League Reorganisation - 18 January

A meeting held at Penrith on Monday evening discussed the matter of possible RFU League reorganization. All but one of the Cumbrian Clubs were represented and a wide variety of views were expressed. There were three options on offer. The first was for no change, the second was for some change including the introduction of A Cumbrian/ North Lancashire Division 2 and the third, more radical by far, was for Cumbria to stand alone and have a three tier system containing only Cumbrian Clubs. The meeting recognized the need to maintain the status quo and retain the current system. This decision was unsurprising and a relief to those clubs like Keswick who enjoy RFU Level 7 status, and above and are members of the Cumbrian North Lancashire Division, and North West or North East One.

The 'round in circles' nature of the argument concerns the right of clubs to do what they consider best for their teams and the County hierarchy's belief that Cumbrian systems can only be restored if clubs who have defected change direction and return. The defecting clubs will no doubt argue that the Leagues they have joined, namely The Miller Homes League, a League based in Lancashire, and The Candy  (Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham) League, offer regular competitive rugby, tiered according to standard, and are driven by superb administration whereas the Cumbrian system they escaped from offered none of the above. A meeting which will explore this matter more deeply is necessary and will take place as soon as a suitable date can be agreed.

If this matter was satisfactorily resolved then the same could not be said in the matter of league reorganization below Level 7. This matter produced some lively debate and a much wider diversity of opinion. It was clear that the RFU Cumbrian League had become a shambles with a reduced field due to the decision of some clubs to leave the League and an increasing number of matches unable to take place because of reduced player participation. It was reported that  identical problems existed in the 'A' team Cumbrian Shield and that if radical steps were not taken to quickly arrest the defection of clubs to alternative Leagues outside Cumbria then the future of this competition would be even more seriously jeopardized.