Sheffield Mutual Friendly Society Limited’s Post

Support for youth sport is so important

#3 On the way forward for WRU Ditch the Regions in Favour of Three Club Identities The regional model was a bold experiment, but it has failed—and clinging to it will only prolong Welsh rugby’s woes. It’s time to ditch the regions and embrace three well-known and historically rich club identities: Newport, Cardiff, and Llanelli. This approach acknowledges a hard truth: parochialism has no place in professional sport. Welsh rugby’s misplaced loyalty to outdated rivalries and fractured regional allegiances has stifled its potential. The regions were supposed to unify and elevate the professional game, but they have instead deepened divisions and alienated fans. Reestablishing three iconic clubs would not only restore pride and passion but also simplify the structure, making it easier to market and build support domestically and abroad. These clubs would act as the standard-bearers for Welsh rugby, creating clear pathways from grassroots to the professional game. While the decision to move away from regions might be controversial, it could not perform worse than the status quo—and would finally bring clarity to the professional landscape. I can hear the howls of indignation all the way here in NZ. To those people, strong leaders make changes when they are needed and since 2014, I have advocated change. Regions were right in 2003, they were the reasons for sustained success but that has not been the case since the incredible mismanagement of WRU financials by 2 former CEO’s. #NoGutsNoGlory

Road To LEGACY

Looking forward to having you join our panel discussion on 30th May Darragh!

Another tense match on Saturday against Scotland! But we made it. Ireland won a back-to-back Six Nations rugby championship. Not bad for a small country where rugby is the 4th most popular sport. Ireland seem to have developed an approach to rugby development that works so we can punch well above our weight. Some aspects of the approach are just as applicable in business, especially in small businesses. Focus: when you don’t have many resources (players and money) then you need to get the most out of what you have. The coaches in the Ireland team have certainly produces a great deal of performance from a small squad and built strength in depth. Getting the most out of what you have applies in business. I always encourage small businesses to focus on selling a small number of products or services to as many customers as possible. You can’t be all things to all people. Structure and process: in Ireland there is a structure for player development from grassroots through to elite players. The 4 professional teams in Ireland form part of that structure just as the very successful U20s route for player development. In a small business there isn’t enough time or people available to ‘make things up as you go along’. Having clarity on who is accountable for what and how things get done can save so much time and effort. Team effort and vision: Andy Farrell has shown the rugby world that creating team cohesion, working hard to embed a vision for the future and have a mindset of growth can really improve team performance. He’s shown it in his roles on Lions tours and that’s why he was the standout candidate for the next tour. We all know these team / vision / mindset things are just as important in business. But when time or money is tight, they can be missed or given less attention. Andy Farrell has reminded us how powerful they can be if you have the drive and commitment to performance improvement. If you are a sports follower, what other lessons have you translated into a business context? #ireland #smallbusinessowner #businessimprovement #smallbusiness

The buzz around the League of Ireland keeps going! After the thrilling title race where Damien Duff's Shelbourne clinched the league on the last day of the season, it looks like the state is ready to jump on the bandwagon. Three clubs are set to benefit from a transformative €43 million through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This funding will be vital for these clubs to carry out essential stadium upgrades to meet the rising demand of fans, and provide modern facilities for academy players. Here’s a look at the main beneficiaries: 🔹 Dalymount Park: With two stands being closed due to safety issues, finally the historic home of Irish football will get the upgrade it deserves! Bohemians’ iconic Dublin home will receive €24.7 million, the largest allocation in this funding. The plan includes constructing an 8,000 capacity UEFA Category 3 stadium with both seating and standing areas. 🔹 The Showgrounds: With €16.4 million allocated, Sligo Rovers can now proceed with their plans to transform the Showgrounds into a state-of-the-art multi-sport venue. These expanded facilities will not only benefit the local community but will provide a massive boost to sports in the North-West. 🔹 Wexford FC: Awarded €2 million for phase 1 of their plan to relocate their home ground into Wexford Town. There's a clear correlation between attendance and access to stadiums which often restricts rural clubs reaching their full potential. Wexford FC are moving in the right direction!

So, another season of the utterly pointless rugby URC, set up by Irish clubs and broadcasters for the benefit of Irish clubs and broadcasters. I'm currently watching an Italian side against a Welsh side with two Irish commentators. The Welsh side is sponsored by a local recycling centre. If Welsh rugby is to get anywhere it needs to align itself with where the money is, which is England. Joining Welsh, English and Scottish rugby would build a league inestimably more valuable than any current league the constituent clubs operate in, from sponsorship, attendance and finding a proper broadcast partner. Proper management should see this league valued at least at that of the third tier of English football, around a quarter of a billion, not the current £80 or so million. The business lesson ? Select the most valuable market to play in rather than just getting by in an inadequate market.

A brand new £3m funding initiative is set to improve the development of coaches and players from the British Isles ahead of The British & Irish Lions Women’s first ever tour in 2027. The ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ funding from Royal London, founding partner of the Lions Women’s team, is set to be deployed in customised plans for each union, tailored to meet their specific needs. The plan for Scottish Rugby is to appoint two ‘Performance Pipeline’ coached, along with expanding youth camps and training matches to boost the development of the players. Additionally, they will host residential camps for a national academy. The WRU - Welsh Rugby Union is going to bolster its women’s pathway coaching team with the addition of five new members, including a specialist skills coach and a performance pathway coach. They will also put resources into talent identification programmes and initiatives aimed at Welsh qualified talent based out of the nation. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has allocated the funding to host supplementary camps and training matches for women’s under-18 and under-20 teams, aimed at accelerating player development. Alongside establishing a ‘Coach Accelerator Scholarship Program’ and collaborating with universities to identify future talent. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) are going to use the grant to enhance England Rugby’s existing player development groups, which will help increase the targeted skill development for players progressing through the pathway. Ben Calveley, The British and Irish Lions CEO, said: “Supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key strategic priority for the British and Irish Lions as it is for each of our constituent unions.” “Royal London’s ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant represents a significant investment into the women’s game in the four unions and will make a positive impact on women’s rugby.” #investment #rugby #rugbyunion #lions #britishandirishlions #rfu #wru #irfu #scottishrugby #womensrugby

⚽ 💶 The solidarity contribution in football is calculated based on the agreed transfer fee. The agreed transfer fee for calculating the solidarity contribution does not include certain additional payments or clauses such as: ➡ Performance-related bonuses: payments based on the player's future performance (e.g., goals scored or appearances). ➡ Add-ons or conditional fees: extra fees that depend on future events (e.g., team success, player milestones). ➡ Training compensation: separate from the transfer fee, paid directly to the clubs for player development.

🏟️ A New Path for Irish Football Ireland has long been a force in global sports, from rugby to boxing, but when it comes to football, we’ve hit a crossroads. While we look back fondly on the highs of the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups, our men’s national team has slipped down the rankings. The women’s game, on the other hand, is thankfully on the rise, thanks to increased investment and the inspiration provided by our recent World Cup heroes. Now more than ever, it's time to focus on the League of Ireland (LOI) academies. The challenges of Brexit have made it impossible for young Irish players to join English clubs before 18, forcing us to rethink talent development at home. We should look to countries like Belgium and Denmark, which have transformed their football systems by investing in grassroots development. We need better facilities, full-time coaches, and stronger connections with European clubs. This isn't just about retaining our talent—it’s about creating a self-sustaining system that allows Irish football to thrive on the world stage once again. A unified, all-island approach to academies and competitions can boost opportunities and elevate standards. The old pathways are closing, but that gives us the chance to forge a new, brighter future for Irish football. #IrishFootball #LOIAcademies #GrassrootsDevelopment #WomenInSport Football Association of Ireland, Leagueofireland.ie https://lnkd.in/eYUhcVby