THE article last week regarding Mick Hogan’s concerns about rugby in the North is no doubt founded on genuine concern, but is inaccurate in a couple of areas.
The RFU is divided into four regions. It is actually going to be only eight Northern Clubs in the top 40 next season, but there are 11 Midlands Clubs as well, so the Midlands and North, who group together at National 2 North (Level 4) have 19 out of 40 – hardly a massive imbalance.
Furthermore, the South West will have only seven clubs in the top 40, with no clubs in National 1. No one is shouting about the death of rugby ...