Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision
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Forum Name: The Championship
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Topic: Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision
Posted By: Baggins
Subject: Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 21:20
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/11/championship-clubs-rfu-brutal-slash-funding" rel="nofollow - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/11/championship-clubs-rfu-brutal-slash-funding
Championship clubs in shock over RFU’s decision to slash funding by 50%• RFU accused of giving Premiership ‘ring-fencing on a plate’ • Swingeing cuts of more than £3m come into force next season The https://www.theguardian.com/sport/rugby-football-union" rel="nofollow - Rugby Football Union is to cut its funding of the Championship by 50%, throwing England’s second tier into turmoil and handing “ring-fencing to the Premiership on a plate”. Well I should imagine that is most of us hornswoggled and scrabbling around for survival, not to mention the hundreds of professional and semi-professional players who will now be out on their ears. I think shows the contempt that the PRL hold the rest of the game in and how craven the RFU are before the PRL. Sad day  ------------- Propping up the board |
Replies:
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 21:25
| Rubbish |
Posted By: Baggins
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 21:34
The story or the plan? It isn't April 1st and it is on the Guardian web site. I wish it wasn't true, but it looks like it is ------------- Propping up the board |
gerg_861 wrote:Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 21:43
The plan! Sorry, was looking for a word that wouldnt turn to fruit!
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Posted By: Donnyfan
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 21:52
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what an absolute disaster for the Championship as a league. the clubs may as well fold now. legal action has to be taken by the Championship clubs and it needs to go to the courts. |
Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:00
On what grounds? ------------- Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards Remember Wakefield RFC |
Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:10
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Article now in Telegraph too
The RFU insisted that the reduction in funding followed a review of spending called ‘Project Union’ and that the Championship had failed to deliver on five key strategic targets after a significant hike in funding over the last four years from the profits of hosting the 2015 World Cup ------------- Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards Remember Wakefield RFC |
Posted By: Donnyfan
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:13
think I got a bit over the top in my initial reaction but I do believe this decision needs to be fought in some way. a breakaway from the RFU?.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:16
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Shock? What shock?
TBH, I expected worse. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:18
Yep. Let's saw through the remaining branch we're sitting on. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 22:25
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Just a shame they forget exactly how many of those England players got experience in the Championship! I imagine that therefore means a league increase may be favoured by the Chairmen as the maths may work for the majority? It will have little impact and will probably help the richer clubs in the Championship with the chairmen with deep pockets, but hit hard those who rely more on the funding.
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Posted By: Count Ford
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2020 at 23:52
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It hardly helps the championship when you get people like Toby Flood coming out with this. It really does make me hope someone turns over Newcastle this season. He seems to think he's a bit above it and people are just there for a bit of fun. t's probably what the RFU think about it...since it doesn't make millions of pounds for them to mismanage. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/1240467/England-Owen-Farrell-Maro-Itoje-Saracens-Championship-Warning-Toby-Flood-Six-Nations-Lions/amp" rel="nofollow - https://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/1240467/England-Owen-Farrell-Maro-Itoje-Saracens-Championship-Warning-Toby-Flood-Six-Nations-Lions/amp |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:10
If the Championship will ‘struggle’ to survive on half of the budget the RFU previously gave them, how on Earth would it survive with no extra money? In all honesty, I think the Championship needs a good shake up and repurposing. The amount of foreign never has beens floating around that league is frankly embarrassing and part of why, I imagine, funding has been cut. Time for these clubs to be more proactive.
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Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:12
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This was probably inevitable, they either had to fund a professional league properly or cut funding all together, they have gone for the second option . . as funding will continue to diminish. What I presume this means, in reality, is that ambitious clubs such as Ealing and Coventry will be largely unaffected but a club like Ampthill who are already part time will find they are on a more level playing field. Hartpury will also be a winner, funded by the Uni and great links to Prem clubs. Other such as Nottingham, Doncaster, Jersey and London Scottish will be more severely affected. Presumably this will flush out a significant amount of journey men and foreign mercaneries, it will also make transition form Nat1 to Championship more achievable . . . although I can now see Championship an possibly nat 1 becoming a largely southern based leagues. I am really interested in all orthers take on this ------------- Run with it |
Posted By: Rob C
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:16
Hopefully Cov will make sure he's not too 'unnerved' when he visits BPA in March...
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Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:17
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I am lost for words - the RFU must clearly be the servants of PRL, fawning and obeying their every demand. Shame on you RFU. ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:28
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I tend to agree with Run it back. The transition from Nat one to Championship will now become a bit easier. Although my worry is the championship could become the sugar daddy league but saying that if as expected the AP is ring fenced then what is the ultimate goal for these guys as they will probably never get a seat at the top table ------------- So many Christians not enough Lions |
Posted By: JonDee
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 07:56
| Sorry have been posting about this for months but no one has come back to discuss it sadly not surprised . And for some clubs who have signed players on 2 year contracts it could be a major problem. Clubs like Nottingham will probably go amateur and lay off most staff if not all they will hopefully keep their links with NTU and still play a good level |
Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 08:11
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The devaluing of the Championship and the reduction in RFU
monies throughout the league pyramid could (and I stress could) be the first
stage towards having some sanity back into the semi-pro game. Championship clubs will still be amongst the highest wage
payers of all clubs outside of the Premiership and they should still attract
the better or more ambitious players. The only alternatives are clubs who have
sugar daddies but will the devaluing of the Championship and the move towards a
ring-fenced Premiership or a British/Irish League remove the incentive of
people to invest into the game? This is the more worrying aspect for me. If a
club currently relies on a sugar daddy who decides he has had enough and walks
away, what happens to the club? Will
they disappear or drop down to a level more appropriate to their new found status?
The top players will always rise to the top of the game and
be picked up by Premiership clubs. What worries me more is the probable consolidation of (more)
power to the Premiership clubs and a rise in Status of the 'A' league. All
clubs should be fighting against this and this campaign should be led by the
RFU who are in danger of losing the plot totally. ------------- Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards Remember Wakefield RFC |
Posted By: JonDee
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 08:19
Apologies again should have said amateur/semi pro . |
Posted By: Cricks at 2
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 08:27
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Posted By: Cricks at 2
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 08:34
| 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? |
Posted By: Jerorky
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 09:45
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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. |
Posted By: DICKON
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 09:49
| 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). |
Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:20
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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. ------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:30
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.
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Posted By: Toulouse
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:34
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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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Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:46
| RFU are going to kill off rugby if they go down this road. Pathetic. |
Posted By: Toulouse
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:55
| 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 |
Posted By: Toulouse
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 10:57
| Just thought, how are Leeds going to pay off their £6million debt now????? |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 11:20
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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. |
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:17
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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 ------------- So many Christians not enough Lions |
Posted By: PlangentThrowback
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:18
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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. |
Posted By: Dobber
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:23
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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Posted By: Bill Sley
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:27
| “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." |
Posted By: Bill Sley
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:31
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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? |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:32
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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. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:33
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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? ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 12:53
hmmm - hardly a reliable source
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Posted By: knightandday
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 13:22
Doesn’t mention the 3 signings at Doncaster this year from the Academy we run. ------------- Winning isn't everything, it just makes the beer taste better |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 13:31
Fair point, didn’t include any academy graduates from any club (Quite a few had a number listed) only players signed from external sources.
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Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 13:31
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There is no requirement in the RFU rules to achieve a return on investment so to say that is b o l l o c k s The RFU may be open to legal action through an interpretation of the current proposals in the details below. An alternative is a vote of No Confidence at a Special GM but trying to herd cats ......the problem is that this concerns the clubs at Levels 2-4 in the main - that's 60 clubs. 3 Objects 3.1 To encourage the Game, and its values, to flourish across England. 3.2 To grow the Game in England through the Union’s performance and values, namely teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. 3.3 To administer the Game as its governing body in England. 3.4 To promote the playing and administration of the Game in England in accordance with the Laws of the Game, the RFU Regulations and World Rugby Regulations. 3.5 To promote inclusivity and diversity within the Game. (at risk??) 3.6 To assist the development and playing of the Game throughout the world. 3.7 To provide, maintain and operate a national stadium or stadia. 3.8 To operate representative men’s and women’s teams
Player pathway ................................ the premiership clubs trawl of youth teams is cruel and will get worse with no stepping stones - it undermines to desire of those who are dropped from the relevant age squads - I speak from experience here. Let's all play American Football - USA sponsors are keen to move into Europe  ------------- "My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts." |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 13:50
Presumably, a % of EQP going into Premiership and beyond that going on to be capped by England. Something I will look at another time, but how many non-DR players have gone from the Championship to be capped in the time period they seem to be looking at? Cokanasiga jumps out as an example, but with £33 million (based on £550,000 per team for 5 years) spent, what is the actual cost to the RFU per player?
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 14:18
Indeed, I think that an important measure should be around homegrown players, and what happens with them. For example, my understanding is that Matt Cornish has played at Ealing man and boy, has 50+ appearances at age 22, and is being poached by Harlequins. My understanding is that Ealing has spent many hundred of thousands on their academy set up this year.
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Posted By: OldNick
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 14:31
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The last attempt by the RFU to remove funding of all tiers below the Premiership, and hand ver all professional rugby to their corrupt hands was about 3 years ago, when they attempted to pair Premiership teams with Championship clubs, changing the structure so that Championship clubs became subsidiaries- in much the way Hartpury chose to move. That restructuring was defeated in the RFU council leaving only the farcical provision of allowing ten dual registered players plus three loan players as a back door to subsidiarity. That route (unsurprisingly) having failed to persuade more than one Championship club to kneel before the Premiership pound, has now been replaced by the more brutal route. This time there is no restructuring offered to be voted out by the council. Instead the back door route of strangling the Championship clubs by removing funding. If, as it appears, there is no route for the council to reject this change, as it is not a structural change, just the administrative change if varying funding levels, there is only one way to deal with it. The RFU as an whole must come together to remove the executives of the RFU through an EGM and vote of no confidence.
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Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 14:59
Agree, emotionally. But rationally, trying to look at it dispassionately, and despite it shafting more than few clubs (including my own), hard-headedly I can see why it makes sense... To be clear, I don't want it to happen, but if the future's going to be "the sport can only afford 12* full-time clubs** and everyone else should be amateur"* then at least now they've come out and said it in blunt, bald terms. Which leaves everyone to come to terms with it or get off the bus. Rather than the nudging and winking that's been going on (saying/avowing one thing and structurally doing another) since the game went pro. Again, and I'm saying this again because I don't want to be misinterpreted and have the rage of the forum coming down on my head, I don't agree with the proposals and neither do I support them, *but* I actually in a small way actually welcome knowing where I/my club stands for the first time since 1995 rather than only suspecting I knew. If the free gangway myth is now a free gangway delusion then so be it. I reserve my practical sympathy for the clubs who are now potentially staring at financial black holes next season because of contracts which are longer than the absurd notice period of the changes. The drawbridge is up, the dreams are probably over for most aspirant level 2 clubs (and those clubs temporarily "slumming it" in level 3 and below). In a funny sort of way, I almost feel relieved. *we can quibble about the numbers, but whether it's 12/14/16/18 doesn't materially matter if the answer either way isn't 24 or more. **whether one agrees with the truth of that or not (for the record I don't) ------------- keep the faith |
Posted By: Brizzer
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 14:59
373 I'm afraid that presumably doesn't cut the mustard. If there are genuine objectives, what are they. From the people that I have spoken to these objectives have NEVER been brought up by Melville or his replacement since the 2015 WC at the club meetings. You would have thought that there would be a 'woop woop guys, more money, but this is what they want for it', but no. Nothing. So who will suffer? Well the players 100%. Those who play well at level 2 and realistically can't get into level 1 will be looking forward to either the sack or a pay cut. The clubs who have already put all/most/some of their playing staff for next season together with contracts signed. Some of which will be for longer than 1 year....this may hurt. The fans. Standards will ultimately drop, but entrance fees won't. Who may win? The RFU who will be a few million pounds better off. The Premiership clubs, who will probably be picking up those few million quid. Saracens who will still be getting their £4.5m parachute payment. Those players who Saracens pick up next season. The semi-pro team that is promoted from Nat 1 next season. They are likely to hit the ground running as the Champ tries to re-organise themselves....this is not the Nat 1 clubs fault mind you, but they may benefit nevertheless. The Championship clubs academy players, who may find themselves catapulted into the 1st XV squads. this could also work against them though as the physicality and standard will also increase. I am not totally surprised by this announcement, but I am surprised that there has been no warning to the clubs that this might be coming. To say that it is underhand by the RFU is an understatement and I would guess that other factors must be driving this ridiculous decision. |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 15:19
| Let's not pomegranite foot around - all the money saved by these cuts will be heading straight into the elite level kitty either to Premiership clubs, most of whom can't manage their resources as it is, or for Eddie Jones to to hire a whole host of extra coaches to sort out England's problems (a Shoe-lace tieing coach, how not to bother chasing box kick coach, how to prolong the setting of a scrum Coach and of course a Teach yourself how to play out of position coach) |
Posted By: JonDee
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 15:25
Didn't include the 7 signings from Notts Trent Uni through the partnership agreement or the fact that of the previous Uni lads 4 have signed full contracts |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 15:30
|
Pirates fired a broadside back at the RFU https://cornish-pirates.com/general-news/statement-on-behalf-of-cornish-pirates-and-coventry-rugby/" rel="nofollow - https://cornish-pirates.com/general-news/statement-on-behalf-of-cornish-pirates-and-coventry-rugby/ (coventry also involved, but the broadside thing works better with Pirates). The document is worth a read as well, and shows how professionally the championship clubs tried to engage. Also, my daughter is on page 4 to my surprise at the ET Winter wonderland event.
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 15:59
| Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the money from PRL a payoff to end the playoffs? Can we at least bring those back now? |
Posted By: OldNick
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:12
Hardly just a case of ‘CoventrY also involved’. This is a joint statement, also backed in the proposal included with it by Ealing Trailfinders and London Scottish. https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/2020/02/12/statement-on-behalf-of-coventry-rugby-and-cornish-pirates/ https://cornish-pirates.com/general-news/statement-on-behalf-of-cornish-pirates-and-coventry-rugby/ Linked in the article is a proposed structure prepared by CoventrY and Cornish Pirates, and submitted by them, Ealing Trailfinders, and London Scottish which they have supplied to the RFU but not been permitted to present... https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/RFU-Championship-Blueprint-v4-06-02-20.pdf |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:15
Hi old Nick - absolutely. I was just more focused on the pun with Pirates and broadside. To my shame, the desire for a good dad joke overcame the imperative to convey information accurately.
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Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:18
It does seem that it has been a fairly recent decision, but, it seems to really focus on the fact that the putting money into the Championship isn't creating a sustainable return on investment. Indeed, that was the main point of the statement put out by the RFU: '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 Championship is, and will continue to be, a useful way for players to get additional developmental experience, but we do not believe it is the primary place where Premiership and England players are discovered and developed.” There are a wide range of cuts across the game - academies won't be taking u13's next season and junior county teams are also disappearing. The RFU, rightly or wrongly, seem to be changing course on how they approach player development and are looking for clear RoI. In that 5 year period, I make it 5 players that have come from the from being fully registered Championship players to play for England (Paul Hill, Ellis Genge, Joe Cokansiga,Piers Francis, Alec Hepburn). It's cost the RFU just over £6.5 million each in payments to Championship clubs. It isn't sustainable.
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Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:22
Interesting document - obviously it would be for discussion/consultation but there are a few items in there that smack of (as usual) Championship clubs behaving like the Premiership cartel they're so critical of. The big one that stands out for me like an enormous flashing red light is "minimum salary in line with the National Minimum Wage". Over a squad of 40 at 17k each (to keep the maths easy - it's actually over 17k), that's a wage bill of £680k per year or you're not allowed to be in the league. This one season after a club with an amateur model only went down because of shenanigans elsewhere. £680k on player wages before you spend anything on anything else is obviously more doable than trying to match premiership spending, but it's still a big F off to the average club in N1.... ------------- keep the faith |
Posted By: Dobber
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:36
Q. Is the parachute payment REALLY £4.5M?? As for the comment on the Championship by Bill Sweeney..... .... I agree Bill. The primary source is by tweaking residency rules for S.Hemisphere players and an in-depth analysis of genealogy charts to find links to great-grandparents they didn't know they had...
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Posted By: ballbag
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:54
What's wrong about what Flood said in there? Ignore the bit about the hit and hurt in the air - that's subjective - but when he talks about having more time on the ball to make decisions than you would have playing international rugby then he's not wrong is he? Or do you think the Championship is of a similar standard to the Six Nations?
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Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 16:58
***stirs dim memories of when Welsh were bouncing up and down*** isn't it dependent on whether you own both A and B shares, and then gradated on how long you've been up? Basically Saracens would cop for the maximum either way. Whether you *should* get it if you've been relegated through points deductions for misbehaviour is another question again, but AIUI that isn't actually written into the rules so is irrelevant.
------------- keep the faith |
Posted By: Albionlass
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 17:14
So why don't all the Championship spokesmen approach RFU for salary cap now . Saracens would not keep to it and get relegated or a heavy fine with points deduction . ------------- Lifes a journey . Never a race . |
Posted By: Count Ford
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 17:44
It was the two quotes which showed his derisory attitude to the league. One about people going out to injure the big team and the other about it being just a bit of fun with your mates. If this is how senior players see it, it's no surprise the RFU don't care much about it much.
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Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 17:46
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I'm still trying to work out what'return on investment' means in this context. What were they expecting? ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 17:47
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Reading the CP document it is all very well and does pay lip service toNat 1 but all the refs mentioned reffed in Nat 1 before the Championship there are current internationals that never played in the Championship but made appearances in Nat 1. I think this is a much bigger issue than taking it league by league. There will not be many players playing in the Champ or Nat 1 that came through the club from minis - juniors - adult and we are only the custodians of the game at this moment and we need to ensure the game is not lost for the generations that follow ------------- So many Christians not enough Lions |
Posted By: Toulouse
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 19:21
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Return on investment...what a load of verbal diarrhea....its funding not investing! |
Posted By: Pirate Pig
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 19:21
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Although I had little faith in the RFU regarding their ability to govern
the game below the elite level I was always prepared to give them the
benefit of the doubt. Well this decision and particularly the timing and
content of the press release has shown how right those who questioned
the RFU were right to do so.
If you look back over the history of the championship we have had the Rob Andrew era, where clubs were encouraged with promises of funding and sponsorship to commit to turning full time. Even the most recent review by Nigel Melville focused on young English Qualified Players without any mention of a reduction in funding or that the clubs were failing to meet any previously agreed criteria. Fast forward to 2020 and it would appear that a new CEO at the RFU has determined that the championship should bear the brunt of any cutbacks to help close the gap in RFU finances. A CEO who has no previous rugby experience and been in post a matter of months. He quotes " “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." Yet I cannot find what these objectives were and where is evidence of the alleged failure? The RFU promote RESPECT as one of their core values, where is the respect shown to the championship clubs or the transparency in this decision making process? This decision was revealed yesterday to the clubs, no discussion, no opportunity to question the decision or offer alternative solutions and no consideration to phase in any cuts over a 2-3 year period. This decision is short sighted but will have a long term impact on the game. The RFU have failed the championship on many levels through the lack of long term funding plan,sponsorship and a clear vision of the future of the game at a professional level. I have said for many years that IF the RFU and PRL were truly working together for the benefit of young EQP and the game in general then all RFU academies would be sited at championship clubs and not in the premiership. The championship is an ideal level for many of these young players to learn their trade. Will it happen? No, because the premiership clubs know the value of the academies and as they also employ players at the elite level then they hold all the cards. I am no doubt that there has been collusion between PRL and RFU and this is the starting point for 'ring fencing' by other means. I hope this decision is challenged by all championship clubs and they explore every available option including any possible legal challenge. |
Posted By: Toulouse
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 19:49
| Pirate Pig, agree with you 100% |
Posted By: Pirate Pig
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 20:11
|
Ex-Pirates prop Jamal Ford-Robinson shows his support for the championship.
'Nail in the coffin' for Championship Gloucester prop Jamal Ford-Robinson has criticised the RFU’s decision to cut the level of funding for Championship clubs. Ford-Robinson played for Cornish Pirates early in his career before going on to play for Bristol and helping them win promotion to the Premiership from English rugby’s second tier. The 26-year-old, who represented England against the Barbarians in 2017, said on Twitter: “The Championship provided the platform that myself and many others needed in order to reach the Premiership. “While this decision doesn't completely destroy the Champ, it's definitely a nail in the coffin. Can't help but think this decision is incredibly short-sighted.” |
Posted By: Pirate Pig
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 20:31
|
Championship clubs are now making their feelings known, here is a part of the media release from Jersey chairman Mark Morgan “Championship clubs have been trying for months to get clarity around funding following the end of the current funding agreement this summer. To be presented with this fait accompli when teams are already hiring for next season is immoral and irresponsible. “There has been zero consultation, engagement, nor explanation before the announcement and no vision for the future of the Championship was provided. With Bill Sweeney’s heralded business background, this is astonishingly poor execution. “The RFU has talked about ‘missed objectives’. I have attended every Championship meeting at Twickenham over the past 4 years but do not recall this ever being raised by RFU. |
Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 21:39
|
I've removed a post from this thread.
I know feelings are running high but they can still be expressed in a more civilized way. Thank you. ------------- Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards Remember Wakefield RFC |
Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2020 at 23:26
|
BBC Coventry and Warks Radio Rugby Show this evening.
Well worth a listen. Nearly an hour's discussion between Cov Chairman Jon Sharp, Richard Moon (Rupert's brother for those that don't know) and host Alec Blackman on the RFU's decision - and very little holding-back! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p080l842" rel="nofollow - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p080l842 Sorry about the lack of a proper link. A pain on this phone. Please copy and paste; I'll sort the link when I get on the laptop. Edit: link appears to have worked for a change...
------------- Our Club |
Posted By: Bill Sley
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 05:45
Apologies if I missed any reply, and not sure if this makes any difference to the decision, but IF the objectives weren't met then the RFU could be seen as being in the right. This doesn't of course change the (incorrect) view of the RFU that they're some sort of a venture capital outfit that can invest/disinvest as they see fit. They seem to have conveniently forgotten their purpose which is to represent their members....all of them. |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 08:02
The problem is that the RFU are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. For all the hysteria last year with regards to the cutting of grass roots staff, people were still happy to see money pumped into the Championship to artificially create a professional league that in reality is totally unsuitable due to a lack of commercial interest in it. As with any organisation, there needs to be an acknowledgement that some things become vanity projects, which the Championship has arguably become. If the £3.3 million not being spent on the Championship is spent in developing the sport to be more accessible to a wide range of new players to ensure its survival Id be more than happy. I think there’s a puzzle piece that has been missed by most in that another RFU investment has planned out as hoped, but that’s a story 4 another day.
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 08:03
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You're missing the point somewhat Bill... The 5 objectives were listed in national media coverage yesterday as part of the RFU's leak on Tuesday PM ahead of the official announcement yesterday AM. They included the clubs in GKIPAC not having become sustainable - well nor are the Prem clubs - and not developing English-qualified players for the Prem and national side - in fact there's a huge list of players who've made that move. And besides, as pointed out by multiple well-placed senior sources from the clubs, these objectives weren't made clear, and they weren't monitored as an ongoing assessment such as any normal business would do with key performance indicators on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis. They were then wheeled out at a convenient stage in an attempt to justify a premeditated course of action - news that was delivered less than 3 months before the end of the current season. And besides, as you say, the RFU should have a wider purpose to represent club rugby rather than act as a venture capital/ return-on-investment type organisation... And besides, if somebody or some organisation is determined not to do something, they'll find an excuse, or more likely a multiple layer of excuses, not to do so. The RFU was clearly set on this course of action and then came up with an 'excuse framework' in which to set it.
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Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 08:03
| **hasnt panned in that last paragraph. iPhones hate English. |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 09:17
|
They just wanted to save money somewhere. The purported justification is gobbledegook they wrapped it up in.
------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Clive Norling
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 09:28
373, it's a little while since we crossed swords but I have to say with this statement your naivety of the real world is shown up in all it's glory, these cuts in funding are due in the main to two major issues ... 1) The refurbishment of the East stand going over budget by 50% 2) Eddie Jones going over budget by 1 million pounds per season on a regular basis The money is NOT going on developing the sport, I would bet my mortgage and life on that! It's going to try and fill the massive black hole created by the RFU's previous CEO and Finance Director, who for some strange reason are no longer with the company, I can't think why that is ...... |
Posted By: stadium
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 09:42
|
Time to Boycott the RFU and refuse to purchase goods from the Twickenham shop or online. Sweeney and Coner O,Shea have made a disastrous start as directors.
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Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 09:51
|
Another thought - if they wanted 'return on investment' why did they pour half a million down the plughole by giving it to Yorkshire Carnegie, whose survival the previous season was due the importation of seven unpaid New Zealanders? 'Inept' is a polite word for the whole thing. Clive Norling's post gets to the root of the matter. All the flim flam is an insult to our collective intelligence. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 09:53
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If boycotting the RFU simply means not buying anything from their shop and not visiting Twickenham I have been boycotting them for years. :-) Unfortunately for every rugby fan that boycotts them, there are a queue of others waiting to buy tickets for a boys day out. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Thunderbird
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 10:02
| Clive, am I right in thinking the previous CEO now works for Premiership? |
Posted By: Clive Norling
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 10:29
Yes, he is the Chairman / CEO or something like that, it is insulting to everyone that he has been able to negotiate with one company on behalf of the RFU and now gets a job working with that same said company ..... Libel and litigation restricts me from saying anything else 
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Posted By: Brizzer
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 10:29
|
Of course, this could be all smoke and mirrors. By coming out with something terrible, that will severely affect most teams in the 2nd tier, they could be in a position to then say 'tell you what, we will guarantee your funding for another 5 years IF you agree to ring fencing the PL from the end of next season i.e. as soon as Sarries have been promoted to where they belong. Faced with the alternative I should imagine that most clubs would have to bite their arm off. The RFU would then be in a position to say that the Championship fully supported ring fencing and hey presto the big nasty bully wins. |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 10:47
373, it's a little while since we crossed swords but I have to say with this statement your naivety of the real world is shown up in all it's glory, these cuts in funding are due in the main to two major issues ... 1) The refurbishment of the East stand going over budget by 50% 2) Eddie Jones going over budget by 1 million pounds per season on a regular basis The money is NOT going on developing the sport, I would bet my mortgage and life on that! It's going to try and fill the massive black hole created by the RFU's previous CEO and Finance Director, who for some strange reason are no longer with the company, I can't think why that is ...... [/QUOTE] If you're going to try and be a smart alec, at least engage with a whole post rather than cherry pick quotes so you look like billy big ones on the internet. There is a funding gap created by some very poor investment choices made in the past number of years far removed from the East Stand, which will recoup it's costs eventually and the overspend on the International side which saw the game generate more interest during the WC run, which has lead to increased numbers of minis entering the game. I'd rather cuts were made in the 'professional' side of the game than inflict more cuts on the grassroots. This is an example of that.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 11:15
I'd guess we're already in a majority. I've never spent a penny on such tat. I once, many years ago, went to an international there (only because my bro-in-law was given tickets for a cheapo Canada game). I'll certainly not repeat the experience. Ever. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 11:25
|
It was interesting to read the detailed report that Cornish Pirates and Coventry presented to the RFU, but by all accounts it was not even considered. They presented a plan to make the league more exciting, vibrant and gain wider following . . . this all read well until you got to the budget section: 40 players on an average of £20k 5 coaches on an average of £30k etc etc Total budget £1.5m Surely this undermines the whole argument of a full time league. The Championship is hugely physically demanding and to say that you can have a squad of players earning just above minimum wage makes no sense at all. And what happens to these players when they have to get a real job, aged 28-35? ------------- Run with it |
Posted By: Richard Lowther
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 11:30
|
Taking a much wider view on the entire subject. One thing strikes me above anything else and that is the
lack of a long term raison d'etre of the Championship by the RFU. It should be
the RFU's bargaining chip in their 'battle' with the Premiership clubs. IMHO
the RFU have always held the bargaining chips in their negotiations with the
Premiership but haven't realised it and folded far too early in negotiations
and gave the Premiership clubs everything they wanted and more (what I call the
Oliver principle.) The majority of the Premiership clubs, even with the CVC
investment, are running at losses- which would be even larger without the £225M
from the RFU. This is approx. £2.33million per club per season. And what do the
RFU get for this? Access to approx. 50 players per season. This means that the
RFU is paying around £560,000 per England player per season, before they have
even played a game for England. (Say 12 England games per season £47,000 per
England game) On top of that is the player’s
wages, etc. Is this value for money? Why aren't the RFU asking these questions
and reducing funding from the Premiership clubs. The RFU could have centrally contracted players and loaned
them back to the clubs for less. There is the other argument about why some clubs should receive
more money that others - should their position in a league be the only
criteria? Or should it be based on a wider set of criteria such the
introduction and development of youngsters into the game, or Women’s or
Disability rugby or the involvement of a club in the community? (Community
facilities/participation rates) Should Club A who import say 5 overseas players receive more
than Club B who field a side of locally developed players because they happen
to be in different levels of the leagues? Which one benefits the game of Rugby
Union in the longer term? ------------- Moderator http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk" rel="nofollow - National League Rugby Message Boards Remember Wakefield RFC |
Posted By: Bill Sley
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 11:49
Thanks Islander - I don't think I missed the point (might have done) but more I missed the coverage in yesterdays papers. Are you saying that the clubs DID achieve the 5 objectives or didn't? |
Posted By: Clive Norling
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 12:00
If you're going to try and be a smart alec, at least engage with a whole post rather than cherry pick quotes so you look like billy big ones on the internet. There is a funding gap created by some very poor investment choices made in the past number of years far removed from the East Stand, which will recoup it's costs eventually and the overspend on the International side which saw the game generate more interest during the WC run, which has lead to increased numbers of minis entering the game. I'd rather cuts were made in the 'professional' side of the game than inflict more cuts on the grassroots. This is an example of that. [/QUOTE] 373 here is your quote in full on this one, don't want to appear to be cherry picking .... 1) The East stand went over budget by £32 million pounds, that is 62% out, yes it will recoup it's costs EVENTUALLY but I wonder how long and only by charging vastly over priced rates to CORPORATE clients, whilst grass roots supporters are in the gods of the stadium watching white dots run around ... 2) Please elaborate on "very poor investment choices"??? 3) "led to increased numbers of minis entering the game", just where do you pull that statement from? The WC only finished 2 months ago, there can have been no accurate data collection? Your local club is not an indicator for the rest of the country 4) "World Cup run" .... we lost, end of, I think Mr.Jones stated on a number of occasions "judge me on the World Cup", I have, in professional sport, first is everywhere, second is no where ... |
Posted By: PlangentThrowback
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 12:06
| As usual the Championship is blaming the RFU when it ought to be sharing part of the blame. Cuts to lower levels never got a mention by the clubs whilst they happily took the RFU's shilling. The Championship does so little to help itself collectively preferring to take handouts rather than develop itself (a few clubs have taken steps to build facilities and processes I agree) in commercial terms.Everyone knew the current funding round was coming to an end. There was no guarantee that funding would increase, or even be maintained, in the new one. Given the RFU's financial state it was always likely to be reduced. What actual plans did the Championship have in place to address these possibilities? Other than to be outraged that is. As for the so-called plan issued by a few clubs, it has little in the way of concrete proposals and is really nothing more than a statement, with pretty pictures, that they are going to think about what to do in the near future. They should have been thinking about it before. The 'proposal' (code for 'making it up as we go along' for a third tier European competition including the French D2 has absolutely no detail whatsoever. What incentive can the Championship possibly offer those clubs when it is already claiming to have no money. Nothing is addressed, just a few vague ideas. Sadly, all too symptomatic of the Championship.The RFU has never had a clue about what to do with the Championship. Unfortunately the Championship has taken that as a sign that it didn't need to get its act together either. The RFU has hardly covered itself with glory but the fault doesn't lie entirely there. |
Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 12:57
So it will re-coup the money, gracious of you to say so. Unlike the money which has been poured into the Championship which resides in banks in Cape Town, Wellington, Brisbane, Dublin et al.
Oh dear, I thought you knew everything and had a huge grasp of the real world. It seems that isn't the case. If you don't know, it's an indication of your general lack of knowledge of the wider game and the issues surrounding it.
Not just my club, but numerous others, schools. The WC saw an influx of kids coming into the game. There's no data on it yet, but I'd be more than confident of the data showing just that. It's also interesting that, if I recall correctly, a lot of that overspend was funded by donors outside the game. So it didn't come from the RFU coffers. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/11816784/will-carling-secured-funding-to-help-england-with-world-cup-challenge" rel="nofollow - https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/11816784/will-carling-secured-funding-to-help-england-with-world-cup-challenge
So, what happens to the SECOND tier of Professional Rugby Clive? Pull all the funding completely? Following that asinine logic, its the only valid step. You have endeavoured to make a massive mammary of yourself and have done so with much aplomb.
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 13:11
I don't have the 5 in front of me, but have mentioned 2 above, one of which - the sustainability one - was unsurprisingly 'missed' as there are hardly any sustainable business models at the top level, and the other covers the development of players - well there's a long list of players but the RFU chose to twist this by saying that only one of current squad - Harry Williams - was discovered at level 2. The points I think that - with respect - you are missing are:
|
Posted By: Clive Norling
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 15:02
"You have endeavoured to make a massive mammary of yourself and have done so with much aplomb" .... Well I did that for 21 years in The Premiership, so why stop now??  |
Posted By: Mark W-J
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 15:34
 |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 16:49
For what they're worth, these are the 5 objectives/KPIs, as reported by the Times yesterday:
my immediate thoughts in bold:
|
Posted By: Brizzer
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 16:56
Well said Islander. Hardly a failure is it? Especially if parameters have not been put around the objectives. |
Posted By: Coventrian Man
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 17:01
| Bristol and London Irish made scant regard to the English Qualified Player portion of the Championship funding. This was ignored in an effort to gain promotion back to the Premiership |
Posted By: Pirate Pig
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 18:05
|
In an interview earlier today with Radio Cornwall Pirates chairman Paul Durkin confirmed that the championship clubs were informed by email at 8am on Tuesday. He was in London for a meeting of the championship clubs which the RFU CEO Bill Sweeney and Connor O'Shea were attending in the afternoon. The objectives mentioned by the RFU were an internal measurement used by them to justify the increased funding but have never been circulated to the clubs as any form of key performance indicator. Pirates owner Dicky Evans has been interviewed on Sky Sports and stated that the handling of this by the RFU was deplorable and was the equivalent to sacking someone by text message. He added that the championship clubs are considering to propose a £2.5M salary cap(which will also effect the relegated premiership side) and the re-introduction of the play offs. The salary cap may be difficult but the play offs can be done by a single vote.
|
Posted By: Pirate Pig
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 21:27
| If any fans are interested in signing a petition of ' no confidence in the RFU board' one has been started on the pirates forum. |
Posted By: cheshire exile
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 21:27
| Play offs would surely be preferable to the unloved Championship Cup. |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 21:35
| Those metrics would be laughed out of the room in the corporate world. My most junior staff member knows to create S.M.A.R.T. metrics to measure performance. They must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relavant, Timely. The RFU fails on most of those counts. If they were a regulated business, then their regulator would be issuing fines for their poor governance |
Posted By: Trailfinder
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2020 at 21:41
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Surely it's time for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to step in and overhaul the governance of rugby in this country? It's not fit for purpose no matter which rung on the ladder your team is on. |