Welcome to the blogspot of our Rugby Development Officer John Mann.

Blog 1 - 20th August 2016

For someone who loves to travel, I hate flying with an immense passion! So as you can imagine there was a great sense of relief when I stepped off the plane and back onto the bonnie soil of this place we call home, the Highlands!

I could not have picked a finer week to return to the home land of the mighty Ross-Sutherland RFC, 20+ degrees every day this week and not a cloud to be seen (enjoy it while you can!!!).

However, surprisingly or not, the reason for my return is not the weather but the fact that I have just signed the dotted line to become the first Rugby Development Officer for Ross-Sutherland RFC. This is a huge opportunity for me as there is so much potential for rugby in this area and when we get all the cogs turning together, we will be a force too reckon with.

There is a real buzz around the club, when you walk in the club house doors for the first time, or when you take your first step out onto the freshly mowed pitch or especially when you have you first cuppa with the great team of coaches and volunteers within the ranks. You can’t help but get sucked up into the atmosphere and admiration of the place. It is a contagious environment and I am happy to say I have caught the Ross-Sutherland bug.

Now down to the brass tacks, the purpose of this blog is to let everyone what the life of the Ross-Sutherland Community and Rugby Development Officer (RDO) is like. What I am doing on a week to week bases, events the club will be hosting, what rugby is going to be happening in your area and the odd story just to keep things fun, whether they are my stories or stories of other past, present and future members of the club.

This week’s update will be short and sweet.

I have had numerous meets with our club committee members, Scottish Rugby Union, local high school teachers and active school co-ordinators. The purpose of these were, to say hello and introduce myself to the people I will be working with, fill in the gaps of what has been happening in the area while I have been overseas, setting goals and planning our strategies on how we are going to reach them and of course drinking a cup of coffee or 10.

Finally, I will be getting my first taste of Scottish rugby this weekend as the Stags first XV are travelling down to Blairgowrie to compete in the annual 10 aside festival.

Looking forward to the task in hand and getting you all posted.
CHUR (Kiwi slang for bye!)

John Mann
Ross-Sutherland Community and Rugby Development Officer