YORKSHIRE rugby won the 1987 County Championship with England inter nationals such as Peter Winterbotom, Rob Andrew and Rory Underwood. Yet Premiership ring fencing means the White Rose can never bloom fully again.
Several Yorkshire clubs were formerly in the upper reaches of the English game, for example Leeds, Rotherham, Hull, Roundhay, Wakefield and Harrogate. All were able, thanks to a well-supported and flourishing county stage (at least in the north and south-west), to field current England inter nationals.
Now there hasn't been a Yorkshire-based Test player for over 12 years. Doncaster hope to be the county's next challenger for entry to the Premiership. Yet the ring fence means that challenge can come to nothing.
The County Championship is now no more than a chance for players in lower leagues to show their talent. To progress further, they must change clubs. The purpose of a rep stage is not to act as a shop window for clubs in higher leagues to hoover up talent.
Yorkshire rugby has been shafted.
