The Bishops rugby programme requires more funding than is provided by the school and sponsor revenue in order to operate effectively. This before trying to finance any rugby bursaries or scholarships.
Recruitment is no longer under cover, instead something in which all schools actively engage. Together with funding, it requires not only intent from the school (who have multiple goals to fulfil), but also skilled and connected people to get it right. Adding an obvious layer of complexity to any recruitment at Bishops, are the higher school fees in relation to other Cape schools.
A model in use by many schools sees old boys and supporters donating into a Trust, which then invests the lump sum in order to finance the rugby programme using the interest. This is an avenue Bishops are pursuing by reviving the Bishops Rugby Development Fund.
In the past, one might have expected school fees to cover everything, including sport, but not now. What has changed?
For multiple reasons, the College has fewer masters available to coach rugby, and as such, the rugby programme actually cannot operate without third party coaches, which require third party funding.
This while many of the schools we play against have morphed into rugby clubs with a school problem – some with budgets in excess of R5m a year. Top rugby coaches and administrators are leaving jobs in the professional game to coach or be rugby directors at schools.
Rugby is unique in that it is an incredibly physical game that requires an excellent base level of strength and conditioning to ensure not only the enjoyment of this great team sport, but also secure the basic safety of the boys. This requires time, equipment, and skilled coaches.
Making that job even tougher is the fact that in recent years, we have seen a dramatic drop in the athletic ability of boys coming through Bishops Prep and WP Preparatory School, the College’s 2 primary feeder schools. A modern-day Bishops Grade 8 boy is a very different animal (perhaps species!) to his counterpart at Paarl Gym or Paul Roos!
Having 10X as a commercial partner at Bishops is making a big difference, but does not cover all costs. It is also not a guaranteed income post the current contract.
The Way Forward
The response has been to task the High Performance Rugby Committee (HPRC) with restoring Bishops to its former status as a top-tier rugby school. Over 3 years, they will be implementing various initiatives that, together, create the preconditions for future success.
Rugby Programme
The HPRC is tasked with installing and managing a curriculum-based rugby programme and culture, which we have called “This is Bishops”. Through the HPRC, it is implemented by skilled and respected coaching, conditioning and medical staff, using the latest equipment and digital support systems. More on Bishops rugby vision and programme in a future article.
Agreement governing our collaboration with the school
The school, including Headmaster Tony Reeler, fully supports the HPC, with the collaborative relationship between the parties outlined in a Mutual Cooperation Agreement (MCA), giving the HPRC a stable platform to build future momentum.
Momentum that will require funding, hence the primary “Outside the white lines” project for the HPRC, and School, being the rejuvenation of the Bishops Rugby Development Fund (BRDF).
Why the Bishops Rugby Development Fund (BRDF)?
As detailed above, even without any sort of recruitment, the rugby programme costs a lot more to run than the funds provided by the school (and current sponsorship). As an entity, Bishops Rugby needs to find a way to not only fund the difference, but also build some reserves so as to allow rugby at Bishops to grow and thrive. Given the ultra-competitive league in which the school plays, this will need to include funding the recruitment of more boys than the school’s current scholarship and bursary programmes fund. In effect, as part of the HPRC’s plan to future proof Bishops rugby, it requires access to funds that it believes can only be raised through a purpose driven fund.
Mutual Cooperation Agreement (MCA) governing the BRDF:
On the advice of the HPRC, Bishops has established a bank account to house funds that are ring-fenced solely for the ongoing development of rugby at the school.
Via the MCA, Bishops and the HPRC wish to regulate the establishment and management of the BRDF to ensure its long-term sustainability. As such, the BRDF will be the property of the school, but the management of the Fund will be jointly undertaken by a committee representative of the parties as set out in the agreement.
Like minded individuals Martin Versfeld, Chris Haw, Gus Allen, Johnny van der Fyfer, and Richard Neville got together with the HPRC, ODU and BRSC to form a voluntary association to assist in, and facilitate the raising of monies for the Fund in order to augment the annual budget allocated to rugby at Bishops.
As an account within the school’s banking infrastructure, this allows the BRDF to offer donors Section 18A tax certificates.
The MCA will also serve as a formal contract between the School and HPC regarding the latter’s running of the “This is Bishops” rugby programme, which is included as an addendum in the MoU.
Beneficiaries of the BRDF:
It is understood and agreed that the funds raised through the BRDF will be used to help the HPRC in their quest to grow the game of rugby at Bishops. Beneficiaries identified for funding by the BRDF, while not defined by, include the following:
- School and boarding fees (both full and supplementary) for boys identified by the Bishops Rugby recruitment team, who meet the school’s academic and cultural standards
- Tour, equipment and mentoring fees for above mentioned boys
- Third party coaches and rugby programme staffing
- Coach development and coaching infrastructure
- Equipment, both physical and digital
Bishops Rugby Development Fund (BRDF) – A story of success
A practical plan for investing in the future of Bishops rugby, the first iteration of the BRDF hoped to secure the sport’s financial future via an ambitious Three Pillar Plan aimed at raising enough capital for the BRDF to fund Bishops rugby using the interest generated.
Understanding the value of sport in the development of young people, with teamwork, leadership, motivation, discipline, and friendship all valuable lessons learnt, the BRDF saw these as core to the very fabric that make the Bishops man.
The Three Pillar Plan of the initial BRDF focussed on:
- Buildings
- Upgrading rugby facilities
- Upgrading equipment
And it was hugely successful. The Heatlie Pavilion Project saw player change rooms, an upstairs long bar, a function room, and 200 seats facing the Piley Rees added to the Pavilion. The BRDF also funded the Rick Skeels Pavilion built at Lugtensvale, now the headquarters of Prep rugby and other events. And rugby equipment at the school was also upgraded and extended.
For various reasons, the BRDF then petered out … And Bishops rugby was poorer for it.
The aim has always been to generate enough capital to run the programme from the interest generated each year. While successful in raising funds to fund the much-needed initiatives detailed above, that primary goal has never been reached. This revitalisation of the BRDF hopes to see us get across that particular finish line, thus future proofing rugby at Bishops forever.
Team sport gives young people experiences that teaches them key lessons about life, including manifesting a healthy mutual respect for both teammates and opponents. Each of us now has the opportunity to thank Bishops for the important role it played in our lives and that of our boys by helping in whatever way we can. The success of this project rests on our shoulders …
Thank you for considering Bishops Rugby as the recipients of your support. We hope this submission made clear that your financial support will find a very necessary, reliable and trustworthy home.
Bank details for Donation payment
- DIOCESAN COLLEGE COUNCIL
- STANDARD BANK – Branch code 025009
- Account Number: 071421270
- Reference: 2850 Surname, Initial (EG: 2850 Kolisi, S)
- Please send POP to choward@bishops.org.za and rob@fanib.co.za
Should you wish to find out more about the BRDF, or chat the HPRC to find out more about the rugby programme at Bishops, or how the committee operates, please drop Rob Fleck an email – rob@fanib.co.za …
Message from the HPRC:
”The HPRC intends to be outward-facing and communicative about our progress. We appreciate the need to provide a reason to believe in the rejuvenation process and that no information gaps exist in which false narratives can find a home. Bishops Rugby has excellent DNA stretching back over decades, and we see no reason these past successes cannot become future successes.
Rejuvenating a rugby program is analogous to the concept of ‘ant work’: micro-contributions over time that eventually result in a significant outcome. Implementing this plan will require patience, resolve, positivity and support. Everyone involved with Bishops Rugby will be asked to play a role and we, as the committee, request your positive support – both financially and otherwise. Whilst the general condition of Bishops Rugby is currently not meeting expectations, there is a detailed and well considered plan in place, and it is being implemented by excellent people.”
Our three-year Plan
A 3-year plan has been created that sets up a pathway to future rugby success.
Year 1 (2024): Stabilisation
- Recruitment focus
- Financial facilities in place
- Bishops Rugby culture re-established
Year 2 (2025): Momentum
- Game Model established
- Traction through portfolios
- Improved competitiveness
Year 3 (2026): High-performance
- Reputation restored
- Bishops widely known for success through running rugby
- Recruits seeking Bishops out of their own volition