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#Post#: 38967--------------------------------------------------
Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: ChiddQuin
Date: February 18, 2020, 4:54 am
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I have just signed a petition calling for the resignation of the
RFU board in light of the ridiculous cuts they are making to the
Championship clubs and lack of support for rugby generally at
the lower levels. How many of our players have we sourced over
the years from clubs in lower levels of rugby? Easter & Care
spring to mind but I am sure there are plenty of others. I don't
know if this is the right petition but I do believe what is
happening is wrong and that it needs to be fought. If you feel
the same way take a look at it.
HTML https://www.change.org/p/rugby-football-union-rfu-board-should-be-replaced<br
/>
#Post#: 38970--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: February 18, 2020, 5:18 am
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I do agree with support for the lower levels of the game but
sacking the whole board. Who should they be replaced with?
What is needed is a grown up discussion about funding and the
economic health of the level below the international game. At
present, most of the premiership loses money, bailed out by
wealthy benefactors despite academy credits, EQP payments, TV
deals etc. Player wages have been inflated by France and also
the likes of Sarries via various nefarious means. The
premiership is a money hoover.
Below the level of 1st team premiership we have the Premiership
Cup, The A League and the Championship. That's a lot of just
below top level rugby with a lot of players required to fill
squads and not a lot of money to go around. The Championship has
struggled to attract a title sponsor and a TV deal recently. The
league is also generally distorted by having a premiership team
with a parachute payment on sabbatical. Some of the players in
that league are pro, some aren't. Some clubs have ambitions to
go up - some don't at all. You've also got a few teams with paid
players below the Championship, distorting things further -
taking money away from youth/womens rugby at that level too.
While it's disappointing that the RFU have reduced funding back
to pre 2015 levels, the game needs a rethink.
#Post#: 38973--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 18, 2020, 5:31 am
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--- Quote from: A222Quin link ---
>
> I do agree with support for the lower levels of the game but
sacking the whole board. Who should they be replaced with?
>
> What is needed is a grown up discussion about funding and the
economic health of the level below the international game. At
present, most of the premiership loses money, bailed out by
wealthy benefactors despite academy credits, EQP payments, TV
deals etc. Player wages have been inflated by France and also
the likes of Sarries via various nefarious means. The
premiership is a money hoover.
>
> Below the level of 1st team premiership we have the
Premiership Cup, The A League and the Championship. That's a lot
of just below top level rugby with a lot of players required to
fill squads and not a lot of money to go around. The
Championship has struggled to attract a title sponsor and a TV
deal recently. The league is also generally distorted by having
a premiership team with a parachute payment on sabbatical. Some
of the players in that league are pro, some aren't. Some clubs
have ambitions to go up - some don't at all. You've also got a
few teams with paid players below the Championship, distorting
things further - taking money away from youth/womens rugby at
that level too.
>
> While it's disappointing that the RFU have reduced funding
back to pre 2015 levels, the game needs a rethink.
>
--- End Quote ---
A perfect summary. This whole conversation needs to be held at
IRB HQ - the French professional model is causing an inevitably
fatal butterfly effect for the game the world over. We've all
known it's unsustainable for a long time, but if each nation's
professional game board continues to address their game in
isolation then nothing will change and we'll be back to square
one.
#Post#: 38974--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: Twickersman
Date: February 18, 2020, 6:03 am
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I don't like the cuts to the championship. However, the reality
of the situation is that two professional leagues in the UK is
not working and there is no hope for it to work from a financial
perspective.
This is the first step into the world of ringfencing.
I just hope that clubs like Ealing, Cornish Pirates who have
realistic ambitions and importantly, the financial muscle (In
Ealing case anyway).
#Post#: 38979--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: never sleep
Date: February 18, 2020, 7:19 am
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--- Quote from: Twickersman link ---
>
> I don't like the cuts to the championship. However, the
reality of the situation is that two professional leagues in the
UK is not working and there is no hope for it to work from a
financial perspective.
>
> This is the first step into the world of ringfencing.
>
> I just hope that clubs like Ealing, Cornish Pirates who have
realistic ambitions and importantly, the financial muscle (In
Ealing case anyway).
>
>
>
>
>
--- End Quote ---
It seems odd that England can't run two leagues when the French
(who have a smaller union base) can run 2 fully professional
leagues (14+16 teams)
Interesting though is that to be promoted to the D2 in France,
you have to submit to an audit to make sure that your finances
are sustainable. Therefore, teams can only progress if they
have a sustainable model.
Maybe the future should be a new Championship where there are
only a few professional teams (maybe 6 or so to start with) that
are all sustainable and then increase the size when other teams
comply.
#Post#: 38992--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: Mayor West
Date: February 18, 2020, 2:28 pm
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From what I gather , the RFU have said that the championship
have not kept their end of the deal so that’s why funding has
been cut. What was the deal that they have defaulted on.
#Post#: 38995--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: never sleep
Date: February 18, 2020, 3:20 pm
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There was an open letter to the rfu from the Doncaster dor which
had the details.
I will hunt for it and post the details
#Post#: 38999--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: never sleep
Date: February 19, 2020, 2:34 am
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HTML https://www.drfc.co.uk/open-letter-from-president-steve-lloyd-to-the-rfu/
Here is the relevant bit:
-To produce a financially viable 2nd tier of the professional
game
-To develop and grow a 2nd tier of professional clubs with the
ambition to become Premier Clubs
-To develop England Qualified Players (EQP’s) for Premier Clubs
and, ultimately, England teams
-To develop future England Premiership and National coaches
-Develop a Community Programme associated with the clubs
Let us be quite clear here, not one club attending, particularly
those who were in the Championship in 2015, had any knowledge or
recollection of such requirements. We signed Participation
Agreements to obtain funds and, for the last 4 years all clubs
have been striving hard to develop the “brand Championship”. Had
we been failing in any contractual requirements, why on earth
did the RFU not inform us on an annual basis as would happen in
any professional circumstance?
As an aside, it would be equally interesting to test the above
targets against Premiership Rugby clubs – particularly the first
one requiring financial viability!
As a matter of fact, most of the above “deliverables” have
indeed been achieved to various degrees by most Championship
clubs.
#Post#: 39006--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: number_seven
Date: February 19, 2020, 6:05 am
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I signed it because I agree with the general sentiment (even if
the proposed solution is a little drastic).
The cuts are damaging and send a message that premiership rugby
= professional rugby, and I think we all know that there's a lot
more to it than that.
#Post#: 39012--------------------------------------------------
Re: Petition against Championhip cuts
DIR By: Mayor West
Date: February 19, 2020, 8:24 am
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Thanks for the info never sleep. It does sound like a flimsy get
out clause for the RFU. I don’t think the RFU realise how much
of an impact this funding has on the production and discovery of
young talent. I think a lot of talent will be missed because
there won’t be the incentive to make a living playing rugby.
Many will stay very amateur as they will need a proper job. The
RFU do a lot for development of grass roots players but are in
danger of loosing all that further down the line. This is apart
from the affect on the individual clubs involved.
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