Rugby Crisis. Not the "Big Boys" the "Little Boys"

[andy10lab]

Went back to London to watch my old club at the weekend. 'Presidents Lunch' so also nice to catch up with old faces. The club 20 yrs ago ran 5+ Saturday sides, five yrs ago 3+ sides. On Saturday the 1st XV were the only side playing! This is level six rugby so quite a good standard. The club has huge numbers on Sundays with the minis and youth. But Saturdays is now a huge problem and even at this level many clubs are paying players. Worcester is a problem but grassroots rugby is facing a huge crisis.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

In Wales if anything the situation with grassroots rugby is even more dire than in England. Most clubs can just about get one senior side out - those clubs with two or even three senior sides are becoming rarer each year - and just this weekend gone 27 matches in the Welsh Cup competition were called off.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

I see that Challenge Anneka is being revived by Channel 5. Perhaps she could be tasked with either (1) finding a coach for the Wales national team or (2) helping revive a failing Welsh grassroots club.