Feature Conference system is the way forward
Jon Newcombe talks to Yorkshire Carnegie DoR Chris Stirling about the negative effects of ringfencing
FOR ambitious Championship clubs the ringfencing debate is causing as much uncertainty as Brexit. While rooted to the bottom of English rugby’s second-tier, four points behind Hartpury, Yorkshire Carnegie still have grand designs on being among the game’s movers and shakers.
But the current protectionist talk from Premiership clubs is a major frustration, admits Carnegie DoR Chris Stirling.
“It just creates added doubt, from a whole raft of angles. If you look at it from a player angle, does a player want to sign out a contract at a club and then find out it’s a dead end for a period?” the New Zealander, right, asked TRP.
“A rugby career only lasts for a certain span, and everyone is striving to play at the highest possible level they can.
“We’ve signed a number for next season already and planning is well underway. But it has just thrown another frustration in there when you are dealing with agents and players, and nobody knows the answer.
“And then, if you look at it from a shareholder and investors point of view, they start asking questions and say, ‘hang on, I’ve invested x amount in the concept of gaining promotion to the Premiership and I’m hearing that that might not be possible’.
“As soon as is possible, a decision needs to go out that this is what is going to happen and how it is going to happen. Then, people can get on and deal with it.”
Stirling’s first involvement in English rugby came in the inaugural season of the Championship, at Cornish Pirates in 2009/10.
He is a strong advocate of its worth as a competition in its own right but also part of the player development pathway. Nigel Melville’s plan to create a 16-team, conference system sits well with him.
“Existing Premiership clubs might not buy into that, but English Rugby would benefit, and the competition would benefit. There is no reason why Yorkshire can’t be a top club in Europe, my belief hasn’t changed on that. But there is obviously a lot of work to do.
“I wouldn’t have thought the RFU, who are the guys that can say yes or no, would want to close off the possibility of increasing top level rugby around the country geographically. I know that Yorkshire is an area where they would absolutely love to have a Premiership team.
“I compare the Championship to the Mitre 10 Cup back at home,” he added. “I think it is a fantastic competition that really does breed future Premiership players from within England.
“There are a hell of a lot of quality rugby players in England who never get to play rugby because they are sitting in a squad of 50-something players. They may only play a little bit of A-League or occasionally get loaned out to the Championship.
“Look at Jacob Umaga, for instance. He has come to us from Wasps and has had limited opportunities there for obvious reasons. But in the five or six games he has played for us, the development in him has been huge.
“Another guy who has been on loan to us from Bath, a second row/back row called Will Britton, who was way off the mark when he came to us, is outstanding now and one of our first cabs off the rank.“
With five Championship Cup wins to their name and a raft of new signings making a positive impact, hopes are high that Carnegie can put their horrendous start behind them and soon climb the table.
“I knew that we were going to be in a tough patch. I quickly assessed the quality of the squad and got straight onto the board to said we’re not going to be here unless you fix things by investing some more money and getting some more players in,” Stirling said.
“That was happening in the background and in the foreground all I did was create a culture where the boys hung tight, and that’s paid off. The new players who’ve come in
“There are a lot of quality players in England who never get to play rugby because of 50man squads”
have added to the depth and quality of the squad and we have won five of our last six and we’re not even close to playing well.”
Stirling confirmed that skipper and key back-rower Rich Mayhew and Wales international tight-head Craig Mitchell will be fit for selection for when the Championship resumes for the key derby against fellow strugglers Doncaster on December 29.