This week’s letters: Population ratios suggest room for more pro players
John Allanson (Rugby Paper, September 11) states it is ‘preposterous’ that Championship clubs could be anything other than semi-professional. But there’s no reason why this should be so.
Relative to size of population, England – with its 13 Premiership clubs – has far fewer full-time professional sides than Ireland, or even Scotland. Indeed if England had the same ratio of fully professional teams to population as Scotland has managed, it would sustain 20 of them. If it matched Ireland there would be 32.
Perhaps someone should tell the IRFU their model for professional rugby is unsustainable, will prevent their pro teams being successful in Europe, and ruin the chance of the national side ever reaching number one in the world rankings or winning a Test series in New Zealand.
Or, just perhaps, the RFU should be promoting and expanding the spread of professional rugby and seeking to widen its appeal as a spectator attraction. Instead it seems to be stifling the growth of the sport by its de facto and now de jure ring-fencing of the Premiership.
Redirect Spending to benefit all levels
Rugby union in the North is in big trouble. There are now fewer clubs, and each club has fewer senior teams playing. Junior sections are growing but there is no progress into the senior teams.
The RFU must start to spend funds more wisely. Cut out the England 7s, it gives nothing to the 15-a-side game. Female rugby should develop at the pace it raises by its own finances not on RFU handouts as all junior clubs have to do.
The monies spent on the England team must be more realistic in the present financial situation, ie reduce match fees, spend less on hotels, travelling, administrators etc.
The RFU must remember it is there for all levels of the game not just the Premiership.
Fans cry out for one stand alone rugby channel
Even before the cost of living crisis I was struggling to afford the FIVE separate subscriptions (BT, Sky, Amazon, Premier Sports and PRTV) required in order to watch most top level Rugby Union matches.
I have now had to cancel my subscriptions to BT, Sky, and Premier Sports channels, none of whom offer a stand alone Rugby Union option, instead requiring the potential customer to pay for expensive soccer and other sports that are not wanted.
An English Premiership PRTV season ticket sounded like a promising new option but, what with BT having first pick of fixtures each week and the lack of staggered game days/kick off times its attraction is limited.
Sadly it seems that rugby has gone the way of cricket in pricing itself out of the mass viewing market which cannot bode well for the future of the sport, Rugby Union authorities – one stand alone, affordable TV subscription channel please!
Email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk
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