Counties’ June tours set to be scrapped
OPPORTUNITIES for aspiring National League players to represent England Counties are to be dramatically scaled back because of cutbacks in RFU finances – a move that may eventually deal a fatal blow to the historic County Championship.
In a week that saw former England Counties prop forward Jamal FordRobinson called up for training by England, The
Rugby Paper can reveal that England Counties fixtures during the Six Nations are to be scrapped from 2018, along with traditional June tours to developing rugby nations in Europe, Africa, Asia and North and South America.
Next month’s tour of Spain will be the last, with any future trips likely to revolve around less appealing triangular tournaments involving France, Ireland and Scotland.
As well as Ford-Robinson, who has also represented Cornwall, England Counties have in the past been represented by David Strettle, Ben Foden and Shaun Perry, all whom went on to enjoy top-flight careers in the Premiership and with England.
Whilst the RFU insist finances are simply being reallocated, well placed sources close to the organisation suggest the £110,000 it costs to run England Counties pales by comparison to the vast sums lavished on the senior England set-up.
One insider said: “With match fees and bonuses the RFU spent £3.1m on England’s tour to Australia last summer and yet they want to save peanuts by denying semi-pro National League players the chance to wear an England shirt.
“It’s the only chance some of those guys will ever get to represent their country and they take huge pride in it. Those foreign tours are intense as well as fun and for some players it’s a proven pathway into topflight rugby later in their careers.
“If you put the England Counties into a triangular competition hosted in, say, France or Scotland, who will be willing to take annual leave for that? No one. People will say ‘stuff county rugby’ and that will affect the County Championship.”
Funding for the England Counties U18 and U16 teams is being withdrawn.