Logan: “Rugby a huge power for good!”

An All-Party Assembly Group on Rugby was officially launched at Stormont on Monday (7th November).

The purpose of the All-Party Group on Rugby is to engage with the Northern Ireland Assembly at a strategic level and to examine issues impacting upon the development of rugby, stadia and specific issues affecting the professional game in Ulster.

The launch party was attended by Ruan Pienaar, Branch President Lawrence Caldwell and David Humphreys with Pienaar giving the slippery MLA’s some much needed tips on their ball handling skills. 

Pride of place however was the Commander in Chief who appears to have downsized our ambition and put it on the back burner as five years to World Domination is now 10 – 15 years to a leading force!

We have ambitious goals to becoming a leading force in World Rugby within 10-15 years and support from the Assembly will be crucial to reaching that goal.

There is a richness to rugby that can, if harnessed properly, make the game a huge power for good in our society and we are very interested in engaging with our elected representatives and government departments to ensure that rugby is at the heart of decision making in Northern Ireland.

The values of respect, discipline and hard-work that are an intrinsic part of the game provide a useful code in terms of educating our young people. Rugby has the ability to bring communities together, deter from anti-social behaviour and our clubs provide excellent bases for their local communities. Through the game we can promote the benefits of active living, encourage children and young people to take part in enjoyable and sociable physical activity and tackle health issues.

And there’s an economic angle as well – with rugby played in Belfast for 9 or 10 months of the year it accounts for a substantial number of bed nights in Belfast as our hotels accommodate travelling teams and their supporters who are all spending in the city.

The APG is chaired by Alastair Ross (DUP), MLA for East Antrim who stated:

The Assembly shares many of the aims of Ulster Rugby, and certainly recognises the positive contribution that rugby can play in the community, whether that be in terms of promoting a healthier way of life, teaching discipline or as a means of enjoying the social side of the game in clubs across the Province.

We also recognise the specific challenges that lie ahead if the sport is to grow and attract greater participation amongst sections of the community who have not traditionally identified with rugby football.

I would hope that through the APG we can play our part in helping to grow rugby in Northern Ireland and ensure that Ulster continue to be recognised as one of the leading professional teams in Europe.

I suppose how you take this association of Ulster Rugby with the Assembly is really down to what level of respect you have for the local government.

Given that MLA”s are held in low esteem within the greater community I really don’t see this as a positive step for Ulster Rugby, though if it helps to get through planning approval for the Fortress of World Domination Leading Force then all well and good.

Well, if you’ve been interested enough to read this far here’s what All Party Groups are about:-

1.1 The purpose of All-Party Groups is to provide a forum for MLAs from different parties to meet in order to consider and discuss shared interests in particular subjects. Membership of All- Party Groups is limited to MLAs but, at the discretion of each group, outside organisations and individuals are often welcome both to attend their meetings and to inform and support their work.

1.2 All-Party Groups are not, however, formal Assembly groups. They do not have any of the powers of an Assembly Committee (e.g. they cannot summon witnesses or Ministers to attend meetings or to provide documentation and they cannot use the Assembly logo), nor do they have any formal role in policy development. The views of an All-Party Group are not recognised by the Assembly in the way that business conducted through Committees or through plenary is recognised by the Assembly. Any views expressed by All-Party Groups are therefore simply the collective views of the members of the group. All-Party Groups should not attempt to replicate the functional areas covered by the statutory committees.

1.3 All-Party Groups can be established where members believe that to do so is in the public interest. All-Party Groups may not be established to further particular commercial interests. This does not mean, however, that All-Party Groups cannot be formed in relation to particular trades, industries or sectors. Ultimately, the approval of the formation of an All-Party Group is a matter for the Committee on Standards and Privileges who will pay particular attention to information provided about a group’s purpose. If the Committee considers that a group is being formed not on grounds of public interest, but, say, to further particular commercial interests, it will not be approved.