they don't get £70K though Dave it's a sliding scale dependant on what 'trophies' you win/finals your in, Championship (and 1) clubs have to earn their 'corn' it's not just handed out.

Sport England funding is till March 2013 - though it can be stopped at any time in theory. RFL got £29.4m, which is pretty much the same as the RFU, and only behind cricket and soccer.

The Zurich Premiership Rugby Clubs own their rights in much the same way as SL. In Exeter, at least, the Pro club runs juniors all the way down to under 8 alongside the local community clubs, but that buggers up the local structures because (especially at older groups) there are lots of lads who'd rather 'play for Chiefs' but never actually play, rather than get games every week at Exeter Saracens or Cullompton.

The RFU, though, has an absolute fortune to invest in its own development staff, plus it has massive grant funds to support community clubs and development projects in schools, etc. We really can't compete.

It also leverages its value massively. For example - International tickets are all sold through its member clubs. Each club gets allocated an amount of tickets. In Exeter, Wessex RFC (a tier 10 club, equivalent of NW Counties division 6) allow sponsors to apply for its share of tickets. On the back of that, the club raises around £10,000 per annum in Sponsorship and turns over aboud £22k per year. It provides coach travel to all away games, pays its coaches, and has been known to pay a match fee to two or three players. That is a low-level club with no clubhouse and no juniors, one team in a league and a skatchy second team in a merit table.

Just up the road, Tiverton RFC (tier 7) employ their own development officer and have an enclosed, floodlit ground with a stand, and facilities at least as good as Leigh Miners.

Financially, we are nowhere compared to the RFU.

were would barla get its money from to invest back into the amateur game and clubs ?.

The 2.1 million total available includes prize money , Co oP sponsorship and no doubt Toulouses travel costs both ways , which the RFL ' spin ' as there being 100 K available to every club , which of course it isn't

The rfu support the national team and therefore any players chosen for the England developement squad have a percentage of their salary paid to the clubs by the rfu, this is to compensate for their time away from their club mid season.
In some cases when the England coach identifies a player in RL that he would want clubs are able to sign him by prior arrangement with the rfu. This is what happened with Robinson and what caused some of the problems between the clubs and the rfu. I am not saying this has happened with Eastmond but it does and will happen.

referring to an article on page 3 of the League Express from 22/11/2010 : according to the RFL it states that Championship clubs receive around £120,000 from central distribution compared to £25,000 in 2004 - a considerable increase which doesn't seem to have prevented the likes of Donny, Hornets, Gateshead,Cougars & Whitehaven from going into administration

here we go again ...

is this fact or just your personal opinion ?

so does each Championship club receive £120,000 annually from the RFL in your opinion ?

I'd be very surprised if they do. I thought there were 'strings' attached - like employing staff in certain positions within the club organisation. (on the admin side)

Also, I believe the RFL deduct monies from the available monies, to cover payments that the clubs should be making. (e.g. Last season's issues of 'Game On' magazine)

By the way, I'm not suggesting the RFL is doing anything underhand - more that this £120k per club is not as clear cut as we may imagine.

Well I do not believe the RFL gave the Championship clubs £2 640 000 last season Where would it have come from ?

read the article in LE 22/11/2010 headlined 'RFL Plans Championship Crackdown' on page 3 and the £120,000 per Championship club is quoted by RFL Chief Operations Director,Ralph Rimmer so I assume it must be correct along with the fact that 16 of the 22 C/C1 clubs reported reduced attendances for 2010

I don't doubt what you have read I do not believe it.A long time ago I decided unless it is in the Daily Telegraph do not believe it.

Now I am a little older they too now print incorrect information (as they always did of course ).I decide on balance which story is likely to be true and I usually go for the most obvious conclusion.

read the article for yourself and judge accordingly or send an email to Chris Jones who covered the story for LE and ask him.Why would the LE invent or quote an RFL official in public knowing it to be libellous ?

It wouldn't be libellous it is stating a fact that appears to be incorrect imo. Nobody is harmed wether it is right or wrong. I think it is wrong.

fair enough mate