Rugby: No place for amateurs, say RFU

Twickenham bosses tonight told English rugby union’s Reform Group to leave the running of the game to the professionals.

The independent Reform Group, self-styled champions of the grassroots clubs, has become a vehicle for the amateur clubs to flex their muscles over Premiership counterparts.

Reform Group resolutions at the April 27 Special General Meeting could lead to a split between the professional and amateur games.

Brian Baister, chairman of the Rugby Football Union management board, said: ‘‘I believe that amateurism has been in for a very, very slow death for some people.

‘‘Only a couple of years ago there were 45 committees all of which needed personnel, chairmen and secretaries. For many of them, this was their opportunity to remain active in retirement or whatever.

‘‘We are committed to handing over the game to professional staff. I believe there have been improvements in accounts, marketing in terms of filling stadiums and the England team.

‘‘I believe all these improvements are because we have handed the game over to qualified professionals for me it is the way forward.’’

Rugby Football Union chairman Francis Baron considers that many of the dissident clubs are merely making a knee-jerk reaction against the elite echelons of the game.

Negotiations between top-level clubs and the RFU have been long and fruitless, but Baron believes radical action is unnecessary.

He said: ‘‘I hope the membership vote resoundingly for a single vision and not run the game through SGMs. In the two years I have been here we have had one both times, although the first was cancelled.

‘‘I think there are some people who believe that owners of the professional clubs are taking a lot of money out of the game.

‘‘There is an irrational fear of the Premiership clubs among a very small group of people and they feel very passionately about this.’’

Baister’s assessment is that the likes of Saracens’ Nigel Wray and Leicester’s Peter Wheeler have earned their place in the game.

He is sure that the RFU will in turn reap the rewards of a successful Premiership if given the freedom to act as it will.

He added: ‘‘People have always been suspicious of owners because they came along with professionalism, so it was something of a double whammy there was a lot of wrangling at the time.

‘‘But owners have put £150million into this and have no sign of a return on their investment. They have put in more than us and I believe we have got to work with them.

‘‘We must put something in place to help everyone, because at the moment we are hamstrung by the constitutional management system.’’