Wasps/Worcester

A very logical and balanced post Camquin.......but there is a however......the historical chicanery of the RFU is such that I cannot ascribe this logical argument to the RFU. 

I wish I could because in any situation where a credible institution acts in a way that seems to be somewhat perverse my first inclination is to make the assumption that there has to be a compelling and understandable reason behind their actions. I rail against my friends and relatives who have for ever harangued against the NHS, the Tories, Labour, NATO, the Democrats, HMRC and Birkenhead Park RFC.

My normal stance is to quietly point out that in general institutions aren't malevolent or intentionally unjust they just struggle to deal with problems that seem easy to rectify when numbered in single digits but are infinitely more taxing when measured in the millions.

Unfortunately in my eyes the RFU lost any credibility and legitimate moral authority many years ago when it decided to abandon the vast majority to support the very few.......some of whom have now been shown to be unscrupulous bounders.

I don't know how the RFU will ever regain the trust and moral authority which once bound it to its member clubs. For the last 20 years or so the RFU has acquiesced to the Cartel whilst simultaneously burdening, disregarding, defunding and patronising the vast majority of rugby clubs in England.

When Birkenhead Park RFC was recognised as one of the most distinguished  1st class rugby clubs in England, Caldy were probably playing at level 8 or thereabouts. As Caldy, fuelled by an enlightened and progressive Mini and Junior youth policy, started their march up the leagues they arrived at level 6 and for the first time met Birkenhead Park RFC in a league fixture at Paton Field.

'Park' were on a shallow but progressive descent from their historic heights but they were still very formidable opposition for Caldy and were very strong favourites for the fixture. Before the game I had mentally bracketed Birkenhead Park RFC as the aloof patricians coming to Paton Field to put upstarts Caldy in their place. It was them and us and for the week before the game I told anyone who would listen how Birkenhead Park RFC would surely treat Caldy with such patronising and unbearable contempt that I dreaded the aftermath.......in truth I couldn't see how a denuded Caldy (who had pre season lost a number of key players to Birkenhead Park RFC) could possibly win.

It was a torrid, intense game with Caldy somehow withstanding immense pressure from the very formidable Park forwards including such rampaging behemoths as John McNally and Steve O' Keefe. Completely against the run of play Caldy's diminutive stand off Ian Cropper won the game for Caldy with a drop goal from the near the half way line. 

The rapturous celebrations at Paton Field lasted past midnight.....and there, remaining in the little wooden shack to the end of a long, long night were most of the Birkenhead Park players and officials.....they didn't slink away or sulk or complain about Caldy's outrageous victory (and they would have had real cause to do so!) , they applauded Caldy's endeavour and fortitude and showed me what true class, respect and dignity in rugby terms was all about. I have never forgotten it.

I would love to see the RFU displaying the same class, dignity and respect to Community Rugby in England as Birkenhead Park RFC showed to Caldy all those years ago.......

I know you've got a massive problem with what we did, but it just meant we started at L9 instead of L10. Similarly Wasps would be staring at L8 instead of L9 if they followed the same path.

You make it sound like we were taking over local L4 club just to grab their place in the league.

"Wasps will be able to share players with Worcester initially to help Warriors progress through the leagues."

Always good to have a parody account. National 1 will be a stumbling block, so 5/6 years to get into Championship (assuming they can find a ground to play at)