Long term gains must be priority

PREDICTABLY, the Six Nations establishment is adopting the “I’m alright, Jack, pull up the ladder” response to proposals for some form of world league competition – a line supported in this week’s

Rugby Paper by both Colin Boag and Jeff Probyn.

But are the Six Nations countries at risk of repeating the Premiership’s current mistake of focussing only on protecting their privileged short term funding positions at the expense of the game’s and, ultimately, their own long-term interests?

The fundamental problem is that our game has far too small a supporter base. We will never be able to compete with football – a game that in England can sustain a much higher quality second league, without a penny of funding from their governing body. We cannot, though afford to turn our backs on any measures that might possibly broaden our game’s supporter base to the eventual benefit of all.

I am not arguing that the world league is necessarily the right way to go, although Nick Cain sets out some persuasive arguments. Serious issues over the global playing calendar and player welfare would need to be addressed. What I am arguing, is that short term concerns about the possible impact of relegation on current members of the Six Nations “establishment” should not close minds to ideas that might underpin a healthier long term future for our game. JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s Stortford RFC