Hand grassroot clubs a lifeline
WHeN the RFU released their annual report in December, the grand document contained an opening page which stated: ‘our purpose: to encourage rugby, and its values, to flourish across england.’
At Peterborough Rugby Club, they now doubt the sincerity of that message. Last Thursday, hours after Rfu chief executive Bill sweeney had announced eddie Jones’s contract as england head coach — worth £750,000 per year — would be extended until the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup, the Midlands 1 east club learned that they would not be entitled to any funding from Twickenham to alleviate the coronavirus shutdown.
An administrative oversight had already proved costly. Last summer, they were a day late submitting a declaration to the RFU that, as a level-six amateur club, they do not pay players.
The deadline was strictly enforced and the union withheld funding for the 2019-20 season.
Peterborough appealed in vain at a time they needed money to expand their clubhouse, to accommodate a thriving agegrade set-up. each weekend, they host up to 500 juniors.
Now Peterborough have been stunned to discover their oneday delay is being held against them during this virus crisis.
The union have said they won’t receive emergency funds, when they fear the loss of between £60,000 and £80,000 due to the cancellation of beer festivals, weddings, dinners, dog shows and other functions. This is another example of the governing body acting as a ruthless business, apparently more mindful of profit than the wellbeing of the sport around the country.
Last autumn, clubs were told that funds would be available to promote the World Cup in their clubhouses, so Peterborough and others in their region made grand plans, only to discover the money being offered through the east Midlands RFU was just £50 each for 10 clubs.
In their annual report, the RFU announced revenue of £213million for the 2018-19 financial year — a rise of 24 per cent and more than twice as much as the New Zealand Rugby union.
Yet there was a reduction in investment for rugby development, while spending on the men’s senior national team remains ‘ring-fenced’.
earlier this year, sweeney (below) announced savage cuts to funding for clubs in the RFU Championship. He was castigated by officials from those clubs for the cuts, the lack of warning and consultation, and a dearth of compassion.
More recently, the RFU stayed silent as the pandemic took hold while their counterparts in scotland and Wales promised vital bailout investment.
When they eventually announced aid measures, the primary concern appeared to be future union losses rather than short-term hardship at grassroots level.
This column has seen correspondence between officials within the club game expressing anger and dismay at the union.
A former senior Twickenham figure wrote: ‘The RFU’s failure to announce immediate financial support to clubs is a disgrace and shows the RFU management board is incompetent and not fit for purpose. Clubs may well go under, never to be resurrected.’
There are rumblings that clubs will attempt to force a special general meeting, with a view to pushing for a vote of no confidence in the hierarchy. At a time when true leadership is needed, english rugby is lamenting the absence of it. out in the shires, they want the RFU to be fit for their published purpose.
That could mean relaxing regulations and red tape to help Peterborough and other clubs in need and the game at large. Count the costs some other time.