When and if the SGM does take place, it will be the old style committee that will be left to pick up the pieces hopefully with a complete restructure of the way the game is run.
The current system has people in charge of the running of the sport who have little or no knowledge of the history of management of the game. This has created a ‘them and us’ culture that has divided the game including damaging the prospects of the national side with the new hybrid contracts for some and not all of the squad players.
The divisive nature of the current system for clubs and players has had a negative impact on all areas of the game, including the creation of a negative environment in support and financial opportunity, with TV companies reluctant to offer more money for programme rights with a low level of supporters at matches.
The crowd for a Premiership game this season is getting back to pre-Covid times with an average crowd of 12,569 across the league. This is a combined average with Leicester getting around 22,000 while Sale attracts an average of just 6,618.
As Sale are one of only two clubs that compete at the top of the game in the whole of northern England, an area of the country which always produced a number of quality teams, players and regular supporters, I am surprised that the number is now so low – despite the fact that there has been growth in the numbers attending games, up by around 300 a match this season.
Denne historien er fra January 05, 2025-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 05, 2025-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.
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Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.
Powell powers over to take Quins home
PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.
We need to see a complete shake-up
A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.
Century of highs for La Rochelle
AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.
