Irvine RFC
Irvine RFC are on the way back up after their three-year stay in what was then Premier 3 ended with back-to-back relegations in 2010 and 2011. After two mixed seasons in the newly reconstituted West 1, the club achieved promotion to National 3 and consolidated that position last season.
The club are looking to return to their previous level through more sustainable means than was previously the case, when there was a much heavier reliance on overseas or external players.
Central to this has been an effort to drive the club’s youth section on. Since 2012 the club have had their own development officer in place to drive up participation in the town’s secondary schools, Irvine Royal Academy and Greenwood Academy, as well as Kilwinning Academy and the associated primary schools. This is done in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Rugby Union, and supported by two Modern Apprentices.
The club’s funding commitment to the development officer post comes from a trust fund, known as Sons of Irvine, which is sustained by contributions from club patrons and sponsors.
Irvine’s work in this area has been recognised by the Bill McLaren Foundation, with the award of Positive Coaching Scotland accreditation in late 2013. This status has enabled the club to draw on funds from the Foundation to assist the development officer in his work.
With the head coach and development officer positions at the club both falling vacant this summer, the potential is there for both to be held by the same person, thereby enabling the club to adopt a more integrated approach to development.
Having developed youth teams at Micro and Mini level in partnership with Cumnock RFC in the past few years, the club are now in a position to field teams at these levels in their own right with 40 players on the books, and currently 20 players at S1/S2 level.
The club were unfortunately forced to withdraw both their U15 and U18 teams from competition last season due to lack of numbers – with players from the latter stepping up to the 2nd XV – but hope to resurrect the former in the coming season.
Irvine RFC welcome the generous support of Friends of Scottish Rugby, which will enable us to build on the work we have done in the town so far.
Derek Murdoch
Secretary, Irvine RFC
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Irvine RFC