Just pointing out why it's an issue. If you have a job that's not a regular mon-fri 9-5, or you have kids, then spending 16+ hours on a game of rugby just might not be possible, while playing in a more regional league would be OK. Nothing to do with heart not being in it. Teams in other amateur sports don't typically do this kind of distance. Obviously for student teams it's much less of a problem.

Then they should probably sign for and play with one of the teams in a regional league, not an RLCN club.

conferences?
tbh I played am football in a national comp it is no fun to set off at 6am play a game then sit on the bus for a few hours battered and bruised getting home.

Not a lot of those in Carlisle.

The players have indicated they want to play in the summer and the Centurions are the only club playing at that level (not semi-pro) for 50 miles.

So the bottom line is amateur sport doesn't work at national level , so regional comps should be the aim with a national finals system

Exactly