OUR CULTURE...AT THE NIAGARA RUGBY CLUB
The culture at The Niagara Rugby Club is one that promotes the sport of rugby positively and is welcoming of anyone interested in the sport. Members of our club see themselves as ambassadors of the sport and The Niagara Rugby Club. As a rugby club, we emphasize playing the best rugby possible while also fostering an enviroment that includes club activitites on & off the field. Feel free to learn more about The Niagara Rugby Club at our website or better yet, come out to the club and we'd be happy to welcome you!
THE NIAGARA RUGBY CLUB - MISSION, VISSION, & CODE OF CONDUCT
The Niagara Rugby Club has been established for over sixty years and has been quite successful throughout its history. One of the reasons for our long standing success is the fact that we have a unified mission and vision for our club. However, without our club members’ commitment on and off the field, our future success will not be possible.
Please review the following to see if you want to be part of Niagara Rugby’s future success.
The Mission
To be the home for premier rugby in the Niagara region
The Vision
As a club, we are working towards becoming the best all-round rugby club in Ontario offering opportunities for men, women, boys & girls to play or be involved in the sport of rugby while at the same time providing our guests the finest venue for rugby in the province
Members Code of Conduct
- Our members are to be in good standing with RugbyCanada, RugbyOntario, the NRU, and The Niagara Rugby Club
- Our members are to be committed on and off the field towards the betterment of our club, its teams, and the sport of rugby
- Our members are to be respectful to themselves, other club members, officials, and our guests
- Our club members’ conduct will be in a manner that reflects well of themselves and our club
- Our club members are to contribute towards their club as it is theirs and ours to take care of on behalf of those who did so before and those that will going forward
If you are in agreement with the spirit of the aforementioned; then we would be happy to have you be a part of The Niagara Rugby Club.
Thank you, Chris Hodgson, Niagara Wasps RFC - President
KEY PRINCIPALS FOR SUCCESS FROM THE ALL BLACKS...
1. Sweep the sheds
Before leaving the dressing room at the end of the game, some of the most famous names in world rugby – including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Mils Muliana – stop and tidy up after themselves. They literally and figuratively 'sweep the sheds'.
Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens describes it as an example of personal humility, a cardinal All Blacks value.
Though it might seem strange for a team of imperious dominance, humility is core to their culture. The All Blacks believe that it's impossible to achieve stratospheric success without having your feet planted firmly on the ground.
2. Follow the spearhead
In Maori, whanau means 'extended family'. It's symbolised by the spearhead.
Though a spearhead has three tips, to be effective all of its force must move in one direction. Hence the All Blacks mantra 'No Dickheads', a term shamelessly stolen from the Sydney Swans.
The All Blacks select on character as well as talent, which means some of New Zealand's most promising players never pull on the black jersey – considered dickheads, their inclusion would be detrimental to thewhanau.
3. Champions do extra
Former All Black Brad Thorn's mantra, 'Champions Do Extra', helped him become one of the single most successful players in rugby history.
The philosophy simply means finding incremental ways to do more – in the gym, on the field, or for the team. It is much like the philosophy of marginal gains used by Team Sky.
A focus on continual improvement, the creation of a continual learning environment, and a willingness to spill blood for the jersey was at the core of Graham Henry's All Black culture.
4. Keep a blue head
Following their arguably premature exit at the 2003 World Cup, the All Blacks worked with forensic psychiatrist Ceri Evans to understand how the brain works under pressure. They wanted to overcome their habit of choking.
'Red Head' is an unresourceful state in which you are off task, panicked and ineffective. 'Blue Head', on the other hand, is an optimal state in which you are on task and performing to your best ability.
The All Blacks use triggers to switch from Red to Blue. Richie McCaw stamps his feet, literally grounding himself, while Kieran Read stares at the farthest point of the stadium, searching for the bigger picture.
Using these triggers, the players aim to achieve clarity and accuracy, so they can perform under pressure.
5. Leave the jersey in a better place
The All Blacks have long had a saying: ‘leave the jersey in a better place’. Their task is to represent all those who have come before them – from George Nepia to Colin Meads, Michael Jones to Jonah Lomu, and all those who follow suit. An All Black is, by definition, a role model to schoolchildren across New Zealand.
Understanding this responsibility creates a compelling sense of higher purpose. It's a good lesson for us all: if we play a bigger game, we play a more effective game.
Better people make better All Blacks – but they also make better doctors and lawyers, bankers and businessmen, fathers, brothers, and friends.
