Open letter to Kathyrn Williamson
Printed From: National League Rugby Discussion Forum
Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: The Championship
Forum Description: Discuss the 12 clubs forming the English Championship.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=19831
Printed Date: 12 May 2024 at 17:11
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Topic: Open letter to Kathyrn Williamson
Posted By: Cherub
Subject: Open letter to Kathyrn Williamson
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 08:11
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Dear Kathyrn Williamson I follow and sometimes contribute to this rugby forum that discusses all things to do with the Championship rugby clubs. For some time now most of the discussions are about conjecture and sometimes downright fantasy. This is due entirely to the lack of information coming from the RFU. Indeed, the general opinion of how the RFU runs today’s game is less than complimentary. I am therefore writing to you, in your role of the Executive Director of Communications at the RFU, to make some suggestions on how you can improve the image of your employer. At the end of this month The Premiership will be announcing a decision about the future of London Irish. Can I therefore suggest that during the first week of June, preferably before the end of next week, you release a statement about the following: 1 A full list of the clubs taking part in The Championship next season. 2 A date when the full fixture list will be published. 3 A date when the full draw for the new cup competition will be announced. 4 A clear explanation about promotion and relegation. 5 What funding will be available from the RFU to each Championship side next season. 6 A date when you are likely to announce the changes planned for the 2024/25 season. Some of the answers to the above have been announced but the situation regarding the future of this wonderful game has become muddy and demands a snappy, concise, and informative response from its administrator. I invite other members of this forum to add any additional comments they may have, and I also invite you to respond direct if you so wish. After all, good communications are a good thing, don’t you think? ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Replies:
Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 08:16
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Good luck. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 08:29
I don't think 1 will be possible - won't we have the same performance as we've had with Worcester and Wasps, where it's clear they're not at level 1, but not clear immediately that they won't be at level 2? I mean officially... 4 I think I would add the bit in bold, simply because there seems to be a growing head of steam that somehow ringfencing the top two leagues is any better than ringfencing just the top one... To be honest, given we're about to go into 23/24, I'm not sure you can decouple 4 and 6? Otherwise National 1 won't know what they're competing for.
------------- keep the faith |
Cherub wrote:Posted By: Cherub
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 08:42
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Thank you, Kimbo, for your good wishes, and to billesleyexile for your suggestions. I would like to add two additional suggestions: 7 What is actively happening about gaining sponsorship for The Championship? 8 What is actively happening about getting a TV deal for The Championship? ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 09:18
| More chance of plaiting fog, but very reasonable and sensible, good luck. |
Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 14:39
It was more tongue-in-cheek at the time tbf, but it would be nice to see some positive reaction, so... good luck  ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 15:12
| Kathryn Williamson was my grandmother. Long gone now but I suspect you would still have more success writing to her. |
Posted By: Neasham
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 15:14
| Why do you think the Director of Communications is responsible for policy? Don’t shoot the messenger. |
Posted By: Cherub
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 15:29
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Communication from the RFU is poor. Kathryn is the Executive Director of Communications. I am not shooting the messenger. I am asking the messenger to do her job. ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 16:48
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Cherub, I applaud your initiative and I wish you well in your endeavour. More years ago than I care to remember I wrote an open letter on this forum to the President of the RFU and sent the same letter by first class post. I received a 4 page response from the then President. I think it very appropriate for you to take the action you have and I do suggest you send a hard copy letter or an email as well. Kind Regards Big Eddie
------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Posted By: Neasham
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 16:54
And if Mr Sweeney tells her when and what she should put out she should ignore him? |
Posted By: Cherub
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 17:10
I sent her an email about 30 minutes ago. Watch this space. ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 17:28
Messengers need messages to send. The understanding from the NLR AGM this week was that there are still discussions and negotiations happening about the message!
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Posted By: Cherub
Date Posted: 26 May 2023 at 17:47
I am not asking for instant answers for some of my suggestions, merely dates when to expect an answer. ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Posted By: Cherub
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 14:32
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I have just received the following email response from Kathryn Williamson: Dear Peter, The RFU is working collaboratively with representatives from the Championship and Premiership Rugby to look at the long-term future and structure of the professional game under the Professional Game Agreement. The RFU has committed to retaining current funding levels to the Championship until the end of the 2023/24 season, providing certainty to the clubs, while longer term discussions around the Professional Game Agreement take place. The Championship will consist of 12 teams for the 2023-24 season with the fixtures due to be announced in late June in line with previous years. We are currently working with the clubs, who have the outline season structure, to map fixtures to their requests and availability. For many years we have provided support in seeking sponsorship and broadcast partners, however, appetite has been limited. TNT Sports (BT Sport) will provide coverage of the Premiership Cup next season, which will include Championship clubs. The RFU is looking at continuing to provide a streaming service for the league, as it has done in recent seasons. Best wishes, Kathryn ------------- Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 14:57
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At the Cambridge SGM last Tuesday we were told by our Chairman, that at the Championship Clubs meeting that day there was no confirmation of the funding for the 23/24 season. So presumably it has been confirmed in the last week. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: *Stalwart
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 15:02
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It's good that the Premiership Cup will be televised. Regarding the sponsorship and broadcast partners - if we had play-offs and promotion it would be easier to attract such partners. For example, had the game between Jersey and Ealing been to decide who would be promoted to the Premiership it would have been very attractive to sponsors and broadcasters. ------------- *Stalwart |
Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 15:16
Well that's reassuring - tiny number of pro clubs continue to wag the tail of the rugby dog - and the other 2000 clubs will be told what's been decided by their betters in due course. Business as usual. If we continue to place the decisions about the top levels of rugby in the hands of the top levels of rugby then we'll come up with the same answers as always, and RU will remain in thrall to the seedy, golf-club bar, pork-barrel back-scratching that has blighted it since the days of closed fixture lists. ------------- keep the faith |
Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2023 at 18:06
Cambridge like most / all clubs have had their fair share of financial problems but I do recall a young Cambridge prop who was evicted from his rented home supplied by Cambridge RFC due to unpaid rent. He had not received monies due from the club for his front row services. He turned up at Ealing and was given accomodation and a job which included coaching U18'S Rugby. This was as far back as 2010 I recall. I hope they have all their finances in place and they are able to pay their players what they deserve at Championship level. ------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 09:28
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Yes, that was the point Cambridge almost ceased to exist. The list of donors who saved it is on the wall upstairs. You will see it if you come for lunch. However, I believe the current committee will not make the same mistakes. They might make different ones. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: workerbee
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 10:27
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The problem is that any decisions on the future of the Premiership and Championship will have an effect on all the leagues below so it is important that these decisions are made as quickly as possible by the RFU. ( I know using the verb Quick and RFU in the same sentence is perhaps optimistic!!) If it is decided to go to two Premier leagues of 10 then that will effect Level 3, with 3 relegated and no promotion to Championship alternatively if promotion to championship is continued then it will mean 4 relegated!! Again If the RFU decide to split level 3 into North and South (to reduce travel costs, logical but again Logic and RFU rarely go together . This will have an effect on Level 4 and all leagues below. I would also expect that the RFU will try to push cup competitions onto level 3 and 4 after the success of the Pappa Johns cup success !! I have always thought that if you decide to alter the league structure, the best place to start is from the top. In the last 10 years we have had several changes, each one being declared by the RFU that this would be the last one for a long time! Yet here we are again not knowing what is happening to the next season which is now 8 weeks away, Clubs cannot organise their diaries and get sponsors for home games or take booking for their clubhouse when they have away games. Do the RFU not know that off field income is the route to survival for most clubs.
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Posted By: tigerburnie
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 11:58
| My understanding is that some sort of consultation is/has taken place, I think clubs may know something but as of yet nothing from the RFU, now this may be linked to the London Irish situation? |
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 22:50
| Dont criticise the RFU for being slow. I hear that trying to get the Championship Club to agree is the biggest problem. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 23:10
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The Championship has struggled for an identity. The National 1 sides are all semi-pro, some with more budget than others. But the Championship goes from there - almost all the support you get from central funds goes on extra medical and insurance costs - to fully professional, so is probably the most diverse league in the entire pyramid. SO I do not wonder that the clubs do not ave a single view of the world. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2023 at 23:35
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Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2023 at 12:02
But the RFU are supposed to be in charge. They should set a date by which agreement has to be reached and if it isn't then they should make the decision for them. Continually sitting on the fence and waiting for something to happen isn't management.
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Posted By: workerbee
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2023 at 13:35
| I still believe in the way they decide on a New Pope , lock them in a room until a final decision is made, preferably one with no toilet. |