Richard Moon has played a major part in the launch of a new representative body for professional rugby coaches.
Richard Moon, head of sports and employment law, has got together with rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan and others to form the Rugby Coaches Association (RCA) for professional coaches in both rugby union and rugby league.

Mr Moon, a former England, Barbarians, Harlequins and Cambridge University scrum half (whose brother Rupert played scrum half for Wales), said that RCA had been set up as an independent organisation to represent all member coaches in their dealings with governing bodies and other stakeholders in rugby union and rugby league.

Mr Moon once sat on the governing body of the RFU and was also involved in the establishment of the Rugby Union Players Association in 1996.

“The association will promote the two codes and the views of coaches on key issues within union and league and the wider sporting world, acting as the collective and representative voice of its members,” he said. “It will also safeguard the rights and privileges of its members in areas such as employment law (including reviewing employment contracts and dealing with termination and disciplinary issues) and financial services.
The RCA has been set up as a not-for-profit company which ensures that all profits will be re-invested back in the association. Other directors include Phil Davies (Cardiff Blues), Glenn Delaney (London Irish) and Professor Dave Collins (former performance director of UK Athletics). In addition, Neil Back (Edinburgh Rugby), Jim Mallinder (Northampton Saints), Conor O’Shea (Harlequins) and Tony Smith (Warrington Wolves) have agreed to be ‘ambassadors’ for the Association.

Commenting on the launch of the Association, Sir Ian McGeechan said: “It has been clear for some time that rugby coaches have become more exposed as we work under close scrutiny and with greater expectations. We have no united voice and have been left to look after our individual affairs, unlike the players for example, for whom the Rugby Players Association does an excellent job.
“The RCA has been set up to represent all our professional colleagues. It is unique in that it brings together coaches from both codes to co-operate in the interests of all. I’m confident that it will have an important role to play in looking after its members as professional rugby develops in this country,” he said.
Berrymans Solicitors’ sports law unit represents a number of sporting individuals and organisations, from local clubs such as Warwick Boat Club and Leamington Cricket Club to international rugby players, county cricketers, Olympic horsemen and disabled riders.

Kevin Mitchell and Nick Watts of Berrymans Solicitors’ commercial department – who are also part of the sports law unit – praised the work of Sean Farnell, client services partner with accountants Burgis & Bullock, for helping formulate the business plans and forecasts of the new body.

The RCA (further information available at [email protected]) is based at the Berrymans Solicitors offices in Edmund House, Rugby Road, Leamington Spa, CV32 6EL

CAPTION: Richard Moon and Sir Ian McGeechan being interviewed on SKY TV earlier this week.