Shanahan says cut league size
BLACKHEATH head coach James Shanahan has backed RFU plans to reduce the workload of semi-pro players by slashing the number of teams in National Leagues One and Two.
Key principles arising from a review of the structure of the men’s game have been agreed by the Community Game Board and communicated to clubs and constituent bodies.
In the RFU document sent to clubs, seen by The
Rugby Paper, these include: “A range of models for the structure of leagues to address appropriate travel time/distance, player welfare, player experience /quality of competition and club sustainability factors.
“These models all therefore variously flatten the pyramid and reduce some league sizes.”
Under the RFU’s proposals, National One is likely to be cut from 16 teams to 14, while National Two could be formed of three divisions of 12 or 14 teams instead of the current two, with more emphasis on regionalisation.
The RFU have promised to conduct a digital survey of players and clubs between now and the end of February before having face to face meetings with clubs and other stakeholders during March and early April to add more detail to their initial proposals.
A final decision on the league structures, which are to be implemented in 2021/22, will then be made at the April RFU Council meeting, with guidance on how the 2020/21 transition season will be managed issued before the end of this campaign.
On the prospect of current 30-game National League One and Two programmes being cut, Shanahan told TRP: “It’s a good idea – 14 teams is about the right number because 30 games for guys who are parttime, with other things outside rugby, is tough going.
“To have 16 games this season before our first break was ridiculous – make that 19 if you include pre-season – and the current structure is relentless. If we go to 14, we’ll have the ability to introduce breaks before Christmas, which will be massively beneficial.”
Not everyone agrees, though. Rams chief executive Gary Reynolds argued: “We’ve enjoyed the 16-team competitions and I feel it would be better to keep 16 teams and introduce enforced breaks for players to make teams delve deeper into their squads.
“If you maxed-out players at 24 or 25 games, that’s not a bad idea, but by keeping the number of games at 30 you’d give more players a chance to play National League rugby. I don’t want to lose two clubs and the game might be a little weaker for doing so.”