Top brass move to answer Twickenham bias claims

Andy Cosslett, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union, has moved to address perceptions that the governing body is too Twickenham-centric by taking its board meetings on the road.

Cosslett invited the directors to hold their recent board meeting at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club – famous for its links to a host of England internationals, including Dick and Will Greenwood, Steve Borthwick, Wade Dooley, Paul Grayson and Iain Balshaw.

It is understood that the board spent the day at the club, whose senior side play in the North Premier – the fifth level of the English system. The visit included a dinner with 40 representatives of local clubs and universities, and there was a “frank exchange” of ideas.

Plans are under way to hold another board meeting in the Midlands and, possibly, the West Country as the union bids to counter grassroots criticisms that it spends too much time at Twickenham and does not experience firsthand the challenges that clubs face.

“England rugby is for the whole country and it’s important that we aren’t Twickenham-centric,” said an RFU spokeswoman.

“So, we are committed to holding board meetings around the country, in rugby clubs in different parts of England, to ensure that we are in touch with everything that is happening in the game.”