Papa John's Trophy

What were people expecting, England to suddenly concertina closer together for spring?

It is no wonder some of the more remote clubs pulled out.

I think it is the top seven from Regional 1 South West.

Weston to Brighton is not an easy journey - only 200 miles, but it will take over 4 hours each way.

And there are several others that will take over three hours and involve the M25 past Heathrow on a Saturday, well known for its flowing traffic.

Yes it was bad enough for the 2 South Notts clubs (Paviors and West Bridgford) to have to travel there in the league, DK is a fair bit further (but they will almost certainly be travelling to Redruth next season so good practice!).

I have heard Bournemouth have pulled out not fancying the short hop to Burton. 

Well regionalisation seems sensible but why don’t the RFU set out the parameters for how the draws are being made? How many clubs have been put off entering because they fear an away draw(s)  which would involve a long round trip and a big bill from the coach company even with a subsidy. 

Did they make that information available to the clubs and supporters? I can’t find any mention other than there are pools st the higher level and knock-out games ar level 7 and below 

I don't think it was explicitly spelt out, but if you looked at the suggested/ indicative draw in the original document it was clear that this was the plan.

I think there may have been and earlier draft that made the explicit. But I could be remembering earlier proposals from the AGR.

As ever, communication by the RFU was its usual standard.

I have not seen - but I am not a treasurer at a club involved - any documentation on travel support, or prize money.

But communication does not hide the fact that in five weeks of competition, you are only guaranteed one home match, and - should you reach the final - could be away for the other four weeks.

Or you could be at home three of the five weeks.

So Dudley will get £796 for their trip to Alnwick, including the accommodation supplement.

That would just about pay for ten rooms in the Premier Inn in Alnwick on the Friday night, assuming the lads are prepared to double up. But not include breakfast or dinner.

And, of course, there is the coach on top of that.

The lower end of the competition has something like 70-odd 1st Round Byes which means if your Leagues finished last weekend or this weekend you don't play your first cup game until April 15th.

Oh and the finals venues are StoneX for the South (not Ealing) and Darlington MP in the North

https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/playing/papa-john's-community-cup

You have to cut and paste the link the ' is a link killer