Category: Commercial News

Thank You to Simon Carkeet

We would like to express our deep gratitude to Simon Carkeet for his remarkable leadership and unwavering dedication as Chairman of Bournemouth Rugby. After serving as Chair for four seasons and Vice Chair for five, Simon has made the difficult decision to step down from his role. His contribution to the club has been extraordinary, particularly during some of the most challenging times in our recent history.

Throughout his tenure, Simon played a crucial role in guiding the club through tough times, including the unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership ensured the club not only survived these difficult periods but emerged stronger and more resilient. Simon worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure a stable future for Bournemouth Rugby, including his instrumental involvement in the acquisition of the club by Drew, Matt, and Richard. His vision and determination helped lay a solid foundation for the club’s continued growth and success.

Simon shared, “After four seasons as Chair and five as Vice Chair, I have decided to make the decision not to stand this year. It has been a great pleasure being involved at this level. I have made some fantastic friends and met some great people, as well as coaching at both Y&M and senior levels. I wish my successor all the best and will be around to support the club.”

Simon’s impact on Bournemouth Rugby has been immense. From guiding us through turbulent times to building a brighter future, he has left an indelible mark on our community. We are also pleased to announce that Phil Sinkinson, who has previously served as Bournemouth Rugby Chairman, was elected as Chairman at the recent AGM. We wish Phil every success as he steps back into this important role.

Thank you, Simon, for your incredible commitment, passion, and leadership. The club is stronger and more united because of your efforts, and we look forward to seeing you continue to support Bournemouth Rugby!

Castlepoint Equipment Donation

The U13 squad at Bournemouth Rugby received a generous donation of new rugby equipment from Castlepoint Shopping Centre through their latest community engagement strategy. The U13s squad reached out to Castlepoint to engage with their latest community initiative. Castlepoint is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year and as part of those celebrations supplied Bournemouth Rugby Club U13s equipment to support their ever growing Youth player squad.

John Willhoughby, one of the U13s coaches who sourced the community initiative with Castlepoint commented. “It was with great pleasure to receive the new kit from Castlepoint on Thursday 28th September 2023. A presentation of the new equipment was held at Bournemouth Rugby at Chapel Gate. The new equipment included tackle suits, speed training parachutes and rebound nets to help our players master their ever developing skills.” Jamie Shanks, Youth and Mini Chair also commented;

“It’s like Christmas has come early. We can’t thank Castlepoint enough for including us in this very generous community donation to enhance the rugby sporting experience at our club. The teams are really excited to have access to the new equipment and for us to form a partnership with Castlepont. As a community club we strive to engage with local businesses to assist with community sponsorship across our age grades. The benefits go so far in our club and this equipment does just that. We would all like to thank Castlepoint’s Centre Manager, David Pickett who also attended the presentation and handover adding “We are so pleased to have helped a wonderful local rugby team!”

If you are interested in playing or joining the Youth and Mini squad at Bournemouth Rugby Club on a Sunday from 9.30am please contact Gemma Buchanan at operations@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk or visit our website.

Exciting New Partnerships and Youth Development Grant for Bournemouth Wheelchair Rugby

Bournemouth Wheelchair Rugby is thrilled to announce the addition of EchoTown Studios and Masham Court Hotel to our esteemed list of supporting partners for the upcoming season. Their generous contributions will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the growth and success of our club.

Following in the footsteps of our dedicated main sponsor, Grinning Dog Records, EchoTown Studios steps up to the plate to continue the legacy of support. Owners Nick and Grace Capaldi have been steadfast advocates for the team over the past four years. Grace Capaldi expresses her pride in this enduring partnership, saying, “We are proud to still be a part of supporting our local wheelchair rugby team and look forward to watching the club progress in the coming year. Go Lions!”

We are equally elated to welcome Masham Court Hotel as a first-time partner. Jane Langridge, Business Development Manager, shares her excitement: “The Marsham Court is excited to support the Bournemouth Wheelchair Rugby Team this season. As one of the most accessible hotels in the UK, we are passionate about accessibility and inclusivity for all. We are looking forward to building a strong connection with the club and its members.”

In addition to these partnerships, we are delighted to announce that we have once again secured a grant from the BCP Youth Fund. This grant will significantly contribute to the ongoing development of our youth team, the Cubs, building on the successes of the previous year.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all our partner organisations for their unwavering support. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities to collaborate and grow together in the year ahead.

Bournemouth Wheelchair Rugby is a dynamic and flourishing sport in Dorset, and we proudly stand as the sole club in the region. We extend a warm welcome to all individuals with physical disabilities, regardless of wheelchair use status, to come and give our sport a try. Our senior team trains on Sundays between 10am and 1pm at Rossmore Leisure Centre, followed by our juniors until 3pm. Anyone aged 8 and above (with no upper age limit), regardless of gender, is welcome. New players can enjoy four free taster sessions. We also extend an invitation to volunteers interested in assisting with physiotherapy, coaching, and other support roles.

Note: Please be aware that we are currently exploring options to change the day and times of our training sessions. Don’t let this deter you – get in touch!

Pride of Lions club announcement

We are thrilled to announce that the official launch event for the Pride of Lions, a community of businesses supporting Bournemouth Rugby, was a tremendous success. The event took place at the esteemed 1812 venue in Bournemouth’s The Royal Exeter Hotel and was attended by numerous businesses from Dorset.

One of the highlights of the evening was the engaging player Q&A sessions, where the audience had the opportunity to gain insights into the journey of a rugby player through the club. From the minis section and youth teams to the senior level, attendees learned about the challenges and triumphs experienced by these athletes.

During the event, we also took a moment to honor two remarkable individuals, Doug Warren and Jo Warren, with a special Lifetime Achievement award. This recognition was a testament to their unwavering support and dedication to the club over several decades.

Matthew Barker, the Pride of Lions Chairman and Managing Director of Barker Laundry & Dry Cleaning, expressed his satisfaction with the overwhelming response to this inaugural celebratory event. He emphasised the importance of local businesses joining the Pride and becoming part of this rapidly expanding business network.

Barker stated, “We encourage businesses to become part of our Pride, where they can connect with others who share a passion for rugby. By doing so, they will contribute to the well-being of the rugby community and ensure the continued success of the club. Joining us provides fantastic opportunities to promote your business while supporting the local community and forging new friendships.”

Presenting President Doug and Jo Warren with their well-deserved Lifetime Achievement award was an absolute honor for everyone present. It was an occasion to celebrate his outstanding contributions to the club and acknowledge their immense impact.

Bournemouth Rugby encompasses a diverse range of players, including adults, children, parents, and supporters. Our club offers various rugby programs, including Mini, Youth, Men’s and Women’s rugby, as well as Wheelchair and Touch Rugby.

To explore how the Pride of Lions can benefit your business, please reach out to us at prideoflions@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk. We are eagerly looking forward to an exciting and competitive rugby season ahead.

Job Opportunity – Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Bournemouth Rugby is an established Community Rugby Club, offering Rugby to all ages from watching to taking part. Over the years since its foundation in 1893, Bournemouth Rugby has built up a reputation for being accessible to everyone. Currently the club has 24 teams from Little Lions starting at 2 years old, Youth, Girls, Adults, Ladies, Touch and Wheelchair Rugby

We are seeking a Business Development Manager to join our successful team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the generation of partnerships for the club, in line with budgets and club strategy.

The successful Business Development Manager will need the following qualifications, experience, and attributes:

  • Proven Business Development Manager, capable of achieving sales goals and targets
  • Highly personable character who builds long term relationships
  • Able to produce new sales opportunities through lead generation and lead conversion
  • Long term and big picture thinker, considerate of club wide objectives
  • Contacts within key organisations that can be utilised to create business development prospects will be advantageous

Role Summary

  • Pro-actively sourcing potential partners
  • Sustain and grow partnership revenue income
  • Developing and presenting creative and bespoke partnership proposals
  • Seek opportunities for existing partners to increase levels of engagement and partnership
  • Management, direction, and delivery of all incumbent partners’ contractual rights
  • Ensuring all partners are integrated and achieve their business objectives
  • Establishing a permanent market presence
  • Ongoing management sales leads to help achieve annual business objectives and revenue targets

️Key Tasks and Activities

  • Develop leads with prospective contacts across the industry network
  • Create activation proposals for partners that align with their strategy
  • Represent Bournemouth Rugby at Networking Events and attendance at 1st XV Team Home Match Days
  • Creatively use partnerships assets to build and demonstrate innovative marketing programs and materials which add genuine value to potential clients
  • Develop bespoke presentations, including market research and data to build powerful and persuasive proposals based on the marketing objectives and the business needs of potential clients
  • Keep abreast of all actions being undertaken by others in connection to partnership activities
  • Be a point of contact internally and externally for the management of all partner related activity
  • Ensure all internal teams are fully aware of all campaign activities of sponsors
  • Manage all contractual rights and work with sponsors to deliver their activation rights
  • Oversea the sponsorship team, (as or when people are in post), in line with Bournemouth Rugby policies, procedures and values

Role Commercial Terms

Location
Home Working, with travel required to meet all stakeholders

Hours
As required

Contractual Status
Freelance (Attractive Commission Terms)

Find out more and apply

To apply and find out more information email our Operations Manager Gemma Buchanan with a convering letter and CV at operations@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk

Bournemouth Rugby and Grinning Dog Records announce the renewal of their partnership

Bournemouth Wheelchair Rugby and Grinning Dog Records are delighted to announce the renewal of their partnership for the 21-22 season.

Grinning Dog Records, a family-run local record label based in beautiful Dorchester, has generously agreed to a 2nd year partnership with our Wheelchair Rugby team.

Wheelchair Rugby Chair and Honorary Secretary Becky Hill said “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Grinning Dog Records back as our headline partner for the 2nd year running. The support Grace and Nick [Grinning Dog Records] have provided us is fantastic and we are truly appreciative.

It is an exciting time for our Wheelchair Rugby team, we are growing immensely with the launch of our new youth squad which is going from strength to strength. Adding to this, our governing body GBWR has announced Wheelchair rugby is back and we are now permitted to resume training without any restrictions. Which is amazing news for all our players, particularly during the challenges we have all had to face, and will allow us to grow further”

Grinning Dog Records Director Grace Capaldi and Wheelchair Rugby player added “As a family-run record company we are passionate about supporting the club and excited to be growing with them. Like the club, we have sensational times ahead with the opening of our own purpose-built boutique recording studio, set to open this summer, more live events and so many more artists becoming involved.

We have welcomed new artists to the label including Ruffdog Elliott, who has recently released a new album, ‘Letters In The Rain’ in aid of Roy Castle Lung Foundation, and our very own Nick [Grinning Dogs Director and Artist] will be playing live at various local events.

To say it is an exciting time is an understatement, and we are so pleased to be supporting the club again.”

Unrestricted training has resumed at Rossmore Leisure Centre, Herbert Avenue, Poole on Sundays between 10am and 3pm (10am-1pm for adults and 1pm-3pm for juniors) and welcomes new members.

If you want to find out more about the Lions or are interested in joining check out their Facebook page or email: wheelchair.rugby@bournemouth-rugby.co.uk

Bournemouth Rugby welcomes Stowe Family Law as a new Partner

We are delighted to welcome Stowe Family Law as a new parter to the club.

Stowe Family Law opened its Bournemouth office in September 2020 taking the firm’s national presence to 26 offices and reinforcing its position as the country’s largest specialist family law practice.

The new family law office in Bournemouth will be headed up by Managing Partner, Paul Linsdell and supported by Senior Family Lawyer, Cath Porter, both of whom will bring a wealth of family law knowledge to the town.

The team specialises in all aspects of family law including divorce, separation, cohabitation issues, nuptial agreements, arrangements for children and financial settlements.

Thank you Stowe Family Law for supporting your local Community Rugby Club. We look forward to welcoming the team to matches when we can.

Bournemouth Rugby and Hoburne announce the renewal of their partnership

Bournemouth Rugby and Hoburne are delighted to announce the renewal of their long-standing partnership, as 1st and 2nd XV shirt sponsorship for the 2020-21 season.

Operations Director, Wendy King said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hoburne as a shirt sponsor for the coming season, Hoburne has backed our club for many seasons and in this difficult period we all find ourselves in, their support is even more vital to us as a community rugby club.

“We have a new kit design with our newly appointment kit supplier PlayerLayer, and although challenges lay ahead, we are very much looking forward to bouncing back and working with key partners such as Hoburne.”

Commenting on the partnership, Simon Phillips, Director of Operations at Hoburne, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bournemouth Rugby, over the years we have built a long-standing relationship with the club, its stakeholders and players.

“We know this has been an incredibly tough year financially for all sporting groups, the club has suffered as a result of COVID-19, and with Hoburne being a family-run business that is committed to supporting local community initiatives, we are delighted to be involved with a sport that brings families and the community together.”

Bournemouth Rugby and Hoburne are delighted to announce the renewal of their long-standing partnership, as 1st and 2nd XV shirt sponsorship for the 2020-21 season.

Operations Director, Wendy King said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hoburne as a shirt sponsor for the coming season, Hoburne has backed our club for many seasons and in this difficult period we all find ourselves in, their support is even more vital to us as a community rugby club.

“We have a new kit design with our newly appointment kit supplier PlayerLayer, and although challenges lay ahead, we are very much looking forward to bouncing back and working with key partners such as Hoburne.”

Commenting on the partnership, Simon Phillips, Director of Operations at Hoburne, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bournemouth Rugby, over the years we have built a long-standing relationship with the club, its stakeholders and players.

“We know this has been an incredibly tough year financially for all sporting groups, the club has suffered as a result of COVID-19, and with Hoburne being a family-run business that is committed to supporting local community initiatives, we are delighted to be involved with a sport that brings families and the community together.”

British Sports Brand PlayerLayer Becomes Official Kit Partner to Bournemouth Rugby

After 3 seasons with Viper 10, our partnership comes to an official end at the end of this season. We would like to thank the Viper 10 team for their support over the past few years. As due diligence to the club, an internal team have for the past 3 months conducted a thorough review with the objective to ensure our Playing Sections, Community Team and Supporters’ needs are taken into consideration.

Current Viper 10 stock will go on sale via the online store as soon as we are able to access stock. There will of course, be a transition period.

PRESS RELEASE

“Bournemouth Rugby will enter a 4 year kit partnership with PlayerLayer. After many months and an intensive process to select the correct brand to provide our Senior, Youth and Mini, Girls, Wheelchair and Touch Rugby sections, PlayerLayer were the standout choice. We are delighted to be working with a British sports brand that will provide us with the highest quality playing kit. We are also proud to be launching a number of eco friendly products and support the PlayerLayer ethos on protecting the environment. The webshop will launch soon through PlayerLayer’s ecommerce system.”

Wendy King – Operations Director

“PlayerLayer are proud to be entering a partnership with Bournemouth Rugby. As a British brand, technical rugby kit is a core skill set of ours. We hope we can contribute to the success of the club whilst maintaining the core values which define Bournmouth Rugby.”

Roderick Bradley – Marketing Director