Rugby Union: Professionalism is embraced by RFU

Rugby Union

STEVE BALE

English rugby yesterday finally accepted the inevitable when a second special general meeting of the Rugby Football Union in Birmingham agreed that the game should go open and that the new dispensation should apply to all levels.

It is now seven months since the International Rugby Board made the same decision, and although the RFU is commending itself on holding a debate, nowhere else has the end of amateurism been greeted with such a paroxysm. The RFU's original sgm in January was called off when a detailed debate was demanded - although only after the 800 present had already voted to accept the new IRB regulations.

There was even last-ditch debate yesterday, although when it came to a vote, the open dispensation, with each club free to implement it as far as it saw fit, was overwhelmingly accepted.

The RFU is now free to get on with its fraught negotiations with the leading clubs, continuing in London today, about how English rugby at its professional end will be funded and administered. One possible source of future contention was an attempt at yesterday's meeting by Fran Cotton, the former England prop, to ensure space was made in the calendar for divisional rugby.

Cotton, chairman of the North of England playing committee, wants divisions not clubs to be entered by the RFU into European competition. His views will probably end up as irrelevant, or at least will not be accepted by the First Division clubs who have already staked a claim for more power within the RFU and are threatening to break away if they do not get it - not withstanding another plea for unity by Cliff Brittle, who was elected chairman of the RFU executive at the earlier meeting.

For the membership to have voted any other way yesterday would have invited ridicule, but the only voices raised in the debate were in favour of the old status quo. Chris Harding of Butleigh Amateurs of Glastonbury, said: "Change is coming too fast and we are panicking. We don't have to go along with the International Board. If rugby union goes into disarray for a couple of years, maybe it will be a better game for it in the end."

"We are turkeys being asked to vote for Christmas," added Peter Smith of Dover. And with that, amateurism for all breathed its last.