About FDR


FDR is managed by a Board of Directors comprising one representative from each club. The Board meets every two months, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. The current Chairman is David Hammond of London Welsh supported by the Deputy Chairman, Stephen Barnett (Newbury RFC).  The Executive Director is Geoff Cooke OBE, the former England and British Lions Manager.

FDR has one representative (David Hammond) on the RFU Council, and is also represented on the Governance Committee (Geoff Cooke); the Competitions sub-committee (Terry Brown – Plymouth), and Club England (Geoff Cooke).

National League One clubs endeavour to:

  1. Provide good quality professional and semi-professional rugby for the communities served by  each participating club.
  2. Provide a development platform for players, coaches and match officials aspiring to reach a higher level in the game.
  3. Attract more people into the game of Rugby Union as players, coaches, officials, administrators or spectators through targeted marketing policies and procedures.    
  4. Make a significant contribution to the image, status and development of the game by utilising the experience and expertise of people involved at this level and through the quality of rugby played by our teams.
  5. Provide an aspirational environment for those clubs and individual players, coaches and match officials currently operating at a lower level in the league structure.
  6. Provide efficient administration and inspirational innovation at this level of  the game.
  7. Support the Premiership clubs in raising the general standard of play and thereby contribute to England’s efforts to maximise the potential of the National XV.