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headhunter "Quote: headhunter "The club I used to be involved in had no choice but to stay in winter as they have no ground in summer due to it also being a cricket club, what has happened is that the choice of who they can play or how they progress though has now altered to the point of wondering if they can carry on. As for the dinosaurs of the amature clubs they are the people that saved the game for the likes of you to watch & play as they kept the game growing when the pro clubs had no interest & the RFL gave no help at all (even being hostile when financial help was asked for). A lesson you should learn is that those who drink at the well should remember those who dug it (& in this case why it was dug).
I will watch with interest the first summer leagues as I think (from talking with a couple of clubs) they are going to sruggle with getting enough players to turn out. I do hope I am proved totaly wrong & it is a huge succsess but not every club wanted or even asked for this appart from at junior level where young kids are better off in summer.'"
I'm sure there are numerous football or RU fields that could be used rather than a cricket club. As for the rest of your post, BARLA and the winter administrators had absolutely nothing to do with the expansion of the game at amateur level. That was entirely the work of the people behind the RLC. AFAIK, virtually no
amateur none-heartlands teams have ever played in winter as part of the BARLA structures. Trying to claim that they have had something to do with the expansion of the game is just absolute BS.
As for the lack of player numbers, are you serious? How could you possibly suggest that players would be willing to turn out to play on icy mudbaths with the majority of games being called off, train on poorly lit corners of fields or local parks in the freezing cold, and that they would stop in the summer? Player numbers will double. Within 18 months we'll be able to look back and laugh at posts like yours, and the idea of playing in winter will seem ridiculous.'"
You show an absolute lack of knowlage of our game. BARLA kept the amatuer game alive as it was dying on its feet, the RFL had no interest in anything outside the pro game, it went from strenght to strength under the leadership of BARLA with national cup,county games & international tours. That enabled people outside the games roots to start up the summer conferance. Your slant on history seems to start 10 to 15 years ago the roots of BARLA go back over 40 years & you would dismiss that as nothing.
As for winter Rugby it has not been a problem getting & keeping players for 120 years or more why have the latest genaration suddenly turned into wimps?
You also suggest that my club who owns the land & a very good club house move out or do you suggest we throw out the criketers?
I do wish the new competition goes well but it is not to the taste of every club & supporter.
