Ladies and Gentlemen,

It has been another busy half season and, as we begin the run in to the end of the season, I wish you a Happy New Year and success in all your endeavours, promotion if possible and otherwise the avoidance of relegation.

I have set out below my diary for the second half of the season as your RFU Council member, together with fixtures that I have attended and clubs that have visited so you can see what I have been doing in the role and what is coming down the line.

Thank you to all those clubs and committee members that extended hospitality to me and welcomed me at their clubs this season and to all those that, I hope, will continue to do so in what’s left of the season. I shall continue to do my utmost to support and assist all Leicestershire clubs and to support the interests of the County as a whole; going forward I would very much like to be invited to club committee meetings, as an observer (and in confidence), so that I can get more of a feel for the particular problems and concerns of your individual clubs.

Last season I was asked to join the RFU Corporate Governance Code Working Group that was formed to examine the Government’s new mandatory governance code for National Sport Governing Bodies (NGB’s) and determine the RFU’s response. Although we aren’t done yet and are due continue as a facilitation group, I am very pleased to say that Council accepted the Group’s recommendations, as did the RFU Board and the game as a whole; when our final recommendations were approved at the Special General Meeting in November. One of the ideas to come out of that group was the formation of a Diversity & Inclusion Working Group with membership drawn from right across the game and beyond. After a rigorous selection and interview process I was delighted to be one of the two Council members appointed to the group, together with Maggi Alphonsi.

I have continued to take every opportunity to support County sides and to visit local clubs at weekends to watch games and chat to committee members and club members alike. Please look out for me and make yourselves known and, if you’d like me to come to a match, a meeting or some other function or you require my assistance in any way, please feel free to contact me and do let me know as early as possible. Full details of my diary are in the attached LRU REP report March 2018

Going forward, you should all be starting to prepare for GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) that come into force in May this year. Guidance has recently been issued by the RFU and can be found here: http://www.englandrugby.com/governance/club-support/gdpr/

This season I started holding my ‘Bar in the Car’ sessions at the home six nations games, beginning with the Wales match. A small but dedicated group of drinkers largely from Melton Mowbray RFC and Quorn RFC (including our Rugby Development Officer (RDO) Jenna Bonser) stopped by for the free bar in wet and windy conditions. For the second event, at the Ireland match the weather was even worse, freezing temperatures and a snowstorm! I was delighted though that the attendance was up, with Shepshed, Sileby, Oadby Wyggs, Oakham, Stoneygate and York RFCs and LSRUR stopping by and making it such an enjoyable part of the day (despite the cold, wind and snow).It was great to see you all and I am looking forward to three more Bar in the Car events at next 6N in 2019 (and some better weather)!

Finally, for now, may I thank all Leicestershire clubs for allowing me an unopposed third term in this role. Your support means an awful lot and I hope that I continue to do the role, the county and all of you proud.

Peter A Howard

RFU Council Member for Leicestershire

07912 057919

Please feel free to contact me for any advice or assistance on 07912 057919 / 01858 555101 or by email at LRURep@outlook.com

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