A new full time post of Rugby Development Officer (RDO) has been created at the fast growing Tillicoultry-based rugby club, Hillfoots RFC. 

Now with over 20 qualified coaches to coordinate, and with ambitions to grow further in 2012, local man JP Ward has joined the club to take on the challenge. 

The last two years has seen Hillfoots grow it's number of players to over 400, and it has been recognised twice by Scottish Rugby as ‘Scotland’s fastest growing rugby club’ by winning the RBS Club of the Month for October and being the first Positive Coaching Scotland accredited club. 

Michael Power, Treasurer and Junior Section Convenor, said: “Hillfoots is delighted that JP has agreed to come on board and help us with our next phase of growth.”

“Starting in January, JP will help Hillfoots recruit more playing members from all age groups, regardless of their previous experience of playing rugby, as well as retain and develop its existing membership.  He will initially be developing a strategy to encourage more children from the Clackmannanshire area to come and play rugby at the club.” 

“We have experienced coaches dedicated to every age group from P1 (under-6) all the way to under-18, as well as for our adult teams,” says Mike Robins, Junior Section Coaching Coordinator. 

He added: “The Club’s motto is ‘where everybody plays’ and we want to extend an invitation to many more children and adults to come along to Hillfoots and have a go at the game of rugby.”

Hillfoots has had a number of years of experience of working with RDOs alongside Clackmannanshire Council and Scottish Rugby. 

Peter Norman, Club President, said: “Hillfoots has a very successful partnership with Clackmannanshire Council and Scottish Rugby which we look forward to continuing with. 

“This new dedicated Hillfoots post will give the Club even more capacity to grow and professionally manage our membership numbers.”

New club RDO JP Ward added: ”This is a great opportunity for me to bring my rugby experience to Hillfoots, both as a player and a coach.  I’m really looking forward to helping the Club grow even further.”

About JP Ward

JP is 22.  He grew up in Dollar and played his school rugby at Dollar Academy where he was 1st XV Captain.  He then attended Edinburgh Napier University where he gained a BSc in Sports & Exercise Science and a UKCC Level 1 Rugby Union sports coaching qualification. 

JP played rugby during his University years for Heriot’s RFC, making his way to the 1st XV as a Prop.  Consequently he has experience of Premier 1 Club rugby as well as British & Irish Cup rugby.  Whilst at Edinburgh Napier, JP completed a student placement working as assistant rugby coach at Trinity Academy, Edinburgh.

Since leaving University JP, has been coaching rugby part time for Clackmannanshire Council in local primary and secondary schools as well as for Heriot’s RFC Junior Section & Hillfoots Junior Section.

JP is continuing his rugby education by attending a UKCC Level 2 training course in January 2012 and a rugby refereeing course in February.