CHINNOR RFC Thame are proud to announce the launch of our new Careers Hub.
In a climate where players are facing unprecedented challenges on and off the pitch, the Club is introducing this new innovative department to enable a platform for success.
The vision of the Chinnor RFC Thame Careers Hub is to initially help players identify their chosen career path and then find employment with local businesses.
In order to achieve this, we have made two key appointments in Sam Angell as Head of Careers and Emma Canter as Player Liaison, both of whom are already well known to Club members as a player and Youth Secretary respectively.
The aim is to eventually widen our offering to the whole Club, including mentorship for our junior players as they transition into work.
Sam will be engaging with local businesses and current sponsors to ensure we build new relationships and continue to strengthen our existing partnerships. Emma’s role is player-centred, helping them with identifying their chosen career path and CV writing.
This is an exciting development for Chinnor RFC Thame and allows the Club to not only enhance players’ involvement on the pitch but offer professional development off it.
Head of Careers, Sam Angell said: "I have been working closely with both Richard Thorpe and Emma to develop the strategy behind the Careers Hub at Chinnor RFC Thame. This is an exceptional platform to assist any players finding employment, but also a chance for us as a Club to connect with the local community and existing sponsors that have been so supportive over the years. We are really excited to launch this programme and I am sure it will have a really positive impact on our players' development.”Chinnor RFC Thame Director of Rugby, Richard Thorpe said: “Rugby is changing. If we take the COVID-19 pandemic out of the current landscape, professional and semi-professional rugby players are still facing unprecedented challenges. Salary and funding cuts, increasing physicality on-field and at training, increased injury rates and demands on time, limit players ability to successfully prepare for life once rugby is no more. It is my view that the rugby clubs that offer the most support off-field will attract and retain the best talent over the coming years. Mindset is a term often used when referring to dealing with failure on the pitch, yet the term stretches far beyond the psychology of being a better rugby player. Mindset is just as important in determining how successful a player’s future off-field career could be too.”
Richard continued: “This is why I have established the Careers Hub at Chinnor RFC Thame. This department will be a cutting-edge service that supports players in establishing new or improved career paths. It will also offer tools and support for players with existing careers to ensure they are able to maximise their performance at work. At the outset, this new innovation will be available to every member of our senior squad and the mindset my coaching team and I will be instilling will enable our players to not only become better rugby players, but better employees and business owners as well."
Chinnor have, for some time, offered work potential to players through a number of kind sponsors, resulting in many careers being forged. We are, however, now endeavouring to take the process to a new level.
Chinnor RFC Thame Chairman, Simon Vickers said: “Top sportsmen have a determination and application that ensures their success on the field, and when they apply it off the field in a chosen career it is also a win for their employer which I have seen at Rectory Homes. It is great to see this initiative being driven forward.”
