RFU must nurture grassroots before they wither away

JEFF Probyn is bang on regarding the scandal of RFU junior staff and grassroots rugby being squeezed following apparent incompetence in the management of the Twickenham development.

It seems that the game is being increasingly run for the benefit of the wealthy, with community clubs receiving little assistance in generating and retaining the players on which the health of the game depends.

Comments attributed to RFU sources that the 4G pitches roll-out is being put on hold because clubs have been letting the facility out to other sports has little, if any, credibility at all.

My club decided not to apply for such a pitch, because we felt restrictions on its use imposed by the RFU would not allow us to generate enough revenue to fund the eventual resurfacing needed.

Officialdom has also presided over a league structure which has caused many clubs to prioritise league status over the welfare of their junior and social rugby sections.

Over the last 20 years and more, community clubs have been able to call on a large number of baby-boomers, many fortunate enough to have been able to retire early and devote huge amounts of time and money to keeping the clubs they love afloat.

This generation of volunteers is ageing fast and succeeding generations are unlikely to have the same time and energy to devote to running expensive clubs, without significant financial help from the centre. The powers that be need to wake up quickly to the needs of the grassroots of the game, before they start to wither away. JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s Stortford