New Funding...

[jds]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19342642

£35,000. I know that every penny is important but it doesn't seem a lot to me. One additional player, maybe?

[observer]

There's a link on the same website to:
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18624877

[studleyken]

Paltry increase.

[observer]

Editorial comment (in quote marks) in this week's Moseley Matters referring to the RFU press release (in italics)

New RFU Funding.
A welcome step in the right direction but more still needs to be done.[/i]

The revised RFU Championship funding structure was unveiled at the season launch on Tuesday 21st August. The attendant RFU press release commented:

RFU Press Release:

Following extensive consultation with the clubs, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Championship Clubs Committee have agreed a structure running from the 2012-13 season up to and including 2015-16.

Conditional on clubs continuing to participate in the English Qualified Player scheme, the total funding provided by the Rugby Football Union will show a steady increase to reflect the growing nature of the competition.

As well as money received as a result of fielding 15 English Qualified Players in a match day 22 – the threshold rising from 14 – the RFU will increase its financial underwriting in relation to a title sponsorship while efforts continue to secure a partner.

Additional funding will be provided for the British and Irish Cup in
the form of travel assistance and for the first time in the competition, a financial reward will be given upon those RFU Championship sides that reach the knock-out stages”.

Moseley Matters Editorial Comment:

"This is welcome news - and only right. At the inception of the Championship (imposed on the then FDR clubs against their wishes) we were promised a sponsor and increased revenues from an effective marketing and promotion of the Championship by the RFU.

Most clubs overall have not had the boost in gates, sponsorship and other associated revenues predicted. At inception it was suggested that this would provide directly or indirectly around £500K to each club - but this compares with only about a £350K benefit per club now.

No sponsor has ever been obtained and the RFU has failed to promote effectively the competition to the wider public. Instead we have the continual (almost sole) club rugby focus in the national media on the PRL cartel. A couple of Championship games are now being shown on Sky TV.

The new arrangement does address a lack of sponsor, but it does not deal with the lack of Championship promotion.

Incidentally, Moseley will have no problem meeting the RFU criteria. Most of our players are EQP anyway and some (Caves, Thomas and Pons for example) are even ‘home produced’ from our M&J’s! This revised and increased four year funding is therefore a welcome step in the right direction but more still needs to be done."

[philhall]

Better than a kick in the nether regions

[observer]

Aug 23, 2012 8:37:02 GMT philhall said:

Better than a kick in the nether regions

Not sure about that Phil.
Taekwondo got £4,833,600 for precisely as you describe………..
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/14/london-2012-price-of-olympic-success?newsfeed=true

[coverdale]

Really good good point observer.....puts it into perspective!

[studleyken]

The RFU couldn't reduce the amount given (could they?) but to give such a minimal increase hardly dents the problems underfunding create and by accepting it as "better than a kick in the nether regions" rather than pressing for more, we condone the wrong thinking of the RFU. Money is difficult at the present time but in order to maintain a healthy Rugby game they must find ways of funding the clubs feeding the premiership. At the moment they just seem to be trying to maintain the present "Club" that is the Premiership. Less thank yous and forelock tugging and more put your hands in your pockets!!!!