VACANCY FOR THE ARMY RUGBY UNION DIRECTOR OF SENIOR MENS RUGBY

Applications are invited for the post of Director of Rugby (DoR) for the Army Rugby Union’s (ARU) Senior Men’s team.

The successful applicant will be expected to start on 1^st June 2025 following interview, selection and endorsement by the ARU Management Board. It is desirable that the successful applicant completes at least three seasons.

Applicants should send their rugby CV by e-mail to Kimberley Fowke, ARU Director of Media and Communications at kfowke@britisharmysport.com

The closing date for applications is 1200hrs 30^th April 2025. Applicants that do not pass the CV sift will be contacted by NLT 9^th May 2025. Applicants that pass the CV sift will be contacted in person by Brigadier Andy Geary OBE, Chair of Representative Rugby and interviews arranged

Following interview the successful candidate will be notified once the ARU Director of Representative Rugby has made contact with all those that were unsuccessful.

 

QUALIFICATION, RANK AND EXPERIENCE CRITERIA

There are no specific qualifications or rank required for this post. It is desirable that applicants hold the rank of OF4/OF5 due to the important relationship with Commanding Officers, but this is not essential and OF3s and Warrant Officers are permitted to apply. It is preferable that the applicant has some experience in delivering Army Rugby at Unit, Corps or Army level. The successful applicant should be able to comfortably operate with sponsors, senior officers, wider Army rugby and the UK Premiership and Championship level rugby clubs. He/she must have the knowledge and enthusiasm for the game at the top end of Army rugby and a passion for the development of the game in the ARU at the strategic level. The individual must be serving in the British Army with at least three years’ service remaining from 1 June 2025.

 

COMMITMENT

This is a prestigious, high profile, voluntary post working with a very professional, capable and dedicated Management and Coaching team. The DoR will have oversight of up to 70 players and staff. The role requires planning, refining and executing Army Representative-level rugby. The appointment needs someone with capacity, emotional intelligence, good communication and organisational skills, and the ability to build and maintain a high-performance sports environment against a backdrop of increased financial and military commitment pressure. The commitment for this post is reasonably demanding.

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Role

• The DoR for Senior Men will have responsibility for management and direction of the ARU Senior Men’s Squad (Snr XV, Dev XV and oversight of the U23). The DoR will report to the ARU Director of Representative Rugby to whom he or she will be required to provide regular updates on the activities of the team.

 

• The DoR will be required to act in accordance with the direction given by the ARU Management Board and as detailed in the ARU Management Plan and Vision.

 

• The DoR will have delegated financial authority from the ARU Management Board and will ensure that the allocated budget is being managed correctly either directly or by providing overwatch of a budget manager (likely the Team Manager).

 

• The DoR is a member of the Representative Rugby Sub Committee and is an ARU Council member.

 

 Responsibilities

 

• Deliver the Army Senior Men’s player pathway from U23, Dev XV and Snr XV; plan and schedule fixtures.

 

• Maintain oversight and support of the DoR of the U23 squad in the delivery of the U23 representative rugby season.

 

• In conjunction with the Senior Squad Head coach set the culture, ethos and environment for the team to succeed and act as a focal point for all management issues pertaining to the ARU Senior Men’s teams.

 

• To provide support to the Senior Men’s coaching and management staff.

 

• To be responsible for managing the team’s annual budget Control Total.

 

• To liaise with the ARU Director of Representative Rugby to support the production of the ARU Structured Season (SS). Ensure that all fixtures are included on the SS and the proposed fixtures forwarded to the Chief Operations Officer by early June annually.

 

• To manage squad succession planning and in conjunction with the management staff appoint staffing positions within the team set up. The DoR will present names for appointment to the ARU Director of Representative Rugby for endorsement.

 

• To consult with and take advice from the ARU Rugby Development Officer and Coaching Coordinator.

 

• Integrate the Army Senior Men’s Rugby team in supporting Army Engagement and Communications. Assist in the promotion of the ARU to the rugby community and the wider chain of command, and be a representative of the ARU at matches, events and meetings when required and available.

 

Additional Tasks

 

• Establish an appropriate schedule of fixtures for Army Senior Men’s rugby in order to prepare them for success in the Inter-Services competition.

 

• Ensuring the success of the Inter-Services fixtures, as part of the wider Army vs Navy and Army vs RAF fixture weekends.

 

• Encourage Army management and players to support community rugby.

 

• Liaise with Premiership and Championship Clubs and advise units on the process of professional contracts, ensuring the Army Rugby commitment clauses and fixtures are included in the contract. Subsequently liaise with Clubs on the release of players for Army Rugby fixtures.