Adult Future Competition Review Most Will Recall That There Have Been A
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Adult Future Competition Review Most will recall that there have been a couple of attempts by RFU in recent years to restructure the league pyramid primarily in response to the perceived threats/pressures of: 1. Player welfare – 30 games a season is argued to be too many, so the RFU favour leagues with maximum of 14 and maybe only 12 teams (26 or 22 matches per season) 2. Travel – particularly in the extremities (Cornwall, Cumbria, Kent, Northumberland) – which is said to put too great a burden on players and supporters and has been blamed for clubs dropping out of the league structure (Lancashire breakaway leagues) or making clubs unviable (St Ives). The RFU solution to this is greater regionalisation. Previous attempts to restructure the leagues have been blocked by clubs where the commercial requirements to maximise match day incomes (and related sponsorship etc flows) have led clubs to resist any cut in the number of league games. Wharfedale has consistently argued that we want to play against the best teams we can find and are prepared to travel anywhere, anytime, to play at the highest standard. We have consistently supported the status quo of national league rugby. As a financially sustainable club with good matchday incomes, solid sponsorship/member support and a controlled approach to player wages, we make money on match days so depend on the 15 home games to fund our wider activities. This is in contrast to those less sustainable clubs where player wages exceed incomes, so each match loses money. Despite widespread club opposition, RFU appear determined to force through change to smaller, more regional leagues with fewer games and less travel. Current Proposals The RFU’s working party have now issued new proposals for consideration which are intended to come into force for season 2021/22. These do not include the status quo. At National 1 (Level 3), there is only one option – a single National 1 league reduced from 16 to 14 teams – 26 matches instead of 30. At National 2 (Level 4), there are broadly 2 options – both predicated on leagues of only 14 teams but with increased regionalisation. In place of two leagues of 16 (32 teams split North and South) we are offered: Option 1 Three leagues of 14 – North, Central and South – a total of 42 teams at Level 4; or Option 2 Four leagues of 14 – one for each of the four divisions – a total of 56 teams at Level 4 In RFU speak, Option 1 (3 x National 2 leagues) is shown as Options 1-3 because there are then different changes at Level 7 and below which do not concern us; Option 2 (4 x National 2 leagues) becomes Option 4. Wharfedale’s View It is the considered view of those of us who have looked at the proposals that we would prefer to retain the status quo – 15 home matches and a high quality, geographically diverse N2N league with 32 clubs at Level 4. We believe that the proposals now put forward are damaging to our interests because: 1. There is no indication that our players want to play less rugby and at a lower standard. 2. Reduction in home league matches will reduce our income, make our sponsorship and membership offers less attractive and will damage our ability to invest in community rugby. 3. Expansion of the number of teams at Level 4 will dilute the standard of competition and make our rugby experience less attractive – losing eg Stourbridge, Hinckley and maybe Chester and Sheffield Tigers to a Central/Midlands National 2 league and replacing them with clubs such as Billingham, Blackburn and Sandal would be a retrograde step. In particular, RFU Option 4 (4 leagues at National 2) would see in broad terms the eight northernmost clubs in National 2 North joined by SIX clubs from North Premier. This dilution would give us a much lower standard of competition and a less attractive playing and commercial proposition. 4. Flattening the pyramid will deprive us of the recruitment attraction of being in a higher league and will expose us to greater financial competition. Most clubs in N2N are opposed to the changes proposed for the same reasons as those set out above. What You Should Do RFU would like as many people as possible to respond to the survey at https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/adult-male-future-competitions-survey Please therefore think about the points made above and respond to the survey. You will be asked to rate RFU Options 1-3 (3 leagues of 14 teams at National 2) and Option 4 (4 leagues of 14 teams at National 2) on a scale of 0-10. It is the club’s view that neither is desirable but that option 1-3 is the least bad option; Option 4 will be damaging to the game at our level and should be rejected outright. We know of at least one club which has simply rated each proposal “0” (on a scale of 0-10). There are also questions on the admission of 2nd XVs into league rugby, which is the practice in certain parts of the country but resisted in Yorkshire. It has long been Wharfedale’s ambition to secure better quality fixtures and competition for our Foresters XV; their results would suggest that they would be able to compete comfortably at current Level 6-7 (North 1 East or Yorkshire 1) – playing against clubs such as Bradford Salem, Bridlington and Old Brodleians would give them the standard of opposition their performances have consistently merited. Again, we would invite members to support the entry of 2nd XVs into the league structure at levels up to at least Level 6 (rather than the current Level 8 ceiling). Robert Fort Chairman Wharfedale RUFC H: 01756 720680 M: 07769 920636 .