popular by 2023 with an unbeatable fan experience and to be the second most popular sport at all levels in Uganda. The planners are cognizant to the fact that Rallying and Basketball are itching for the same fans and that soccer is light years ahead but this is great start. The URU plan will require a complete paradigm shift where teams will have to go beyond the usual internal perspective but aim to delivering the ultimate spectacle for fans.
The plan to introduce the game to 100,000 new people by 2023 will be done in bits with next year’s target to get at least 25,000 new players largely focused on getting them at Primary schools. The URU borrows the World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby (GIR) model of Try, Play and Stay and has added the Perform part. At the Try stage 500 (each with 200players) primary schools will be targeted over the next 4 years and they will hopefully be absorbed into at least 125 (each with 80 players) Secondary Schools resulting into a total 10,000 players. At the Stay stage this will focus on tertiary and tier 2 clubs with each with a minimum of 40 players and hopefully 2000 retained at the Perform stage the plan looks at the representative sides and franchise rugby with a total of at least 600 performers.
Strengthen
The URU will push its top 5 properties to the top 10 sports properties and top 20 properties in all categories in the country. This is huge and very good for the game if it is achieved. The URU recognizes that 1st the products need more sensitization and 2nd there is a need to brand each property. 3rdly the plan will see the full engagement of all rugby fans and maintain databases. The URU will have to also engage the media in a better and professional manner and hopefully get a Broadcast and media partner. With these in place the partners and sponsors will see more value and continue supporting the further growth of the game.
The URU top 12 properties are:
MEN
· National XVs men
· Uganda Rugby Premier League
· The 7s
· National 7s team
· Uganda Cup
· Schools Super 8
· Futures League (Universities and Tertiary Institutions)
WOMEN
· National XVs team
· National 7s team
· XVs league
· Schools
· The Women’s 7s.
EMPOWER
The URU will have to ‘attract the most passionate people and provide them with the ideal environment to transform’ the game countrywide. This will involve adjusting bits of the administrative structures and recruit more staff to the Uganda Rugby Head Quarters (formerly the URU Secretariat). This will be alongside engaging the regional regions, and stakeholder associations in Uganda. Parts of the proposed structure are in place already while the rest will be phased out over the coming 3-5 years.
Rugby256 encourages all stakeholders to join hands with the URU to see the full implementation of the strategic plan. Clubs are a crucial part of this beautiful plan and may the best people not shy away. Time for talking and negative criticism is squarely in the past. We need to all come together and support our elected URU officials and the URU HQs staff.
*Rugby 256* salutes the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby. Hope you enjoyed the Uganda Cup and Rugby World Cup 2019 as we start the Uganda Rugby Premier League let’s not forget to spread “The World Rugby Core Values: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect ......“ We always appreciate you liking our official facebook page @rugby256, instagram @rugby256er, twitter @rugby256 and subscribe to our Youtube channel @Rugby256TV Check out our blog too at rellrugby256.blogspot.com.
