7 replies to this topic

[Anita Bath]

"I leave the RFL after 10 fulfilling years during which the sport has grown and prospered."

Richard lewis' parting shot as he moves on to be a ball boy at Wimbledon in his beloved south of the country.

How exactly has it grown and prospered?

Yesterday's BBC website was full of Superleague clubs claiming they were in financial difficulties and Bradford was simply a symptom of a bigger problem, DESPITE SL clubs recieving millions from the RFL. So not much growth and prosperity there.

Non superleague teams - any evidence of growth and prosperity there?

[oldhamer]

I guess you can look at Oldham for a good example of prosperity outside SL with the running of the Under 23s and an extended scholarship scheme on a very limited budget. But this is bourne out the club rather than anything from the RFL or SL have helped engineer. Crowd levels remain low outside SL and the evidence that fans will not go to games because their is nothing to play for, is very apparent. He states that under his tenure, there are more people playing the game. If its true, its down to the volunteers and hard working coaches that make that happen, certainly not Richard Lewis.
New blood is needed at the top, with the vision from grassroots upwards and not the other way round. But the RFL have a rich history of appointing YES men and vreating positions that are not needed.

Edited by oldhamer, 10 April 2012 - 03:41 PM.

[Pugwash]

He states that under his tenure, there are more people playing the game.

I'm sure I saw something a little while ago that said the money we got from, I think Sport England, had been cut because we'd had a drop in the number of players involved in the game.

Rats and sinking ships anyone???

Pugwash.

[The Art of Hand and Foot]

Whatever happened to that bloke in Iraq who insisted that the Americans where nowhere near Baghdad just as a tank drove past him? Comical Ali I think they called him. I think he came here and changed his name to Comical Dick. Heh heh heh!

[oldhamer]

Dicks are useful, Lewis wasnt

[Anita Bath]

I'm sure I saw something a little while ago that said the money we got from, I think Sport England, had been cut because we'd had a drop in the number of players involved in the game.

Rats and sinking ships anyone???

Pugwash.

Puggy, you must remember Yes minister. The numbers playing rugby league went up from Sunday January 15th at 6.00am to january 15th at 3.00pm, so what he said was in effect the truth, meanwhile. . . . . .

Perhaps they could get someone who knows something about rugby league next time - or is that far too radical. It makes you pine for the Days of Diddy david oxley of the colgate smile.

[ornit4ever]

If you look at the bigger picture rather than the professional teams I thnk you will find that there has been huge inroads made in schools, colleges and the whole amateur game in general.
If you look at the number of youngsters playing in the capital, Wales, the north east and other far flung places around the country then the picture looks somewhat rosier. Its actually in the rugby league heartlands that the game is failing for all sorts of reasons, but whos fault is that. Ok you will all blame the RFL as per usual, but I think there is lots and lots of backbiting within the game. No matter what anyone thinks the rugby league management have to follow what clubs vote for democratically, and that is were the problem may lie, every club in the RL votes for their own clubs interest FIRST and the interests of RL second. Lets be honest about this, dont we all care about Hornets first and foremost and our game secondly. We all wish other clubs "All the best", but most certainly not when we play against you?

[oldhamer]

Sport England did plough money into the RFL and as usual, the RFL splashed the cash without looking at the bigger picture. They employed people in positions that could help grow the sport, and now the monety has dried up have been made redundant, after they did a sterling job in that area - only to lose their jobs and not see the project through. Poor planning and management. In addition, positions that have been retained, are in areas outside the heartlands which is a massive smack in the face for clubs that have areas of rich talent, promise and history. To me, the RFL are like SKY - maybe their partnership has the the same company ethos. If you are a new area i.e. customer, they will offer all sorts of deals to entice you in. But if you are an existing subscriber, tough! You are on your own.

In the hearland areas, its still upto unpaid volunteers and coaches to keep the numbers up and the talent coming through and with not even a spoken word or help from the RFL.