Roll-up Roll-up its Circus Time

Halliford, someone is leading you a merry dance then. You cannot present a structure, get the RFU Council to approve the structure and then say but we've not finalised the structure we are still discussing it. You can't do it irrespective if the NCA think they can. 

Thatbloke wrote: Can someone please explain what "powers" or "influence" the NCA has (or doesn't have as the case may be!) At present it's gang of 48 changes every season with promotions and relegations and what's to stop Level 5 clubs setting up its own Regional Premier League Authority and so on down the pyramid? When the make up of the NCA's 48 is set for the following season is it the NCA who draws the lines to say who will play in Nat2(North) & Nat2(South) or is it the RFU? My point being if its the RFU then after a restructure and increase to 3 Leagues at Level 4 why would it suddenly be the NCA who decide which clubs play in which league?

Thatbloke wrote: Thanks Hopper but doesn't really answer my question. If it's in the NCA  constitution to abide by RFU rules and regs, what exactly is the purpose of its existence and who will draw the geographical lines for the three 14 team Leagues at Level 4 in 22/23 season (assuming restructure goes through)

Sorry Camp Freddie - hadn't been keeping up!! So can you answer my other question - Who draws the lines? 

Whether it's decided by the RFU or the NCA, it's fairly self-evident that the three leagues would be loosely structured around the South-East, North and West Midlands/ South West.  Obviously clubs in the North Midlands and East Midlands are most at risk of being shunted from pillar to post, along with those on the extremities of the aforementioned three regions.  But you can't set hard borders when the make-up of the 42 (?) clubs will be fluid, and unfortunately some clubs will find themselves being subject to level transfers on an almost annual basis.  Chester being in the South West is a fairly extreme case, mind you!

Edited by Mark W-J - 20 Apr 2021 at 12:58

Rabbie Burns wrote: I had a little look last night and if I was correct the distance from Chester to Redruth is comparable to Canterbury to Redruth in both distance and travel time.I would imagine it’s all the other bits. Longer travel and time required for it is unfortunately one of the pitfalls of success. In a weird case if we (Blackheath) did get into the championship our travel would reduce significantly

Raider999 wrote: I thought the idea was to reduce travelling - the proposed south west/east split would appear to mean Worthing's travel would increase significantly.

Edited by Mark W-J - 21 Apr 2021 at 08:31

Payment thresholds being reduced in L3-L5?

Very enjoyable reading, or great content as it is now said. I fully understand many of the issues you refer to and i certainly get the comments on payment of player thresholds etc, however at the level I represent which is level 6 and below, many clubs are very much fighting for survival as we know it, The fact of the matter is very clear community rugby is seeing very much a decline in players both on match day and at training, from my experience the current generation at this level is very much lacking in commitment to anything and match day travel is very much the biggest challenge we face. From that perspective in my humble opinion this restructure has very much missed the target, last season we were expected to do circa 2000 miles in travel at level 6, this structure sees 1970 miles all be it very much in the opposite direction, with less games the average travel has risen - so lets look at an example, 3 weeks before the end of the 22/23 season 9 hrs on a coach round trip for an 80 min game, i am not a serious fortune teller however we may be slightly under strength for that one !