Time to rethink the B&I Cup fiasco and offer real incentive

WITH the Championship stumbling from one crisis to another, due to lack of sufficient central funding, there is another aspect of the game which is helping to drag the league further into the mire.

What is it? The much maligned B&I Cup. Apart from a small handful of clubs, there has virtually been no support for this competition since its inception in 2010.

There is to all intents and purposes no financial return, as most of the small amount of money gained by reaching the quarter finals and further, is swallowed up in travelling expenses. In fact, many clubs show a loss! The gates are by and large abysmal – less than a thousand for this year’s final when Jersey were away to Munster A!

To add insult to injury, there was no television coverage – not even for the final!

With this lack of support and interest by the RFU above all in setting up a worthwhile cup for Championship clubs, together with the loss of extra revenue from play-off matches in the new league structure, it is no wonder that many clubs cannot see much of a future.

The introduction of a decent cup competition would be a good start. Scottish teams were originally a part of this competition, but it was not long before they realised the futility of it and pulled out.

The RFU must introduce something worthwhile in which all clubs are keen to participate. ROD LYON Nancegollan, Cornwall