RFU must beware forcing clubs down the road to ruin

By Brian Dick on Nov 10, 08 04:51 PM in Rugby

The Rugby Football Union will put proposals for a fully professional 12 team National One, called the Championship, before their council this Friday.

This is the same plan rejected by a 12-4 majority by the clubs within First Division Rugby last month - a ballot that seems to have counted for nothing.

Yet the union should think very hard about enforcing full-time squads on any clubs not ready for them - particularly when they are not willing to pay for it and believe me, I've seen the funding matrix and they're not paying for it.

Friday could also prove a pivotal day in the existence of Nottingham Rugby, a well run and likeable club that has achieved a considerable amount in the last four seasons.

If Nottingham can't raise the £150,000 they need they could be out of business by Christmas. They expect to hear from a mysterious South African who has come forward with an amorphous offer of help around this time.

The two issues should not be divorced. Full professionalism is something that has to grow organically or be provided by a sugar daddy. A rush to the former in the absence of the latter has already sent several famous clubs under.

The RFU need to realise full-time isn't all its cracked up to be. The rewards are relatively meagre but the risks are enormous. Consider that before forcing the likes of Moseley and Coventry down a route signposted 'Oblivion'.