England's game in need of update: Baron

Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron has accepted the structure of the sport in England needs updating.

National coach Andy Robinson resigned yesterday after a run of dismal results but he signed off by criticising the set-up of the domestic game.

“The system has been creaking for some time. I think everybody in the professional game knows that,” Baron accepted.

“The basic issue we’ve got is that the structure of the professional game in England was great for the early days of professionalism but things have just moved on.

“The structure we’ve got now, we’re trying to force the proverbial quart into the pint pot. In the RFU, we’ve had a project group looking re-structuring the top end of the game. They’re well advanced in their work and they’ll be publishing ideas, hopefully in the new year, about how we can move forward.

“We’ve got some very constructive discussions going with senior club owners on this so there are solutions in sight.”