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| Wednesday October 31st 2007 |
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| The Bamford Beat 'Why not Leave Amateur Rugby League to the Amateurs' |
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The old problems between the Rugby Football League and the British Amateur rugby League Association appear to have arisen again after several years of seemingly peaceful co-existence.
Way back in the early 1970s a group of dedicated rugby league men met in the Huddersfield area to attempt to alleviate the growing possibility of the total demise of the amateur game in this country.
They gradually took control of the organisation of the ailing amateur game and, despite massive attempts from various factions to disrupt their plans, managed, by common sense, diplomacy and sheer hard work, to produce one of the greatest salvage operations since Dunkirk.
Despite at times fighting for their very existence, the organisation produced a fine batch of young players such as GARY SCHOFIELD, ANDY GREGORY, ELLERY HANLEY, JOE LYDON, MIKE GREGORY, JASON ROBINSON and many others.
In the early 1980s, a concerted effort by the professional game to take over a major section of BARLA’s junior players, to fuel the newly-formed Colts set up, was another storm that was ridden out. Then, later still, the RFL’s Academy concept again conflicted with the amateurs ideals of producing top class juniors.
BARLA have always insisted that they continue to represent, foster and offer the best environment in the development of junior players, just as the RFL does for the youngsters who sign professional contracts.
Tours of Europe, the South Pacific and the Antipodes have been a feature of the amateur game now for many years now and the levels of administration and coaching have improved out of all proportion.
The tremendous step of unification between the two governing bodies seemed to have healed the bitter rift of years of infighting. But, the amateurs feel that they have been let down again as in the unification agreement, Clause 25.1, it was set down that the RFL and BARLA would remain separate organisations and that the RFL would not have the power to amend the constitution of the Association nor dissolve it.
The constitution states that the amateur association will govern the whole of the amateur game, but now the Community Board, which is administered by several officers of the RFL and has only one seat allocated to BARLA, has gained control of the National Under 18 league and an open age international side.
The Board controls the various community services which have grown immensely over recent years under the amateur umbrella, Armed Forces, Police, Universities, Schools, Referees, etc, who, because of their obviously amateur connotations, were considered to be under the auspices of BARLA.
The strict amateur ruling of not selecting former professional players in amateur international games has been ignored in the recent changeover and nine ex-professionals are included in the Community Board’s squad. This contradicts the very essence of the amateur body’s constitution.
So, too, the under 18 league, looked after by the Board, has allowed permit players to be admitted to the leagues teams.
The constitutional ruling that no permit players be allowed in under 18 football has been waved by the Board.
Surely BARLA are now a reputable, respected association with a worldwide accepted constitution and many will see this unacceptable ‘takeover’ of the international and under 18 league as a form of backdoor interference by the professional body and a breach of Clause 25.1
The amateurs have a reputation second to none, with representation in almost every faction of general sports welfare, including the Parliament of this country and the Rugby League International Board.
Why not let the amateurs look after amateur rugby league and the professionals look after the professional game? It seems simple to me.
The article and views within it are courtesy of the author Maurice Bamford ex Great Britain Head Coach
Steve Manning
BARLA media Manager & PRO
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The British Amateur Rugby League Association.
West Yorkshire House, 4 New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. HD1 5JP, England
Tel: 01484 599113, Fax: 01484 510682, info@barla.org.uk |
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