The Students’ Rugby Football Union Members voted to ratify recommendations from the Trustee Board.
Over 30 university members joined the online SRFU AGM on Tuesday 11th June, as the meeting marked the end of the 2023/24 season. SRFU President, Phil De Glanville, opened the meeting by reflected on the strength and depth of rugby in the sector, from the fantastic match completion rates, new intramural activity and leagues to the BUCS finals at StoneX ending with England Students taking on France Universities.
Mark Hyndman, SRFU Chair shared the progress the organisation continues to make, celebrating the strength of partnership with BUCS and the RFU and strides forward in EDI, and record numbers of nominations for the University Rugby Awards, so important for unearthing and celebrating student and staff rugby heroes.
Member clubs ratified several recommendations of the Trustee Board which included Katy Storie becoming the RFU Council member for the Students' RFU. Katy joins Mark Hyndman as the second SRFU council representative replacing Phil De Glanville.
Katy said: “It is such a privilege to be selected as the next RFU Council member representing the HE (Higher Education) game and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you a bit more about my motivation to take on this role and how I hope I can support the hard work taking place in your institutions within such a critical time within the sector.
"I strongly believe that my Council Member role for the near future is to demonstrate success within the sector and evidence resource & value to the game across all performance levels. Innovation and adaptability are crucial to university sport and this presents an opportunity to highlight that such an approach to sport should be considered as good practice to learn from across the game with collaboration as a clear priority.
"I am passionate about ensuring that the full range of student rugby activity, volunteering, leadership and passion is included within national planning and direction, maximising sector investment and safeguarding the future of the sport within HE.
"The increasingly diverse nature of our student population also provides amazing experience and learnings to share with the governance of the wider game, contributing to diversity of on and off-pitch delivery. The student voice supports the game’s need to horizon scan in order to be reactive and adaptable when developing the game of the future. "Since I first held my role as RFUW Student Director (in 2001) during a time when women’s rugby was very much a minority sport with extremely limited female representation within the infrastructure of the sport, I have been so pleased to see the introduction of women into RFU Council roles and it has been a long held hope of mine to be able to serve the game at its highest level, contributing to the future of the sport that has moulded my personal and professional values and brought so much positivity to my life.
I hope to do the student game proud, it deserves nothing less.”
Please do not hesitate to connect with us at the SRFU if you feel you can support our work moving forward info@studentsrfu.com
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