Probyn was spot on with defence of grassroots game

HAVING crossed verbal swords with Jeff Probyn last season, when I thought he was not giving community rugby its full credit, I must write to commend him on his article last Sunday.

The top clubs are entirely dependent on junior clubs to attract players into the game – albeit, often inspired as Jeff writes by international successes – and they would do well to remember this, when looking to squeeze even more blood from the RFU stone.

The Premiership clubs and other ambitious clubs at lower levels who are buying short term success by pouring huge amounts of money out of the game via players’ pockets are in danger of sucking the lifeblood out of our game.

Sustainability, based on repeatable profits should be the watchword and Exeter have demonstrated that this is possible even at the very highest level.

The RFU’s hands may, in the short term be tied in terms of the contractual commitments they have to provide financial support to the top clubs, but they need to take a harder line, as negotiations for future arrangements proceed.

They can start by using their access to club members all over the country to help spread the message across the game on the dangers associated with unsustainable player wages bills. John Allanson Bishop’s Stortford

■ AS a player Jeff Probyn was one of my heroes, but I have not always agreed with what he has written in The Rugby Paper. Sunday’s article is different. His comments about grass roots rugby is spot on, and his words about the scrum should be emblazoned on the walls at World Rugby headquarters. Tim Wray Tigers season ticket holder