Following a meeting held at Twickenham with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union by a number of First Division Rugby (FDR) clubs including Coventry RFC, regarding the proposal to create a new tier of Professional rugby the undersigned group of clubs have written to the RFU Council expressing their views, the memo included the following text:

“In connection with the proposal to create a Championship League of professional rugby, following yesterday’s meeting at the RFU seeking clarification of certain issues we wish to bring to your attention the following:

1.    The FDR position statement which has been circulated to you by Geoff Irvine (Chairman of FDR) has not been put before either the FDR Board or its shareholders. The statement is selective in its content and inaccurate conclusions may be drawn from it. It does not, for example recognise

(a)    a majority vote of FDR clubs to establish a 12 club league for 2009/10

(b)    the guarantee of 32 fixtures

(c)    the economic benefit flowing from title sponsorship and TV coverage (incidentally, the famous 12-4 vote was not in connection with the RFU’s latest proposals)

2.    The statement paints a draconian financial scenario which implies instant insolvency for many clubs (“financial suicide”). It gives no recognition to the necessary development of the professional game and the fact that once implemented promotion and relegation is only one up from Level 3 and one down from Level 2. Proper financial management will therefore mean that the process will evolve over time

3.    Neither the Chairman nor the Chief Executive has negotiated any alternative funding for 2009/10, demonstrating their lack of even short-term thinking. In theory FDR is faced with no funding if the RFU’s proposals are rejected.  

We understand that the FDR Chairman is putting a proposal to you to defer the RFU proposals. This is in direct contravention of a majority vote of FDR clubs, who determined that the reduction from 16 to 12 clubs be implemented in one year.

Finally, we sincerely request your support in moving the development of Level 2 rugby into the professional era without further delay.

The following Cubs have all agreed this position and statement:

• Coventry RFC            
  
• Doncaster RFC        
  
• Exeter RFC
  
• London Welsh RFC        
  
• Nottingham Rugby        
  
• Plymouth Albion RFC
  

Ends.

Press enquiries:

Lauren Alewood

Coventry RFC Limited