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Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision |
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Cricks at 2
World Cup Winner Joined: 08 Dec 2015 Location: Bedford Status: Offline Points: 535 |
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Cricks at 2
World Cup Winner Joined: 08 Dec 2015 Location: Bedford Status: Offline Points: 535 |
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A bunch (30) of us sponsor Dan Temm at Bedford and they are suggesting some form of protest. Any ideas? Turn up at HQ, petition, I really don’t know. We need to do something?
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Jerorky
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Feb 2013 Location: Jersey Status: Offline Points: 323 |
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I my be naive but....I'm in favour of trying to get more local player development through the Championship but, if this is one of the reasons for pulling the plug, the RFU are being hypocritical. Is it time to organise protests at and a boycott of the so-called Internationals which now have semi-national teams? If it worked, being hit in the pocket might cause a re-think.
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DICKON
World Cup Winner Joined: 27 May 2009 Location: Roehampton Status: Offline Points: 897 |
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So now the full impact of the RFU's massive financial overspend is writ large for all to see, along with how they intend to tackle it; the Grassroots game will begin at Level 2. Over the past few seasons we have seen prize money removed for all grassroots Cups, travel subsistence halved, and now the Championship funding halved, then reduced to nothing in the near future (and someone justify why Saracens should not be given the same funding as the rest of the Championship clubs next season?). The ACR will save the RFU substantial further funds in reducing travel subsistence further (don't tell me this is to do with Player Welfare otherwise why would the RFU reduce the season by 4 games, then propose Cups and Play Offs to fill up the spare weeks?) If we want something to change, we need to change the folks making these decisions, and replace them with folks who know how to grow the game across all elements (m/f, all levels, all ages).
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corporalcarrot
World Cup Winner Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Location: St Brelade Status: Offline Points: 4724 |
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It is interesting to consider where the gap would be funded. For the deep pocket clubs probably no impact at all. For the rest in monetary terms it probably amounts to £300,000 per annum. For a club like Jersey a £10 increase on a match day ticket assuming gates of just over 1,000 might bring in £100K-150K. With a playing squad of 30-35 plus coaches etc giving a total of around 40 a £5K average cut in salaries might bring in £200K. Part time contracts and semi-pro may be the way forward.
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Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD.
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gerg_861
World Cup Winner Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Location: Ealing Status: Offline Points: 2542 |
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I completely agree with your worries. I don't really like the whole concept of the A league, and the fact that there are so many players seemingly 'hoarded' that they don't get game time. Costs throughout the leagues would be lower without that, and more players would get developed if they'd play more games. But A league has no consequences. Who really would go watch that? I'd be very interested to see if there are cuts to the RFU payments to the PRL as well in the next settlement - my gut feeling would be yes. This is based on the positioning that they've done with their press releases and the cuts at lower levels.
Edited by gerg_861 - 12 Feb 2020 at 11:16 |
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Toulouse
First XV regular Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 126 |
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Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO said: “This is a decision based on a principle of ensuring levels of investment are geared to a clear return on investment. There are many worthy requirements from both the professional and community game and we need to make sure that every pound spent is clearly justified. The decision we have made is connected to a wider review of strategic objectives and resource allocation.
“The decision taken in 2015 to increase Championship funding significantly was against a set of objectives and deliverables that we do not believe have been achieved. “Ultimately the difference in the levels of funding between the current agreement and our new commitment will not be the deciding factor for clubs with aspirations for promotion and will always require additional investment. The gateway is still open for clubs to get into the Premiership if they have the necessary financial resources and meet the minimum standards required. What a joke! The last paragraph speaks volumes..... if you are a rich club with sugar daddies with deep pockets you can get into the premiership! Looks like teams such at Nottingham, Amptill, Doncaster, Bedford, Cornish Pirates are doomed. Most clubs in the Championship have financial commitments such as players contracts that they will not be able to honour and could end up like Leeds, broke..... The Championship will be made up of teams from the southeast, rich financially but so detached from the real world that so many country wide clubs have to live in. The whole game is in such a mess and requires total and utter reorganisation with or without the RFU. The RFU have shown how ineffectual they are at dealing with any problems as they arise, look and the Leeds mess they created, they kowtow to the Premiership and are just inept.... How long before Premiership ring fencing is agreed and the Premiership becomes just a money spinning show league?
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Stalwart
World Cup Winner Joined: 22 Nov 2011 Location: Penzance Status: Offline Points: 2146 |
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RFU are going to kill off rugby if they go down this road. Pathetic.
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Toulouse
First XV regular Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 126 |
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I agree, the RFU are not fit for purpose and seems to be run by a bunch of no hopers....RFU...........REALLY F&%KING USELESS
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Toulouse
First XV regular Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 126 |
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Just thought, how are Leeds going to pay off their £6million debt now?????
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373
British and Irish Lion Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Location: Norweb Status: Offline Points: 202 |
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It's worth having a look at where signings in the Championship have come from to look at the value the Championship as a development ground for EQP. This season, using wikipedia as a source saw 158 players signed for Championship teams (excluding DR's short loans etc). It was perhaps an exceptional year due to the turmoil at YC and it being a WC year meaning that Premiership squads were not 'trimmed' as much. Looking over the past 4 years may show different trends.
Of the 158 players signed, 93 (59%) were EQP with 65 (41%) being non-EQP (inc. other British Isles players.) 46 (29.11%) were players already playing in the Championship, 41 (25.95%) were players from Foreign clubs (inc. other British clubs, but excluding Cardiff Met Uni. which was treated as a lower league club) 40 players (25.32%) were signed from 'lower leagues' (inc. Uni sides & Army) and 31 players (19.62%) were players signed from Premiership sides. By club: Ampthill 9 players signed (5 EQP / 4 Foreign) 6 from Foreign clubs (66% club signings / accounted for 15% of Championship Foreign signings) 1 from Premiership side (11% club signings / 3% of Prem -> Championship signings) 2 from Championship Clubs (22% of club signings / 4.35% of Cham - Cham signings.) None from Lower Leagues Bedford 12 players signed (7 EQP / 5 Foreign) 1 from Foreign clubs (8% club signings / accounted for 2.44% of Championship Foreign signings) 4 from Premiership side (33% club signings / 13% of Prem -> Championship signings) 4 from Championship Clubs (33% of club signings / 8.7% of Cham - Cham signings.) 3 from Lower Leagues (25% of club signings / 7.5% of lower league signings to Championship) Cornish Pirates 14 players signed (5 EQP / 9 Foreign) 3 from Foreign clubs (21.5% club signings / accounted for 7.32% of Championship Foreign signings) 0 from Premiership side (0 club signings / 0 of Prem -> Championship signings) 9 from Championship Clubs (64% of club signings / 19.5% of Cham - Cham signings.) 2 from Lower Leagues (14% of club signings / 5% of lower league signings to Championship) Coventry 12 players signed (9 EQP / 3 Foreign) 2 from Foreign clubs (16.5% club signings / accounted for 4.88% of Championship Foreign signings) 5 from Premiership side (41.67% club signings / 16.13% of Prem -> Championship signings) 5 from Championship Clubs (41.67% of club signings / 10.87% of Cham - Cham signings.) 0 from Lower Leagues (0% of club signings / 0% of lower league signings to Championship) Doncaster 10 players signed (7 EQP / 3 Foreign) 2 from Foreign clubs (20% club signings / accounted for 4.88% of Championship Foreign signings) 1 from Premiership side (10% club signings / 3.23% of Prem -> Championship signings) 7 from Championship Clubs (70% of club signings / 15.22% of Cham - Cham signings.) 0 from Lower Leagues (0% of club signings / 0% of lower league signings to Championship) Ealing 18 players signed (12 EQP / 6 Foreign) 3 from Foreign clubs (16.5% club signings / accounted for 7.32% of Championship Foreign signings) 7 from Premiership side (39% club signings / 22.58% of Prem -> Championship signings) 3 from Championship Clubs (16.67% of club signings / 6.52% of Cham - Cham signings.) 5 from Lower Leagues (27.78% of club signings / 12.5% of lower league signings to Championship) Hartpury 9 players signed (8 EQP / 1 Foreign) 0 from Foreign clubs 1 from Premiership side (11% club signings / 3.23% of Prem -> Championship signings) 5 from Championship Clubs (55.56% of club signings / 10.87% of Cham - Cham signings.) 3 from Lower Leagues (33% of club signings / 7.5% of lower league signings to Championship) Jersey 14 players signed (5 EQP / 9 Foreign) 8 from Foreign clubs (57% club signings / accounted for 19.5% of Championship Foreign signings) 1 from Premiership side (7.14% club signings / 3.23% of Prem -> Championship signings) 2 from Championship Clubs (14.29% of club signings / 4.35% of Cham - Cham signings.) 3 from Lower Leagues (21% of club signings / 7.5% of lower league signings to Championship) London Scottish 15 players signed (7 EQP / 8 Foreign) 7 from Foreign clubs (46.6% club signings / accounted for 17.07% of Championship Foreign signings) 0 from Premiership side 2 from Championship Clubs (13.33% of club signings / 4.35% of Cham - Cham signings.) 6 from Lower Leagues (40% of club signings / 15% of lower league signings to Championship) Newcastle 11 players signed (6 EQP / 5 Foreign) 2 from Foreign clubs (18% club signings / accounted for 4.8% of Championship Foreign signings) 5 from Premiership side (45% club signings / 16% of Prem -> Championship signings) 3 from Championship Clubs (27% of club signings / 6.52% of Cham - Cham signings.) 1 from Lower Leagues (9% of club signings / 2.5% of lower league signings to Championship) Nottingham 12 players signed (7 EQP / 5 Foreign) 1 from Foreign clubs (8.3% club signings / accounted for 2.44% of Championship Foreign signings) 3 from Premiership side (25% club signings / 9.68% of Prem -> Championship signings) 4 from Championship Clubs (33% of club signings / 8.7% of Cham - Cham signings.) 4 from Lower Leagues (33% of club signings / 10% of lower league signings to Championship) Yorkshire 22 players signed (15 EQP / 7 Foreign) 6 from Foreign clubs (27% club signings / accounted for 14.63% of Championship Foreign signings) 3 from Premiership side (13.64% club signings / 9.68% of Prem -> Championship signings) 0 from Championship 13 from Lower Leagues (59% of club signings / 32% of lower league signings to Championship) Overall, the question is if the Championship funding is actually resulting in a better standard of English Rugby and providing a pathway from the grassroots to the professional game. From this seasons signings, I'd suggest that it really isn't. Seems a very short-term focused league. There's a lot of churn of players already at that level moving from club to club and it seems that teams aren't willing to take a punt on developing players outside of DR's, as shown by the lack of signings from clubs further down (most ll players come from clubs with previous Championship pedigree - Richmond, Esher, Rotherham etc.) In some ways a funding cut might encourage teams to actually look to develop players rather than sign non-EQP and journeymen players. Changing how the funding is allocated may help (i.e. coaches employed by the RFU 'leased' to teams). There does need to be an emphasis on less splashing of the cash though. |
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Rabbie Burns
World Cup Winner Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3322 |
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I hate to say it but someone must. What will be the impact of Brexit on this (could also affect National leagues) once the new immigration rules are implemented
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So many Christians not enough Lions
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PlangentThrowback
World Cup Winner Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1265 |
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The Championship has been poorly run for years. The RFU is the main culprit with a lack of strategic
vision and an inability and unwillingness to adequately fund what it did finally
cobble together. The farcical situation
around sponsorship was a joke as is the almost non-existent media
presence. However I do not exonerate the
Championship itself which has also been poorly organised and done little to
help itself other than asking for more money instead of generating more itself. It has always been my contention that Rugby Union, as a
minority (even niche) sport has room for only a relatively small number of
fully professional clubs and maybe that’s the existing Premiership. The idea that the second tier ‘has’ to be
fully professional too has always seemed difficult to justify given the finances
of the game and the fact that hardly anyone goes to see it live or on the telly. The effort to maintain professionalism
recently saw LW go to the wall and probably should have seen Leedshire go the
same way except for some inexplicable (and now clearly misplaced) generosity
from the RFU. This proposed funding cut may well be down to a failure by
the Championship to deliver on specific targets but the financial state of the
RFU is certainly a big factor. Yes it
managed to make a profit last time out but it is likely to be making losses
again and any excuse will be taken to reduce expenditure. Perhaps, instead of angrily calling for moves
to Pro14 or some sort of protest, the Championship ought to be looking to come
under the umbrella of PRL. Sort out a shared
funding formula (including distributing the parachute payment amongst tier 2
clubs), bring the Championship under the Premiership media contracts, reformat
the Premiership A-league to allow them into the Championship or create a
sensible way for Premiership players to play in the Championship (avoiding a
Hartpury type situation), reform the way the academies operate so that all the
professional/semi-pro clubs can directly benefit and participate and maybe even have a cup competiton. After all if the French can manage the top
tiers of rugby under common control and make it work then we ought to be able
to do something similar. |
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Dobber
British and Irish Lion Joined: 03 Nov 2009 Status: Offline Points: 217 |
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Meanwhile the England women's team is fully professional and Sarries will still be getting the parachute handed to them so that the inconvenience of relegation is not too rough on them and their promotion back up is guaranteed
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Bill Sley
World Cup Winner Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2383 |
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“The decision taken in 2015 to increase Championship funding significantly was against a set of objectives and deliverables that we do not believe have been achieved."
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Bill Sley
World Cup Winner Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Status: Offline Points: 2383 |
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“The decision taken in 2015 to increase Championship funding significantly was against a set of objectives and deliverables that we do not believe have been achieved.”
Irrespective of whether the decision to increase funding per club WAS set against objectives (I thought it was based on dividing the pie by 12 instead of 16/14, the Greene King sponsorship & a little bit from Sky) does anyone know what the objectives/deliverables were? |
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marigold
World Cup Winner Joined: 09 Apr 2019 Location: Eltham Status: Offline Points: 430 |
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The basis upon which French rugby is run ie whole towns getting behind local clubs, is totally different than the situation in England and could not be replicated here. Plang , I agree there is simply not enough money, or demand, for a fully professional second tier. The current situation also means players at levels 3,4 and below are overpaid with this money simply going out of the game each week instead of being spent on coaching, facilities and medical support. There has to be a huge financial rethink about the structure of rugby in this country. Somehow players have to re-educated about the none financial benefits of playing rugby which most of us who played before 1995 were satisfied with. Let the pro teams go their way and the 98% that is left go another. The RFU needs to use the money it gains from the pro game to breathe some life into the community game.
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Camquin
World Cup Winner Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11155 |
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Do we know what those objectives were?
Did the clubs set out a plan to meet them? Were Ealing, Coventry, Hartpury and Ampthill made aware of these objectives and the plan?
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Sweeney Delenda Est
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islander
World Cup Winner Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Location: jersey Status: Online Points: 7357 |
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hmmm - hardly a reliable source
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knightandday
World Cup Winner Doncaster Knights Joined: 21 May 2007 Location: Lincoln Status: Offline Points: 1762 |
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Doesn’t mention the 3 signings at Doncaster this year from the Academy we run. |
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Winning isn't everything, it just makes the beer taste better
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