RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION – NORTH COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURE – LEVEL 7 AND BELOW IN THE NORTH WEST Following a consultation meeting requested by a number of North Lancashire clubs, it was requested that the RFUNCC consult with all clubs in the north west on a proposal relating to reducing travel time at level 7 and below within the North West. The view of the clubs in attendance is that long distance travel is having an effect on them to retain players, when for an away game some clubs are leaving early in on a Saturday morning, but some clubs suffer with availability of players due to working commitments. It was also felt that some clubs hen travelling long distances have a 1 st Team that is a ‘home team’ and an ‘away team’ and as such it was not creating the best competition within the league. The proposal that was put to the North Competitions Committee was to change the structure at level 7 in the North West and create a single league supporting level 6. The view was that this would become a strong and competitive league and would provide a great platform for the promoted clubs to do well in North 1 West. The new level 7 league would be composed of the top 7 clubs (after promotion and relegation) from North Lancashire & Cumbria 1, and South Lancashire & Cheshire 1. The format below this new level 7 league will consist of 3 leagues feeding into the new Level 7 league, these will be split by geography and will consist of Cumbria, North Lancashire and South Lancashire & Cheshire. Initially we would like to consult with clubs at level 6, level 7 and level 8 to get the views of the clubs on such a proposal, to gain the views and moods of such a change, and as such we are not proposing yet to put this paper to any form of a ‘vote’ we would like your club’s views on if you would support this proposal in its current form, or not, and any additional comments you may have. We will then collate the responses and take on board any comments before then putting the proposal to an official vote, which would take place in November. It is hoped that with the support of clubs this new structure could be implemented as soon as 2013/2014 season. I have included below a structure of how things would have looked in the new level 7 league if this proposal would have been implemented from the start of the 2012 – 2013 season. If you look at the composition of the below league and then look at this season’s North 1 West, the travel commitments are not a million miles away, as all clubs in this new league would be looking to move up the structures, which would bring with it a comparable amount of travel. Wigton Broughton Park Aspatria Eccles Aldwinians Blackburn Upper Eden Heaton Moore New Brighton Bowdon Tyldesley Wigan Hoylake St Benedicts If each club can complete the below form and return to Dave Clarke before the 15 th November, signed by either the Chairman, Secretary, or President. If you have any questions, or would like any clarification on this enclosed information, then please feel free to give me a call, or drop me an e-mail. Yours in rugby Stephen McCafferty RFU North Competitions Committee Telephone – 07810861185 E-mail – [email protected] Please complete and return to: David Clarke Assistant Secretary RFUNCC 224 Billinge Road Pemberton Wigan WN5 9HX E-mail – [email protected] Club________________________________________________________ Would you support in principle the creation of a new single league at level 7 YES / NO* *delete as appropriate Any additional comments Completed By._________________________________________________________ Position in club__________________________________________________________ .