Even so the main points remain. It is difficult to understand why national resources are being directed in support of a competition that attracts a handful of entries (9 U18 teams and - I believe - 13 U15 teams?) while other, more popular, formats have been cancelled. Fifteen (or thirteen) a-side rugby may be important, but at this stage in development very few true club teams can come up with squads large enough to take part in this sort of event, especially with the rules as they are. As a result three days in a wildly overcrowded calendar set aside for the event also seems just a bit excessive - the knock-on effect of the tournament ultimately restricts as many playing opportunities as it creates.
But in addition - and the main thing that made all this worthy of mention - was that the format chosen in the south was extraordinary and worthy of comment. At least some of the clubs involved were far from happy - which is why information about it found its way to here. Good luck to those who do go to the second day, but really two days - and two long journeys - should not have been necessary for the task of reducing five teams to one.
Firstly, more teams entered the Nat Cup initially, but by the time regional had decimated club rugby, some teams did not have enough players, add to that the Nat Cup being pushed to the end of the season over Easter and teams lost more players.
ReplyDeleteWe are all talking about grass roots rugby, surely the Nat Cup is the most important of all the competitions because it involves all the players at club level.
Hopefully next season with the possibility of 9 club games before Christmas, clubs will have chance to build up and bond as a team and the Nat Cup will be restored to where it should be.
When was the last time that the National Cup attracted a full entry? Since Letchworth began I cannot recall it ever doing so.
ReplyDeleteThe reduced entry in recent years could actually have a lot to do with tightening up on the entry rules to stop artificial teams being created for the sole purpose of winning the cup - a welcome development, but very few clubs can find a full squad on their own. And leagues are, for many clubs, the main priority these days.