Shorter season and less travel for leagues

THE RFU Council have voted to radically overhaul the format of the community game in a bid to make the demands of rugby safer and stem the decline of participation numbers.

The move to make a host of changes to the National Leagues all the way down to Level 12 comes after months of debate at the RFU, as clubs battle to survive the

Covid-19 pandemic.

Changes to the league structures for 2022-23 will see National League One reduced from 16 to 14 clubs as will National League Two North and South.

For clubs at Level 5 and below, leagues will be capped at 12 teams and have heightened emphasis on regionalisation to cut travel costs and travel distance.

Rest periods will also be built into the new season structures. Clubs will get a two-week rest period over Christmas, with additional one-week breaks built in.

Plans also include a new National Cup knock-out competition the final at Twickenham.

The Future Competitions Structure Group was set up to conduct the research and the group’s chair, Stephen Pearson, said: “We have used this period of consultation and evidencegathering to create a blueprint for a new structure and are pleased that Council has voted overwhelmingly in favour of these proposals.

“Our recommendations reflect growing feedback from players that shorter bursts of intense rugby are preferable to a long, extended season.

Community Game Board chair David Roberts said: “It is an integrated package of measures, not a menu of options, that we believe players will find attractive. By waiting until 2022/23 for full implementation, we have time to work through the precise details.”