I've just had a look on the website for the league I play in, and noticed an article about the potential switch to playing in Summer (link below).

www.pennineleague.co.uk/story.ph ... &story=205

There seems to be alot of animosity towards the RFL (''Despite unwelcome overtures to their member clubs from the rugby football league''), with the article putting the words 'Traditional' and 'Truly Independant' in caps locks.

As a player, the benefits of the club playing in Summer RL far outweigh the costs. Last season we had a gap of six weeks mid-season due to games being called off. We trained on a muddy, sloping park covered in dog poo as we can't get our floodlights onto our proper training pitch. I could go on and on, and that's before mentioning the benefits to junior RL and to skillful players.

Has anyone else encountered this 'flat-cap' attitude from their leagues and have any leagues fully made the swtich? Does anyone still think RL should be played in Winter?

I've just had a look on the website for the league I play in, and noticed an article about the potential switch to playing in Summer (link below).

www.pennineleague.co.uk/story.ph ... &story=205

There seems to be alot of animosity towards the RFL (''Despite unwelcome overtures to their member clubs from the rugby football league''), with the article putting the words 'Traditional' and 'Truly Independant' in caps locks.

As a player, the benefits of the club playing in Summer RL far outweigh the costs. Last season we had a gap of six weeks mid-season due to games being called off. We trained on a muddy, sloping park covered in dog poo as we can't get our floodlights onto our proper training pitch. I could go on and on, and that's before mentioning the benefits to junior RL and to skillful players.

Has anyone else encountered this 'flat-cap' attitude from their leagues and have any leagues fully made the swtich? Does anyone still think RL should be played in Winter?

My views are here from May: www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... 16395.html

this has been the biggest thing going on for our club for the past six months. We attended the NW planning meeting in February and have been with the process from the start (right through to another NW planning meeting last night).

What is irritating me (especially the way the League Express has been a mouthpiece for it) is that certain people seem to have forgotten that individual clubs are their own self-standing entities and will make decisions based on what is right or not for them. Club officials SHOULD do so in conjunction with their members and represent them (see: www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... _id=338337 for an update to our members on last nights meeting). Some of the stuff said, and things like like that encountered above, imply that as clubs we should do as BARLA or our leagues want and that we are not independent and that the RFL hasn't a right to contact us. It is barmy! If anyone wants to contact my club they are free to do so - no permission required from anyone else.

What is essential is that each club makes its decisions based on the best information it can gather. Certain parts of the game have been seeking to manipulate and control the information flow and that is what has been most disappointing.

ps. if you're a player and unhappy with the decision of your club, vote with your feet. whether that be to go to a side staying in winter or one moving to summer. it's all about having a choice and making a decision.

My views are here from May: www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... 16395.html

this has been the biggest thing going on for our club for the past six months. We attended the NW planning meeting in February and have been with the process from the start (right through to another NW planning meeting last night).

What is irritating me (especially the way the League Express has been a mouthpiece for it) is that certain people seem to have forgotten that individual clubs are their own self-standing entities and will make decisions based on what is right or not for them. Club officials SHOULD do so in conjunction with their members and represent them (see: www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybronc ... _id=338337 for an update to our members on last nights meeting). Some of the stuff said, and things like like that encountered above, imply that as clubs we should do as BARLA or our leagues want and that we are not independent and that the RFL hasn't a right to contact us. It is barmy! If anyone wants to contact my club they are free to do so - no permission required from anyone else.

What is essential is that each club makes its decisions based on the best information it can gather. Certain parts of the game have been seeking to manipulate and control the information flow and that is what has been most disappointing.

ps. if you're a player and unhappy with the decision of your club, vote with your feet. whether that be to go to a side staying in winter or one moving to summer. it's all about having a choice and making a decision.