Wanted: someone to change the face of women's rugby

One week on from when the meeting with the RFU there is the first sign that something serious happened (we can only guess, though, as RFU and RFUW can teach Trapist monks a thing or two about keeping things quiet).

However a significant smoke signal has appeared on the horizon in the shape of a job advert that has quietly slipped onto the RFU website today:

RFUW Head of Development

Salary: from £40k pa + car and benefits I Based: Twickenham, Middlesex

There are exciting times in rugby in England, in hundreds of rugby clubs across the country women and girls are playing rugby.

This Head of Development role will be responsible for ensuring women’s and girls rugby becomes a fully integrated part of rugby in England. You will work closely with colleagues from the RFU, Sport England and the other delivery agencies to ensure that there are as many opportunities as possible open to women and girls to play rugby.

You will lead a highly motivated group of development staff who are already working closely with the RFU to deliver the rugby objectives of being a game for all.

You will play a vital role in the RFUW Senior Management team, setting strategy and ensuring delivery of programmes to deliver the aims, you will also play a vital role in the RFU Community Rugby Senior Management teams representing the needs of the women’s game but also using your skills to influence the success of the game as a whole.

Required

* You must be enthusiastic about rugby for all.
* Be prepared to take on a challenging role.
* Able to manage people and relationships.
* Act strategically and offer vision and commitment to delivery.
* Want to be part of a young vibrant and highly motivated team.

Leaving aside the content for a minute, £40k is serious money for the RFUW - salaried posts at the Union are rarely advertised at much above two thirds of that, and most of what they do is (as we know) managed by volunteers. Indeed considering the generally parlous state of RFUW finances it is not stretching things to guess that this is being funded by sources elsewhere - RFU, presumably (or maybe Sport England), determined to see progress in any merger/integration.

The post will also include managerial responsibility for the most salaried staff at RFUW, especially the WRDMs (Womens' Rugby Development Managers - Amanda Bate in our case) and the Competitions Officer (so you would have to deal with things like complaints about cancelling popular tournaments for no good reason), manage all the budgets, and spend many happy hours in meeting rooms with RFU officials. Very occasionally you might be allowed home to get some sleep...

Anyway if anyone out there fancies a real challenge checkout the full job description, then forward your detailed CV and a covering letter to Susan Allen, RFUW, Rugby House, Rugby Road, Twickenham, TW1 1DS (or by email to susanallen@rfu.com). And hurry. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st July 2008 and interviews will be held in Twickenham on 11th August 2008.