News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
2nd xv rugby: The way forward...?

2nd xv rugby: The way forward...?

Jon Hill7 Oct 2012 - 09:12
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.exmouthrugby.co.uk


The concept of 2nd xv rugby is truly a balancing act, and one in which for whatever reason, the Devon and Cornwall RFU’s are not willing to resolve at this point in time. Should they embrace 2nd xv rugby into the League system, like many other Constituent Bodies? or do they ‘stand still’ and fail to answer the key questions and issues that are, and have been left, unresolved for some time, and in doing so ignore the needs of some of its clubs.

On one side of the argument, why should a successful club be penalised for getting their ‘ship in order’, who have built up a solid well run club with true values and beliefs? This is where I feel the likes of Exmouth, Brixham and Barnstaple fit in at this current moment in time (I am sure there are many others, but my knowledge and experience of these is limited). My point here is that regularly we have 45 senior players turn up to training because they want to improve and they want competitive fixtures. Only this week we dropped 3 players from our 2nd xv squad because they were only able to train once this week instead of twice. We have developed and rigidly stuck to a ‘no train no play’ policy which is now paying dividends and consistency in our selection policies surrounding the fact that it doesn’t matter who you are , if you are playing well and in a winning side, then there is no need to make changes. Players understand what is expected of them and have bought into it, and players want to play for Exmouth RFC. We are a National Three rugby side who are at the heart of the community, who offer a stepping stone for youngsters who want to be tested at Level 5 of the rugby structure, with a view that they want to move onwards and upwards. Some players are attracted to us, from local clubs, because we offer a high quality fixture list at 1st xv level and hopefully a comprehensive coaching team with the likes of Bob Armstrong, Max Hansford, Jon Fabian and Dave Kimberley who are vastly experienced who can pass on their knowledge. We have former Crediton players Ross Morshead and George Savage in our 1st xv squad who joined us to play National League Rugby. We have former Honiton players Jack Fahy and Jack Madge who have come to do the same. Their 'home' clubs realise that we are a number of leagues higher and that their players want to play at the highest league possible. We are very proud of our ability to produce and develop our own players and this is absolutely fundamental to our long term vision and strength and well over half of our first xv squad have come up through the mini junior section of the club, and almost all of our 2nd xv have also come via this route. The higher up the League structure a team goes, the wider the sphere of influence becomes regarding players. That is just common sense. Clubs at the higher end of the League Structures have more often found and maintained or improved their place through good management, planning and the implementation of a long term sustainable model and vision. Exmouth will never become a National League One club in the forseeable future because it does not attract the crowds necessary to 'fund' such an infrastructure, and therefore the investment would be unsustainable. That is not to say that we are not ambitious, because we are very ambitious, but we simply recognise who we are, where we are at, but of course want to take a step higher should the opportunity arise. We are always looking at ways of making improvements and at our level this involves being more efficient in our internal systems, rather than looking at short term fixes.

So having developed this ethos and these core values, we have developed a strong 2nd xv, because we have healthy competition for places and hopefully, just like many other clubs, we are an exciting proposition for players to come and learn and most importantly, develop. So what do we have to support these players. We have the Devon Merit Table, which, with no disrespect to some of the clubs within the competition, it produces a number of mismatches, which are no benefit to either side, or to the development of the core values of the game and continued participation within it. For example, so far this season Exmouth 2nd xv have beaten Newton Abbot 45 - 7, Sidmouth 93 - 3, and Tiverton 73-7, and were given a walkover by Okehampton who couldn't raise a team. Who has benefited from these fixtures? I bumped into an old team mate of mine from Tiverton, Steve Yeo, who mentioned 'the game yesterday was of no benefit to anyone whatsoever. It seems crazy that we are in the same league and you should be playing better teams'. I can't imagine many of the Sidmouth 2nd xv benefited from or enjoyed their run out either? A few years ago, when at Launceston, I managed to set up a reasonably successful 'Tamar League' which included 2nd xv's from Launceston, Redruth, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion and also set up fixtures against Exeter Chiefs 2nd xv. This was predominanty a midweek league, which is a flawed model at level 5 with many clubs without 1st xv floodlit pitches. This season we have managed to get 'A' xv fixtures against Taunton, Launceston and Bridgwater as we widen the search for better fixtures. What these players need is a competition whereby, more often than not, the players get regular fixtures, representing the club that they want to play for, in an environment where they get tested and develop. So how do we find such an environment? More of that later …

On the other side of the argument, of course, there will be some more ‘junior’ clubs who would see 2nd xv’s within the league structure as a threat because they may feel that for the season that their clubs are in the same division as them, that they may lose heavily (which may well not be the case!), and that for that one season, there is less of a chance of silverware. Of course, the junior clubs may also be sceptical of the fact that a club may well ‘recruit’ players from the more ‘junior’ clubs along the way. Through all the times of academies and professionalism, of course some players have lost their links with their ‘home club’ and some would say ‘loyalty’ is lacking. My view is that if a player moves to a higher level to test themselves then you wish them well and hope to welcome them back later in their career. The likes of Stuart Lowe, Garry Hooper and Adam Wylie have all gone from Exmouth to a higher club and back again. Ben King went from Exmouth to Taunton in the summer and is a regular in National Two this season as well as featuring for the Exeter Chiefs 'A' xv. There of course is the argument of the administrators, that a 2nd xv may be strong one year, but then not the next and how can we avoid mismatches. In my opinion this is a ‘flawed’ reason for not allowing this to happen, as the likes of Exmouth, Barnstaple and Brixham have been consistently towards the top of the merit table for the last few years. So be it, if for one season, they are not strong and get relegated until they find their respective level. Many 1st xv’s go through this dilemma for a variety of reasons at some point or another.

So it is clear that ‘no size will ever fit all’ in this debate, and when drawing up solutions, it is obvious that not everyone will be happy, or agree, or be able to see beyond the interests of their club alone, rather than look to support and develop the core values of the game. So how can we support a structure whereby ambitious clubs are supported by their respective bodies through whatever competition suits their needs, whilst also looking after the needs of the some of the ‘smaller junior’ clubs who are happy being ‘where they are’ and in their respective divisions.

On a personal point, I have made many suggestions to relevant parties whilst I was Director of Rugby at Launceston and also whilst I have been Head Coach at Exmouth. A summary of these can be seen as follows:

A South West 2nd xv Super League to include teams from Cornwall/Devon/Somerset/Gloucestershire

There was some good support for this although of course the 2nd xv’s from Somerset and Gloucestershire are allowed into the 1st xv League Structure so were unwilling to lose what they already had. This could run alongside National 3SW where possible ie when Barnstaple 1st xv play Weston 1st xv their 2nd xv’s play at the same venue and at the same time to save travel costs etc

A Devon and Cornwall 2nd xv Super League

To include the top 4 clubs from each County creating 14 ‘good’ level fixtures per year

Allowing the better 2nd xv’s into the Intermediate Cup as ‘reward’ for them winning/or being runner up in the 2nd xv Devon Merit Table. This could give those aspiring and successful clubs an opportunity to play against better opposition and new opposition. Of course there would be restrictions on qualification of players for this.

Setting up a South West 2nd xv Cup competition across Devon/Cornwall/Somerset/Gloucestershire including clubs at level 5 and 6 and possibly 4, which can run alongside fixtures within their 1st xv leagues where appropriate.

Being allowed into the League Structure and allow clubs to ‘find their ‘relevant’ standards of rugby within the next few seasons, just like the University of Exeter have been allowed to do.

What is absolutely vital, is that we all accept that we are different as clubs, and all have differing aspirations, but also that change isn’t a bad thing. Why stand in the way of development when we can do something about it. We can’t stand still as we have done for years in Devon and Cornwall, and continue to lose players from the game, and miss out on playing and development opportunities for its players. We have to embrace some of the ideas above, or something different, to the current structure in order to satisfy more clubs and not penalise those clubs who are running ‘comprehensive’ programmes underpinned by strong values. Some of the ideas are more radical than others, and some of the ideas may suit some clubs more than others.As far as Exmouth RFC are concerned, inclusion into the League structure is our preferred option, as this suits us the most.

Regards

Jon Hill
Exmouth RFC

Further reading