21 replies to this topic

[dogthebountyhunter]

http://www.southsome...warriors.co.uk/

[jannerboyuk]

Thats going to annoy the somerset vikings who were planning their 100th game against the warriors http://www.somersetvikings.org.uk/

[Pottsy]

I guess this highlights the problem in places like the Southwest (and Yorkshire!) where there is no merit league for teams to dip their toe not the water.

Maybe the RFL should look into development nines comps, this might also benefit clubs with awkward squad sizes (ie, too many lads wanting a game, but not enough for a second team),

[Northern Sol]

I guess this highlights the problem in places like the Southwest (and Yorkshire!) where there is no merit league for teams to dip their toe not the water.

Maybe the RFL should look into development nines comps, this might also benefit clubs with awkward squad sizes (ie, too many lads wanting a game, but not enough for a second team),

There is a South West 9s tournament.

[MidlandsRugbyLeague]

There is a South West 9s tournament.

But this is a one off event, not catering for the problems Pottsy alludes to that blight clubs all season.

The Merit League is a perfect way to deal with this - clubs can play between 9 and 13 a-side, with both sides having to field the same number of players. The Midlands this year has 13 teams in it - more teams than it has teams in the RLCN, RLCP and RLCR - there is clearly a demand for this level of RL.

[West Country Eagle]

But this is a one off event, not catering for the problems Pottsy alludes to that blight clubs all season.

The Merit League is a perfect way to deal with this - clubs can play between 9 and 13 a-side, with both sides having to field the same number of players. The Midlands this year has 13 teams in it - more teams than it has teams in the RLCN, RLCP and RLCR - there is clearly a demand for this level of RL.

Last year we attempted to enter the merit League with our seconds, but with teams in the Midlands and none round us we struggled to get fixtures. We decided the only way to get players to commit to the seconds was to join the RLC. I suppose we're a bit different in that we've been around a long time, have a first team for new players to aspire to etc, but you'd think that regular games would have helped South Somerset attract and retain players.

You're right about Somerset Vikings not being happy. I was chatting to Chris Richards about it today - they had a game today cancelled (hence why they came and played our seconds) and that game has now been cancelled. They're looking for more friendlies if anyone fancies a trip to play them.

[dogthebountyhunter]

Last year we attempted to enter the merit League with our seconds, but with teams in the Midlands and none round us we struggled to get fixtures. We decided the only way to get players to commit to the seconds was to join the RLC. I suppose we're a bit different in that we've been around a long time, have a first team for new players to aspire to etc, but you'd think that regular games would have helped South Somerset attract and retain players.

You're right about Somerset Vikings not being happy. I was chatting to Chris Richards about it today - they had a game today cancelled (hence why they came and played our seconds) and that game has now been cancelled. They're looking for more friendlies if anyone fancies a trip to play them.

Maybe if Somerset Vikings didn't pay their players then more clubs would be inclined to travel to them. It's not nice for strictly amateur clubs to give up their Saturday afternoons to get tonked by a semi-professional club in a so called amateur league.

Surely they should apply for the national leagues if they want to pay players?

[Northern Sol]

Maybe if Somerset Vikings didn't pay their players then more clubs would be inclined to travel to them. It's not nice for strictly amateur clubs to give up their Saturday afternoons to get tonked by a semi-professional club in a so called amateur league.

Surely they should apply for the national leagues if they want to pay players?

It's an open league not an amateur league.

[dogthebountyhunter]

It's an open league not an amateur league.

Oh that's alright then, let's put Wigan reserves in it as well and totally crush expansion.

[Northern Sol]

Oh that's alright then, let's put Wigan reserves in it as well and totally crush expansion.

Swinton reserves did play in the RLC as did Skolars and Crusaders.

FWIW there probably needs to be a restructure in the South West with a two-level pyramid (regional and premier) with the ambition of creating a merit league.

But the teams agreed to the RLC South West structure, Somerset aren't breaking any rules, and they have expressed an interest in joining the semi-pro ranks.

[dogthebountyhunter]

Actually the clubs never agreed to anything, we were told what was happening. That's not a dig at you mate, just having formed one club and now playing for another I do know a bit about the South West.

Vikings should have joined it the minute they knew they were going to pay players. Clubs like Sharks and Eagles would still compete and beat Vikings, but the rest are on hidings to nothing. Lads don't want to go to semi pro clubs when they know they are going to mullered.

The South West is not ready for a Premier division at this time, semi pro or otherwise. The RFL support is lacking at best.

[bowes]

How could Somerset join Championship 1 when they're as you say yourself at the level of Devon Sharks and East Devon Eagles? If they're serious they should aim for the Conference South next year though.

[dogthebountyhunter]

How could Somerset join Championship 1 when they're as you say yourself at the level of Devon Sharks and East Devon Eagles? If they're serious they should aim for the Conference South next year though.

Do you think it is right to pay players in a developing regional league, where the majority of clubs would be in very low level divisions in Yorkshire and Lancashire?

The above mentioned clubs might compete at a higher level, but with no real assistance from the RFL they are run by people who are just rugby league fans making it up....not business people.

Devon Sharks are run by a girl who had never even heard of rugby league until 2003, and as to balance working full time, with being a full time mother, and running the club. Noble efforts indeed, but all her hard work could quite easily be undone by a lack of support from the RFL, and rival clubs paying players.

[Impartial Observer]

Devon Sharks are run by a girl who had never even heard of rugby league until 2003, and as to balance working full time, with being a full time mother, and running the club. Noble efforts indeed, but all her hard work could quite easily be undone by a lack of support from the RFL, and rival clubs paying players.

What kind of support do you think the RFL should provide? Not being funny just curious.

[dogthebountyhunter]

For a start they could get out there promoting the game in the South West!

The Bristol bid thing is great, but it doesn't really help clubs in Devon develop interest.

What clubs need down here is, the RFL constantly pushing it's ideas in the local press advertising the clubs etc. One man/girl and a dog can't do everything from washing the kit, finding funds, raising teams, writing press releases to just keep clubs alive.

Then you have David Lowe who just loves his paperwork, but fails to realise the people running these clubs are volunteers with little or no experience. Then he seems to love banning players for three games in a ten game season for any number of petty offences.....not really conducive to clubs trying to build squads for the season. Especially when once his decision is made you have no right of appeal.

These are just the basics and with more time I am sure there is any number of things I and others could come up with.

[West Country Eagle]

Maybe if Somerset Vikings didn't pay their players then more clubs would be inclined to travel to them. It's not nice for strictly amateur clubs to give up their Saturday afternoons to get tonked by a semi-professional club in a so called amateur league.

Surely they should apply for the national leagues if they want to pay players?

They don't pay their players. They put put a press release saying they would pay them NEXT SEASON, not this season.

[West Country Eagle]

Actually the clubs never agreed to anything, we were told what was happening. That's not a dig at you mate, just having formed one club and now playing for another I do know a bit about the South West.

Vikings should have joined it the minute they knew they were going to pay players. Clubs like Sharks and Eagles would still compete and beat Vikings, but the rest are on hidings to nothing. Lads don't want to go to semi pro clubs when they know they are going to mullered.

The South West is not ready for a Premier division at this time, semi pro or otherwise. The RFL support is lacking at best.

Really? The RFL Regional Manager is based in Exeter.

[dogthebountyhunter]

Really? The RFL Regional Manager is based in Exeter.

Oh that must make me wrong then!

[West Country Eagle]

Dog, when the RFL Regional Development Manager took up his post a year or two back, he spent a lot more time concentrating on Devon. Recently he seems to have been paying a bit more attention to Bristol and Gloucestershire (as in the regions), but 99 per cent of developments up here come from the work of volunteers at clubs like the Sonics.

The development managers are there to advise and enthuse - sadly they don't have enough time to hold clubs hands and do things for them. If you feel like you need more support, you should tell him this. I'm sure he'd be glad to help.

I don't know enough about the clubs in Devon to comment in any detail, but it appears to me that the biggest problem down there is the massive pull of union: i.e that always will take first priority. A few times the SW division champions haven't travelled in the RLC play-offs - the year we got to the national final we were meant to play East Devon Eagles, but it was too close to the start of the union season/they couldn't travel (despite the game being set up to be played in Taunton).

[Janner]

There are 101 problems for Rugby League to struggle with in Devon (and probably most of the RLC) but lack of effort from Joe Catcheside, the RFL SW Manager, isn't one of them.
He can only work with what he has.
In his patch, which spreads from Penzance to Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, there are (were) twelve clubs. 5 in Devon, 3 (now 2) in Somerset/Dorset, 2 in Wiltshire, Bristol and Gloucester. All with different problems, standards of players, abilities of committee, facilities whatever.
Bristol are lucky in that they have had a strong core committee to get them through the sticky times (Phil, Matt, Dom, Johhan etc) and now they have the confidence to push on with bigger plans such as possibly Championship 1 and the junior development.
Others aren't so lucky in that it is usually one person who has the dream of starting a team in his town and has to hope for a few dedicated like minds to help him. Then they have to bank on getting a dozen or so dedicated players to form the basis of a team who could either be big fish in their pond (East Devon with their Exmouth National 3 RU players) or others trying their best (North Devon with South Molton reserves RU players from Devon league 2)
A one size fits all league such as the RLC SW does what it can but you can either split the league by ability or location which means either two small groups, or put all eight (now seven) in together to make a reasonably varied fixture list. With so few clubs spread over a fairly large area it's a chicken and egg situation. You can't get friendlies in Devon so you have to join the league but then you come up against players such as Matt Jackson and Tony Emmins who have played for the Lionhearts with 17 year olds who have never played the game before.
The amount of work needed to play ten games a summer is offputting for many when you try to get people involved in a committee so it remains a one man band until they get fed up with having to drive the club of less committed players and thats where teams fold or fall by the wayside.
More clubs would cut down travelling, give the opportunity to grade clubs to give closer competition and make it a bit more enjoyable running a club.
But...Until lots of people in different towns get the urge to start clubs, Joe and the RFL can't do much more. They can organise coaching courses, officials courses, touchline managers courses but if no one wants to go to them what else can they do?