RFU halves Championship funding.

[loretta]

I'll chip in a tenner for that

[CitizenSmiff]

What can we do to help? Write a letter to our board or something? It's a truelly horrendous gesture over not even that much money to the PL clubs, didn't think I could be shocked by stupid RFU decisions any more but I am.

[chewbacca]

So the old farts have capitulated to the financiers with media rights. Probably some nice dainty cucumber sandwiches along with the darjeeling at the meetings. Substitute whatever you like for sandwiches and the tea.

[nasher]

I said it before rugby union suffers from appalling bad management. Another decision where money damages the game, the premiership will be ring fenced and several championship clubs will go bust. Worse of all the incentive for a lot of aspiring English players is damaged and the premiership clubs will look more and more for overseas players.

[strawclearer]

"...we do not believe it [the Championship] is the primary place where Premiership and England players are discovered and developed.” RFU statement.

Ok - I'll bite - which is the "primary place" then? Pacific Islands? South Africa?

[Flash]

"...we do not believe it [the Championship] is the primary place where Premiership and England players are discovered and developed.” RFU statement.

Ok - I'll bite - which is the "primary place" then? Pacific Islands? South Africa?

Prem Rugby Cup

[Mr Bean]

England Team Vs Scotland
Mako Vunipola - Bristol (Championship)
Jamie George - Dual registered at Bedford
Kyle Sinkler - Spent time on loan at Richmond and Ealing
Maro Itoje - Saracens
George Kruis - Dual Registered at Bedford
Sam Underhill - Gloucester
Lewis Ludlam - Spent time dual registered with Moseley, Coventry and Rotherham
Tom Curry - Dual registered with Sale FC
Willi Heinz - Canterbury
George Ford - Leicester
Elliot Daly - A Couple of gamres at London Scottish
Owen Farrell - Dual registered with Bedford
Jonathon Joseph - London Irish
Jonny May - Dual Registered with Moseley
George Furbank - Dual Registered with Cambridge


So out of the starting XV on Saturday 10 out of 15 played in championship or below

Tom Dunn - Dual registered with London Scottish
Ellis Genge - Bristol Championship
Will Stuart - Dual registered with Blackheath, Moseley and Nottingham
Joe Launchbury - Dual registered with Rosslyn Park
Courtney Lawes - Northampton - spent academy time with Bedford
Ben Earl - Saracens
Ben Youngs - Leicester
Ollie Devoto - Bath - Was meant to dual register with Pirates but didn't due to injury crisis at Bath
Another 4 on the bench

[JP14]

I’m sure someone should ask Mr Cohen the club’s views on this at the open forum, he is there for off-the-field matters.

[chewbacca]

"...we do not believe it [the Championship] is the primary place where Premiership and England players are discovered and developed.” RFU statement.

Ok - I'll bite - which is the "primary place" then? Pacific Islands? South Africa?

Me too. Good job for them us fans don't get the chance to participate in a vote of confidence in the RFU management. I guess England players should only be discovered at Oxbridge colleges or private schools. Keep up the fight Ellis.

[BFG]

I was going to applaud the RFU on the Genge topic and was informed that something bad was coming.
I suspect he will be used as their poster boy for the one in ten thousand.
It's reported that Bristol pay Piutau one million a season and clubs like Sale are packed out with high earning South African players and they do this sort of thing to the poorer part of the English game.
Absolutely shocking stuff and I know that I shall be very mindful of where I spend my money in the future.

[CJ]

Very interesting interview with London Scottish rep this evening on Radio 5. They are hacked off that this has come so soon before next season with players being signed and arrangements made already (of course). they will have to go with part time players next year, and lose several training staff, commercial staff etc. Their player wage bill will go down to £300K and yet they (and others in the same position) will be playing Sallarycens with a wage bill of (at least) £7m.

Appalling decision. All about ring fencing IMO.

Shame on all who made this decision.

[JP14]

I have emailed the Sports Minister, MP Nigel Adams to see if there is anything the government can do, pull funding etc...

[JP14]

They should bring back Spitting Image but for the RFU.

[loretta]

They should bring back Spitting Image but for the RFU.

I suspect they'd have their hands full elsewhere

[Coleshillad]

"...we do not believe it [the Championship] is the primary place where Premiership and England players are discovered and developed.” RFU statement.

Ok - I'll bite - which is the "primary place" then? Pacific Islands? South Africa?

A good bite, and spot on. Irreparable. Narrow-minded. Lacking in vision. Can't see the wood for the trees etc etc etc.