We need people of experience to run game
JEFF Probyn has once again hit the nail on the head with his comments regarding the financial support of the grassroots game. However, he did not quite drive the nail home hard enough.
The RFU would appear to have no idea as to how the grassroots clubs operate and let’s be honest, more notice is taken of statisticians and their number crunching exploits that are designed to support the RFU view of the game rather than explain the realities of it.
Far from supporting the grassroots game, the RFU have decided in its wisdom to take money from the grassroots clubs. The reduction of the leagues from 14 teams to 12 has cut the income stream of clubs by some 15-20 per cent, the reduction in travel costs for two away games is an irrelevance.
Add to that the league season closing in midMarch leaving a six-week void where players do seem to lose interest and the income side of the balance sheet suffers even more. Of course the saviour of the community game, the Papa John’s Trophy did create a ripple of interest but any clubs that entered will have seen the expenditure side of the balance sheet increase considerably.
A meagre 25 per cent uptake has shown that it is not a competition that will be supported by clubs when it has been so poorly organised.
If the RFU wants the adult male game to survive and be successful at grassroots level, it does not necessarily need a huge injection of cash as most clubs are run by sensible people who understand the workings of clubs run by volunteers. League rugby is where the income is generated by clubs, we need more league games spread throughout the playing season in order to maintain the interest of players.
One day perhaps, our governing body will be run by people who have a wealth of experience in the community game, there are plenty of them out there and we will see common sense prevail. Is that really too much to hope for? Or do we have to continue to be governed by individuals who seem incapable of organising a drinking session in a brewery?
Ian Stein