Rugby Engagement Officer

WRU - Welsh Rugby Union; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent sports organization is seeking a Rugby Engagement Officer to build relationships within schools and clubs in Cardiff. The role includes organizing coaching courses and increasing participation in rugby for all age groups. The position offers hybrid working and a competitive salary of £30,160 per annum.

Benefits

Salary Sacrifice Pension

Life assurance scheme

WRU Group Ticket Allocation

Employee assistance programme

Free stadium parking and gym

Eye Care Voucher Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of working within sport development sector is desirable.
• Ability to communicate and work through the medium of Welsh is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Act as the key point of contact for rugby clubs and educational settings.
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure growth in rugby.
• Implement events to support growth and retention in boys' and girls' rugby.

Skills

Planning and Organising

Relationship Building

Written and Verbal Communication

Professionalism and Integrity

Decision Making

Creativity and Innovation

Reporting and Analysing Data

Education

Verified qualification in sport coaching and/or coach education

Tools

Microsoft packages

Job description

To act as the key point of contact for rugby clubs, hubs, and educational settings in a designated geographical area. Developing strong, effective relationships with key stakeholders to ensure growth in both girls’ and women’s, boys’ and men’s rugby in line with the engagement strategy. Ensuring coaching and match official courses are organized and delivered to increase the number of qualified coaches and match officials across the community game.

A number of Rugby Engagement Officer positions are available across East, South, and West Wales.

Closing Date: 15 August 2025

Salary: £30,160 per annum

Location: Hybrid working with an expectation to work in an agreed WRU office/location at least three days per week.

Hours of work: 35 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the role, there will be a requirement to work flexibly including weekends and evenings on a regular basis.

Responsible to: Rugby Engagement Lead Officer

Contractual status: Permanent

Subject to a 6-month probationary period.

The Person

• Planning and Organising
• Experience of working within sport development sector is desirable
• Decision Making
• Professionalism and Integrity
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Building
• Verified and clear qualification in sport coaching and/or coach education is desirable
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Creativity and Innovation
• Reporting and Analysing Data
• Ability to communicate and work through the medium of Welsh is desirable

The Role

Key Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities:

Boys & Men - Growth and Retention in 12 to 18 age groups

• Implement the calendar of events to support growth in participation
• Implement the calendar of events to support retention of players aged 12-18yrs
• Enable and create regular, frequent, and meaningful opportunities to participate in rugby
• Work with Club Development colleagues to develop local insight and understanding of clubs and educational settings
• Work with Clubs/Educational settings, and using data to ensure the coaching is consistent and of high quality
• Work with Clubs/Educational settings, and using data to ensure match officiating is consistent and of high quality

Girls & Women – Growth and Retention in 6 to 18 age groups

• Implement the calendar of events to support the growth in participation
• Implement the calendar of events to support retention of players aged 6-18yrs
• Enable and create regular, frequent, and meaningful opportunities to participate in rugby
• Work with Club Development colleagues to develop local insight and understanding of clubs and educational settings
• Work with Clubs/Educational settings, and using data to ensure the coaching is consistent and of high quality
• Work with Clubs/Educational settings, and using data to ensure match officiating is consistent and of high quality

Coaching Development

• Work closely with colleagues to provide opportunities for development of qualified, competent, verified coaches up to Level 2
• Facilitate opportunities for the development of rugby support in educational settings

Match Official Development

• Work closely with Match Official Development Officers to provide opportunities for development of qualified, competent, verified match officials

Emerging Player Pathways

• Facilitate Boys EPP in area of responsibility in collaboration with the Regional Academy
• Facilitate Girls EPP in area of responsibility in collaboration with the Player Development Centre

Reporting

• Provide insight reporting, monitoring, and evaluating effectiveness in line with KPI’s and reporting requirements

Stakeholder Management

• Manage key relationships with the clubs, girl’s hubs, and educational settings

Key Relationships:

• Club secretaries within area
• Clubs mini, junior, youth, and hub key people
• Key educational partners and headteachers and Physical Education teachers
• Local Authority contacts
• Sport Wales regional partnership Managers / CEO
• Local elected members of the CGB and Council
• Local District Secretaries
• Local Match Official Societies

WRU Requirements

• The WRU require that individuals are proficient in IT skills, specifically Microsoft packages.
• Excellent written and verbal communications are essential, along with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Valid UK driving licence is desirable as a business needs vehicle is provided with this role
• This role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure and reviewed regularly in line with policy requirements
• An understanding of individual responsibility in complying with the health and safety policies and arrangements

The Perks

• Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee contribution, matched by WRU)
• Life assurance scheme
• WRU Group Ticket Allocation
• Employee assistance programme
• Team Tactics – hybrid working arrangements
• Free stadium parking and gym
• WRU Group store and tour discounts
• WRU Group partnership offers
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our Values

The WRU Group are committed to developing a culture whereby all employees are equally valued and respected. Our aims, together with our vision and mission, are underpinned by our core values and beliefs which embrace: Integrity, Excellence, Success, Courage, Family & Humour.

Inclusion At The WRU

The WRU Group are committed to building diverse, high-performing and engaged teams across Welsh Rugby. We are ambitious about providing a people first culture where everyone can belong, be heard and respected. We are happy to talk to you about our Crys I Bawb EDI Strategy (2024-2029) and you can also read more about our commitment in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Diversity monitoring

We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. To continue to do this we need your help in filling out a short monitoring form. None of the information you provide will be visible as part of your application. It will only be used anonymously to monitor the inclusivity of our selection processes. You can select 'prefer not to say’ if you would rather not answer any question.