Easter backing Friday games
Chinnor director of rugby Nick Easter has called for more Friday night matches to be played in National One after overseeing a dramatic rise in attendances that are significantly clear of the club's usual Saturday gate.
The league leaders have played three games on a Friday this season with home and away fixtures against title rivals Rams in September and December, as well as a meeting with Rosslyn Park in early February.
All three produced vibrant, bumper crowds and Easter, below, suggests clubs put on a Friday evening showcase against a local rival because of it being ‘a great way to kick off a weekend'.
He told The Rugby Paper: “I've been involved in three home Friday night fixtures and we've got 1,500, 2,500 and 1,800 as opposed to a good crowd on a Saturday which would be 700-800. It sets the weekend up nicely, husbands and wives that want to go watch the game can know the kids are in bed and will be home all of Saturday, Sunday to keep each other happy.”
The former England international recognises that Friday games at his side's level in the third tier can only work if they are local meetings due to work schedules but is shocked more clubs haven't followed suit and mixed up their schedules.
He added: “The drawback is it has to be a local derby, it's not like full-time rugby where they can leave at 11- 12 o'clock and get to a hotel. That's not feasible at our level because people work until 5-6pm and need to get to the ground for 6-6:15.
If you're at home it doesn't matter but for an away side it's difficult with the logistics if you're travelling over an hour.
“I'm surprised there hasn't been more Friday night games at our level. Blackheath and Richmond had one last week before the England-Ireland game but I think that was forced on them because of the game at Twickenham rather than them actually wanting it.”
The Oxfordshire outfit are fortunate to be in an area that isn't congested with other sports as the nearest Premier League football club is Luton Town which is over an hour away.
Attendances have risen since Easter took charge halfway through last season and led their ongoing promotion push but he says despite the healthy crowds this term, the club are grinding away, up against it in their fight to try and raise awareness in the local area.
“When it comes to rugby clubs like Chinnor it's about creating interest and letting people know they are there. It still surprises people to this day,” said Easter.
“We all know the situation regarding participation and viewership at the top level and how it's not in the best place, but the amount people that have come to the home games this side of Christmas has way surpassed last year when I came to the club.
“The guys behind the scenes are doing a lot of work; the general manager, president, chairman, to bring numbers through the gates with lunches sold out etc. It's a hard task, the hamster wheel is going round fast but you've got to do that as you don't get any help from the RFU, they don't give any money to this league anymore.”
