No-show clubs lead cup into an early crisis

A RAFT of late withdrawals from clubs has seen the RFU’s new Papa John’s Community Cup get off to a rocky start. 

- JON NEWCOMBE

Despite the lure of a day out at Twickenham for the finalists, it is estimated by TRP that as many as 35 clubs have pulled out of the different men’s competitions, which have been tiered based on league positions, while many more opted not to take part in the first place.

Player availability, cost and the timing and structure of the Cup have been cited as some of the main factors in creating a situation that, if it worsens, will be an embarrassment to the RFU.

The flagship Regional 1 Championship, featuring some of the best clubs outside of the National Leagues, has lost Dudley Kingswinford and Blackburn, resulting in a quarter of the round-robin fixtures in that grade being classed as walkovers.

Faced with a 500-mile trip to Alnwick, which would have cost them money on coach hire over and above the £531.30 they would have received from the RFU’s travel allowance pot, Midlands outfit Dudley Kingswinford chose to pull out as late as Wednesday.

A statement on the club website said: “After a hard season both physically and mentally DKRFC have taken the decision to withdraw from the Papa John’s Community Cup.

“After last Saturday’s magnificent end to our league season the players and coaching staff were consulted and they feel battered, with a number of players carrying injuries. The thought of a 500-mile round trip on Saturday was a step too far.

“We will settle with league champions (Regional 1 Midlands) and promotion for this season!”