Rugby Union: The league which is far from a level playing field

Nov 7 2007 by Geoff Lightfoot, Liverpool Daily Post

IS IT not time that the powers that be do something about National One which is fast becoming a charade where part-time sides are expected to compete with clubs that have highly paid professionals in their ranks?

Whilst the so-called big guns in the upper echelons of the competition battle it out amongst themselves the rest are becoming little more than cannon fodder. It is an unequal struggle, unsatisfactory for fans and players alike of all the clubs who turn up expecting some kind of contest.

National One has changed out of all recognition over the past few seasons. Viewed at first by Premier Rugby as a waste land where no self respecting club would seek to tread but by the rest a true gateway for the ambitious to become part of the elite end of the game.

Not so today. Harlequins last season and Northampton this have certainly changed that and although Quins went through their season only losing one game they did not always have it their own way in a number of other matches as well. As the cold weather approaches the Saints too will have their struggles.

There is no doubt that well-heeled relegated Premiership clubs also add to National One gate receipts as well as raising the profile of the competition.

Not that many seasons ago Orrell and Worcester were the only clubs with truly full-time squads although others did have a number of full-timers on their books. Worcester were promoted and have hung on in there although they could well be relegated back at the end of this season and, well, we all know what happened to Orrell.

Yet despite Northampton’s great start a side now coming down is no longer in for an easy ride and a ‘copper bottomed’ guarantee of an immediate return, as the competition at the top end of the league is now so intense that it is changing on a match by match basis.

That is good for the top clubs in the league and indeed the Premiership – but where does that leave the rest?

Even from the beginning of the season they are battling against relegation and it is no surprise that one of the 2006/07 season’s promoted sides from National Two, Waterloo have already gone back from whence they came and Moseley, who came up with them, hung on by the skin of their teeth.

This season it is no surprise that it is the two promoted clubs Cornish All Blacks (aka Launceston) and Esher plus five others who are all part-time bouncing around at the foot of the table desperate to avoid relegation from day one, whilst at the other end the full-timers are battling it out to finish second behind Northampton.