Suffering Merseyside clubs hit out at RFU

Mar 5 2008 by Geoff Lightfoot, Liverpool Daily Post

THEY are the most unlikely group of revolutionaries – but there is mounting anger and frustration among junior clubs below the National Leagues throughout the north of England.

They claim there is a worrying lack of concern and understanding by the RFU tournaments and competitions director Terry Burwell over the pitiful – and financially crippling – number of games played by clubs from North One down.

The group, spearheaded by former Liverpool St Helens president John Robertson and Millers Homes League chairman Fred Swarbick from Vale of Lune, believes that the RFU are dragging their feet over the issue.

Robertson said: “The structured season is 35 weeks long but from level five (North One) downwards the RFU provide just 22 league fixtures, yet National One has 28 with Two and Three enjoying 26. Why is there this difference?”

Robertson does have a point. Even including a cup game – and half the sides go out in the first round – that would give a maximum of 12 home games per season. Hardly a successful recipe for running a rugby club that relies to a large extent on bar takings and the sponsorship of matches to survive.

And, at a time when rumours are strong that the RFU is considering cutting funding, the lack of anything positive is nothing short of a disgrace.

In a letter from the RFU to the group Burwell states: “When we have sorted out the top end of the game we’ll then look at levels five and below but until then you will just have to be patient.”

Patronising if nothing else!

“The RFU Competitions Committee seems unable to act on behalf of the community game it is supposed to represent without hiding behind the excuse of what is taking place in the Premiership and the National Leagues, over which they virtually have no control, “ Robertson added.

In a survey carried out throughout the north by the Action Group, who contacted club secretaries directly, there was wholesale demand for more matches and, supported by Lancashire RFU, this was forwarded to the North Divisional Committee. Yet this committee’s representative to the RFU claimed that there was no wish for more matches.

This is not the first time this has happened, with regional and county representatives voting against the directives of their own constituent bodies they are supposed to be representing.

Even accounting for cup competitions, and only eight clubs were still involved after the first week in December, there remain 12 free Saturdays, which is far more than necessary to meet postponements.

“All this is surely a shocking waste of playing time as well as clubhouse usage,” Robertson pointed out.

“No matches on a regular basis and players drift to other pursuits, spectators lose interest and bar takings suffer and the RFU appear to be so intent on the top end of the game at the expense of the grass roots.”

If the RFU act now there could be an increase in the size of the leagues for next season. If they don’t act then the danger is that the grass roots will wither, which in the end will effect the top end of the game – but by then it may well be too late.