Getting to know the RFU

Since 1871, the Rugby Football Union [RFU] has been working to benefit the game of rugby and is the governing body for the game in England.

England is the largest rugby playing nation in the world based on the number of clubs (approximately 2,000).
Every club is a member of one of 37 Constituent Bodies (CBs), comprised of 28 counties – some individual, some combined – and 9 other CBs: 3 armed forces, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, England Schools, England Students, England Colleges and Referees, run and develop rugby locally. These CBs are led by volunteers.
There are about 500,000 regular* players in all formats of the game. The total playing pool is around 2 million (including occasional and one offs).
Over 50,000 male and female rugby matches** take place every year in clubs. A further 50,000 matches take place in education establishments (schools, colleges, universities). games played under the auspices of the RFU.
The RFU has approximately 550 permanent staff working from the headquarters in Twickenham and throughout the country to help administer every facet of the game.
The RFU’s Rugby Development operations are structured around six areas with a number of geographical CBs assigned to each area. Every Area has a Delivery Team which works with the CB and its member clubs.

Area structure can be found here and contact details for RFU staff within Gloucestershire here.