Our local clubs need help and clarity from the top of the game

IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT THIS SPORT I LOVE ISN'T IN A GREAT PLACE AT THE MOMENT

AT my club Winnington Park, our first team will not have played a match for six weeks by the time they face Old Crossleyans in the Papa John's Community Cup this weekend.

The grassroots men's game underwent a restructure ahead of this season, with the introduction of this new cup competition at the end of the league campaign.

The aim, according to the RFU, was to 'reboot and reenergise community rugby!

But it is crucial for clubs such as Winnington Park that we play games.

We received a bye in the last round, but the structure of the new competition means teams can face long journeys, and that forces sides to pull-out.

Teams have either jacked it in following the end of the league season or are down to a skeleton squad as players have called it a day because they have gone weeks without a match.

For me, it is just shambolic. These amateur clubs are the linchpin of this great game of ours and the RFU need to take another look at this.

But to be frank, the RFU have a lot to take a look at! With just weeks left until the end of the season, we still don't know what is happening with the Gallagher Premiership and the Championship next season in terms of the number of teams and fixtures.

It is simply not good enough. Amateur clubs are continuing to struggle. At Winnington, we may find it difficult to put out a third team next year, something we have always done.