The Council member responded to the campaigner raising serious points, “I’m inclined to vote for ringfencing if only to piss you off”. The member in question will be voting on the three or four-year promotion-relegation suspension which the RFU Board is recommending at a Council meeting later this month.
It would be disingenuous to suggest that this schoolyard jibe on such a crucial issue reflects on the entire 65-strong Council, but it provides a window into the growing divisions and antagonism over the direction the RFU is taking on promotion-relegation.
The as yet unspecified date for the vote in June has resulted from opposition to the governing body’s about-turn on promotion-relegation. This saw plans altered for it to precede the RFU AGM this Friday, June 11, and has raised suspicions that the RFU will attempt to mitigate adverse publicity if the Council approves ring-fencing, by holding the vote just before a major live rugby event.
This makes Friday, June 25, in the build-up to the Premiership final and the Lions v Japan the following day, a strong favourite. But who knows, given the workings of the current administration at Twickenham?
What we do know is that distrust of the RFU is rife among Championship clubs who, after seeing their funding slashed from £645,000 a year in 2019-20 to £146,000 this season, have been told that their only increment next season will be an extra £14,000 from Premiership Rugby.
This derisory increase contrasts starkly with the amounts of £50,000 to £60,000 which have been given in government grants, via the RFU, to England’s community clubs.
Denne historien er fra June 06, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 06, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
