Leading speakers for 2021 include
Maggie Alphonsi MBE
World Cup Winner & Broadcaster |
Robbie Owens
YouTube Vlogger Squidge Rugby |
Susie Appleby
Head Coach Exeter Chiefs Women |
Steve Grainger
Director, Rugby Development RFU |
Shaunagh Brown
Player England & Harlequins |
Ben Mercer
Author Fringes: Life on the Edge of Professional Rugby |
About
A weekend rugby union conference, plus a Friday night special. Meet people from across the rugby family in the Grow the Game Arena at Brighton 7s Festival
Unique entertainment, exhibitions and networking for rugby practitioners, experts, and stakeholders discussing important topics around the game and more
What does the future of rugby look like? As new formats emerge in the hope of reaching different audiences, players, clubs, and stakeholders must learn different ways to interpret the game and approach new markets
As the sport continues to grow globally, is there a danger that the amateur game is getting left behind? What happens to players when they stop playing? How is technology involved in all aspects of club rugby today? Where are the ‘positive disruptors’ in the sport? How are clubs recovering from the after-effects of coronavirus on their business?
Book your place today, enjoy your journey, or forge your path through the world of rugby – join us at Brighton 7s Festival in the Grow the Game Arena
Unique entertainment, exhibitions and networking for rugby practitioners, experts, and stakeholders discussing important topics around the game and more
What does the future of rugby look like? As new formats emerge in the hope of reaching different audiences, players, clubs, and stakeholders must learn different ways to interpret the game and approach new markets
As the sport continues to grow globally, is there a danger that the amateur game is getting left behind? What happens to players when they stop playing? How is technology involved in all aspects of club rugby today? Where are the ‘positive disruptors’ in the sport? How are clubs recovering from the after-effects of coronavirus on their business?
Book your place today, enjoy your journey, or forge your path through the world of rugby – join us at Brighton 7s Festival in the Grow the Game Arena
Experts speaking in 2021 include
Global Groundbreakers
Maggie Alphonsi MBE
World Cup Winner & Broadcaster |
Squidge Rugby
YouTube Vlogger |
Sara Cox
International Referee |
RFU Representatives
Steve Grainger
Director, Rugby Development RFU |
Clare Daniels
Match Official Development, World Rugby 7s Reviewer RFU/World Rugby |
Andrew Small
Match Official Development Officer RFU |
Louise Meadows
Head Coach England Counties U20s RFU |
Tom Hodgins
Performance Psychologist RFU/England 7s |
Alex Reid
PGMOT Strength & Conditioning Coach RFU/Perform Fitness |
Club Rugby Representatives
Gill Burns MBE
President Lancashire County RFU |
Gareth Alred
COO Bedford Blues |
Susie Appleby
Head Coach Exeter Chiefs Women |
Nick Fenton-Wells
Team Manager Bristol Bears Rugby |
Shaunagh Brown
Player England & Harlequins |
Speaker tbc
Toronto Arrows Rugby |
Lewis Sones
Academy Pathway Manager & Women’s Pathway Coach Saracens |
Vicky Alexander
1st Team Assist Coach; 2nd Team Lead Coach Richmond Rugby |
Gary English
Lead Performance Analyst Wasps Ladies |
Atlanta St John
Head of Harlequins Women Rugby Programme Harlequins |
Marc Turner
Senior Performance Analyst Harlequins |
Neil Harris
Assistant Coach & Head of Rugby Saracens Women |
Mark Michelmore
Head of Walking Rugby Esher RFC |
Kevin Moggridge
Former Womens Head Coach Oxford University Rugby |
TomRedfern
Talent Scout Dallas Jackals Rugby |
Sector Innovators
Mark Fletcher
CEO Pitchero |
Rebecca Hopkins
CEO Sports Technology Awards Group |
Karl Hogan
SVP, Partnership & Comms Catapult Sports |
Fiona Green
Director & Co-Founder Winners FDD Ltd |
Dugald MacDonald
CEO Sportable |
Zainab Alema
Vitality Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year 2020; Founder Studs in the Mud & Muslim Rugby Project |
Sammie Phillips
National Development Officer England Touch Association |
Dr Gary Lambert
Head Coach England Touch Senior Women England Touch Association |
Harry Horsley
Co-Founder & CEO RugbyX |
Co-Founder
Try Tag Rugby |
Ben Mercer
Former Pro Athlete & Amazon Best Selling Author Fringes: Life on the Edge of Professional Rugby |
Julian Pike
Partner Farrer & Co |
Guest Specialists
Dr Elisabeth Williams
Senior Lecturer Sports Science Swansea University |
Tom Kingsley
Associate Partner, Sports Industry Group EY |
Holly Jane Myers
Partnership Manager LAPS (Life after Professiona Sport) |
Russell Earnshaw Wizard
The Magic Academy |
Karen Dobres Elected Director
Lewes Football Club |
Brendan McGroarty
Director Elite Rugby Scholars – US College Rugby Consultants |
Dr Adam J White
Lecturer in Sport & Coaching Sciences Oxford Brookes University |
Luis Mendia
Medical Education Manager World Rugby |
Steve Bustin
Conference Stage Compere Get Your Voice Heard |
More speakers to be announced
Who should attend?
Are you...
An aspiring professional in rugby?
A former player that wants to find a new challenge? Involved in the game but limited by your day job? Wanting to meet a like-minded rugby community? Keen to find new ways to apply professional skills? Responsible for maintaining the wellbeing of players? |
In charge of improving your club, team, or society?
Unsure of the 'bigger picture' in the rugby landscape? Trying to find investment and funding sources? Looking to interpret the game with innovative ideas? Developing your leadership skills? Unsure of the laws and how they are applied? |
VIPs get extra
VIP ticket holders get more than the average arena pass including:
- Access to all three arenas (rugby, music, and conference)
- Entry to the VIP area
- More exclusive networking with the conference speakers
- Access to all three arenas (rugby, music, and conference)
- Entry to the VIP area
- More exclusive networking with the conference speakers
Conference attendees joining in 2021 include
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
Barnes RFC; Bedford Blues Ltd; Bristol Bears Rugby; Catapult Sports; Coventry Rugby; CSM; Dallas Jackals Rugby; Elite Rugby Scholars – US College Rugby Consultants; England Rugby; England Touch Association; Esher RFC; Exeter Chiefs Women; EY; Farrer & Co.; Get Your Voice Heard; Harlequins Rugby; In2Touch/O2Touch; International Rugby Players; LAPS (Life After Professional Sport); Lancashire County RFU; Oxford University Rugby; Pitchero; PRO14 Rugby; Quant-CX Ltd; Richmond Women; Rugby Football Union; RugbyX; Saracens; Sportable; STA Group; Swansea University; The Magic Academy; Try Tag Rugby; UR7s; Saracens Women; Wasps Ladies; Winners FDD Ltd; Worcester Warriors; World Rugby; and more!
TicketsThis arena is separately bookable!
Ticket availability subject to change in accordance with social-distancing guidelines. See FAQs for details
Hear experts, stakeholders, specialists, guests and those at the top of the game Understand the latest trends and issue facing Rugby Union today Network with women and men at all levels of the sport and learn best practice Create new opportunities for you, your club, and progress your career in rugby |