Re: The Structure of the English Competition

Ian Diddams wrote:

> MasteroftheRevels <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
>
> > Agreed.  But the point here Didds is that National League 3N&S being played
> > today, is about the same standard as the Senior Clubs say around the time of
> > RWC91 in the old Amateur era.
>
> Were senior clubs really that poor?  Strewth!  (I didn't watch much if
> any senior rugby at that time, mainly cos I was abroad !)

Oh yeah.  Not at the top end - but there were still plenty of Senior Clubs with *first 
class fixture lists*
hanging on to the glories of the past which were not reality.  The New Brightons, 
Broughton Parks and
Metropolitan Polices of the world.  Clubs either amalgamated, decided to stay amateur 
or gave it a go and
failed like Richmond.  The likes of a Richmond had lunched out on a '74 Lion like 
Chris Ralston and a One Cap
Wonder like Nick Preston for about 25 years, whilst having a fixture list vs. all the 
games Blue Bloods.

>
>
> > Therefore, some of the SH observers asking *how did England do that?*  most
> > probably can't grasp that the club game in England has moved up a notch which
> > each RWC.  An English ZP *Club* is now about as strong as a S12 franchise.  It
> > must be, because England just won RWC03.
>
> Yup.  I'd go with all that.
>
> So where did we disagree MotR?  ;-)
>
> didds

We don't.  If you come from Devizes, you've still got to go to Bath if you want to 
play for England!  Either
that or get poached by Harlequins......


--
One must change one`s tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one's 
superiority.
--Napoleon Bonaparte