Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision

You missed Cov off that list D22. Chairman Jon Sharp confirmed it last wednesday evening on the BBC.

Sid James wrote: Brizzer wrote: Sid, I don't think that the Count was having a go at your post. Personally, I think that it is well measured and gives an oversight from divisions below level 2. My understanding of the Count's post was that the actions of the RFU and the CEO in particular is a divide & rule policy. those at the top have the money and the power, but are few in numbers. Get the masses arguing amongst themselves and they will rule forever. At the end of the day the Championship is a special case as the RFU wanted it to be 100% pro. The clubs acted in accordance with that directive, which is only a few years old, upon the proviso that there was sufficient funding to help them deliver a pro 2nd tier of rugby. Not once has it been suggested by the RFU that the Championship should revert to a semi-pro league, but only that they want to slash the funding. What would the divide between PL and Champ be if the Champ were to go semi-pro? Ring fencing would be a necessity purely on player safety grounds. The whole thing is back handed and stinks. Brizzer, With all due respect, I think the Counts posting was quite clear. "Political class", who does he think he is.

Edited by Count Ford - 21 Feb 2020 at 00:10

Count Ford wrote: Sid James wrote: Brizzer wrote: Sid, I don't think that the Count was having a go at your post. Personally, I think that it is well measured and gives an oversight from divisions below level 2. My understanding of the Count's post was that the actions of the RFU and the CEO in particular is a divide & rule policy. those at the top have the money and the power, but are few in numbers. Get the masses arguing amongst themselves and they will rule forever. At the end of the day the Championship is a special case as the RFU wanted it to be 100% pro. The clubs acted in accordance with that directive, which is only a few years old, upon the proviso that there was sufficient funding to help them deliver a pro 2nd tier of rugby. Not once has it been suggested by the RFU that the Championship should revert to a semi-pro league, but only that they want to slash the funding. What would the divide between PL and Champ be if the Champ were to go semi-pro? Ring fencing would be a necessity purely on player safety grounds. The whole thing is back handed and stinks. Brizzer, With all due respect, I think the Counts posting was quite clear. "Political class", who does he think he is. By 'political class' I'm talking about those in power...i.e politicians (our government) The divide and rule strategy has been used for hundreds and thousands of years and is a wholly effective tool. This is exactly how the upper echelons of the RFU are acting.  Anyway..I will happily bow out of this discussion. Personally I want to see all levels of rugby thrive. I regularly watch teams from L3 down to L10 and very occasionally L1. I'm sure there are hundreds of arguments for & against all variety funding options and arrangements...but it seems quite clear that the current decisions are being taken based on complete mismanagement by the governing body.

Fat Albert wrote: Official Statement from Ampthill, clicky

FA .... I think that is what is called "going on the offensive" ....


fair play to Ampthill!

The mealy mouthed full time staff at the RFU need being called to account, over their spin, half truths and lies ...

I was told at a Tynedale match earlier this season they had no ARs as there were none available within the expenses cap area so the ref took along his father and a friend to ensure he had at least touch judges

Thunderbird wrote: The referees department was also hit, as I am sure CN will know. We have had assesors who have been asked to travel across the country for nothing(they refused).Refs asked to share lifts and a reduction in thier travel expenses .

For as long as I can remember (I was on the "A" List in 1991) the refereeing department has always been the POOR relation in funding to all the other departments, I mean why would a game of rugby being refereed expertly, attract more people in any way shape or form to play/coach/officiate/volunteer at any rugby club!

Like all departments, this "cull" has been no different, at Levels 3, 4 and 5, massive reduction of travelling expenses and also a restriction on how far they will pay to travel ...that applies to referees, assistant referees, assessors and referee coaches ... cancellation of training evenings ...

At Elite level, they originally tried to get rid of Chris White (Academy Manager) and Steve Leyshon (Championship Manager), the bean counters just saw salary figures, they obviously had no idea what jobs they did and how if the RFU had achieved what they wanted would have left Tony Spreadbury managing about 15 referees and 20 A/R's on his own!

Also cancelled were the "consultancy contracts" of two ex Premiership A/R's whose sole job was to mark, train and develop existing Premiership A/R's and potential A/R's working in The Championship (but of course according to the RFU, hardly anyone develops either as a player or official in that league! )

So, as happens in this sort of reduced funding, a number of very experienced assessors have quit, as have a number of A/R's ... you see what the RFU mandarins want and to an extent, some Council members as well, you should be doing it for nothing my friend, the very fact you get to wear the red rose should be more than enough remuneration for giving up your time every Saturday for 5/8 hours, 32 weeks of the year and frankly, if you won't do it for nothing, then resign and we'll replace you. It won't matter if they're not technically very good, or aren't fit or can't make decisions as lets be honest, the only rugby worth worrying about are those 6 Nations Internationals, those Autumn Internationals and the World Cup ....the rest of you from Level 2 downwards, you're all just a distraction .... yes, agreed, slightly cynical and over the top but you get my drift

Edited by Clive Norling - 21 Feb 2020 at 18:06

County Rugby should of have been the professional route in the uk and the top clubs should of been like the semi pro model like Football Non League with a Challenge Cup to involve the 2.

We are here to help the clubs - Sweeney

Edited by FHLH - 22 Feb 2020 at 13:04

Raider999 wrote: FHLH wrote: <h2 ="amp-o-cross" style="color: rgb30, 30, 30; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.125rem; font-weight: inherit; vertical-align: line; line-height: 1.375rem; -sizing: border-; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif;">We are here to help the clubs' - Sweeney</h2> His namesake the barber had a similar idea of help😱

Bill Sley wrote: @boatyjames wrote: Using RFU money to support England representative sides is what RFU money is for - they run the England team! Deciding to give £500k of RFU money to all Championship sides without clear purpose is not what RFU money is for - there are 2,000 clubs out there all of which are to some extent deserving causes! I can't imagine that the RFU have successfully planned this, but they'd be quite pleased to see 'the other 2,000' arguing amongst themselves. Leaving aside how, when and why the tiered payments arrived for any/all level originally, the most recent increase in RFU payments to Championship sides (2015 ish?) was accompanied (If I remember correctly) by a requirement that they all go full time or work hard towards it. Sort of like France having a professional tier 1 and 2. I guess that an RFU fag packet was used to calculate 10 months of employment at 40 hours a week at minimum wage = £16k. Multiply was a squad of 30 and there's £500k. Simples.....and they haven't done it??

Judging by letters in today's 'The Rugby Paper'(admittedly not a scientific sample) The Championship clubs need to get their PR hats on. Many outside the top 2 tiers still (perhaps understandably) see their local club getting diddly squat and The Championship sides getting £.5m and see this as Tier 2 being fat cats.

Tier 2 clubs (and aspiring tier 3 or 4 etc) need to get the message out to the 2000 that it's not us v them. That Tier 2 clubs don't just trouser £0.5m for fun - but that it actually costs them way more to run the pro league mandated by the RFU.

The danger of not doing this PR effectively is that Tier 2 will look just like a Tier 1 Lite and the 2000 won't care/support.

Edited by Bill Sley - 23 Feb 2020 at 08:58