News

Firstly, I wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone involved with Old Pens for giving me such a fantastic welcome as Director of Rugby. The role is a new one, particularly by Welsh club standards, and a lot of people will be wondering exactly what it entails for the club. I thought it was a good time to give you an insight as to what our plans are for the club.  

As DoR, I have two main roles. Primarily, I am looking to increase the standard of rugby, participation numbers and future proof the transition from mini's to senior rugby. There are various ways I plan to do this, which include supporting the fantastic coaches we have here, offering courses and progression and guiding the formation of a new youth team. Rugby will remain the heart of the role for me, making sure that every section is thriving, that all coaches and volunteers feel supported and valued, increasing knowledge and participation and making sure that we can keep the amazing players and coaches being produced at Old Pens.

The second major role will be future proofing the club as a business. This will allow us to increase the standard of rugby and the community and club experience all around. What we have at Old Pens is enormous potential. Potential for amazing facilities, for innovative community interaction, to generate finances that improve the welfare of young people and so much more. One thing I have discovered already just by going to talk to our coaches is they aren't just good at coaching! They also have a range of skills outside rugby that could be utilised to drive the club forward as a whole. It's not just coaches either, I know we have ex-players, ex-coaches, sponsors, investors, parents and volunteers that could potentially be a driving force in the club's future. I am genuinely excited by how much we could all do together, to put Old Pens at the very heart of the community, with fantastic facilities all contributing to making a positive impact on the people and community of Penarth.

I realise that all the potential in the world won't matter unless we take action, so I am putting together a voluntary steering group, full of people who have a love for the club, to create a vision, take action and actualise this potential. I am looking for expressions of interest from people who feel they can really get on board and not only help create the vision, but contribute to its delivery.

My vision for the club is creating a future proof, modern, exciting sports facility that is financially sustainable and provides genuine opportunities for the growth and wellbeing of the community. It is an ambitious project that will require people who are collaborators, problem solvers and have a love for the club. I have composed a list below of skills that are desirable but this is not exhaustive. If you feel that you can contribute with other skills, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Investors / Business Leaders
Sports Events Executives 
Architects
Educators
Community Leaders/Workers
Legal and Planning Professionals
Planning
Building Professionals
Fundraising
Bid /Grant Writers
F&B and Hospitality Specialists
Marketing and Sales
Project Management
General Community Networkers who want to get involved 

I'm keen to hear your suggestions, ideas!

To get things moving, please email keri-johnrlovell@live.com stating your area of expertise and what you think you could bring to the steering group. I'll be holding conversations with those interested by 15th September 2020 and aim to generate the first meeting of the steering group at the beginning of October. 2020.

Thanks everyone, look forward to hearing from you and look forward to announcing some exciting developments in the not too distant future,

Keri Lovell
Director of Rugby
Old Penarthians RFC