If the RFU want to secure rugby's future as a top level sport, the time for change is now, says Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby Ben Ward.
Ward is urging the RFU to focus on expanding the game in a similar way to how professional rugby has grown in France over recent years, and dictate to Premiership Rugby and its shareholder clubs.
He feels that falling playing numbers at grassroots level, issues around concussion and head injuries, falling attendances and debt at Premiership clubs alongside the lack of promotion and relegation between the top two flights shows the need for widespread reform.
The 38-year-old former fly-half told The Rugby Paper: “We've been asked to build a £15m stadium, and we're now being told there could be two professional leagues of ten. Give us Championship clubs something; you look at the Premiership and the debt there, we are debt free at Ealing, but we're not going to put the club at risk for something we don't know and we have no certainty over what we're doing it for.
“We believe we're in the position where if we win the league this year we can take our place with the new regulations. But we still don't know exactly what that will be, what's happening and have had very little communication recently with the RFU.”
While the RFU have confirmed a more flexible approach to stadium regulations for potentially promoted sides, many question marks remain. Ward said: “One of the best things about English sport is that we're fair and competitive. We've got to take steps to move towards a more French model, where they have three professional leagues, if we want to also be serving the English game and national team.
“I don't know what the number should be, whether 16 or 20. But where are we at to have two competitive leagues, the only way you to do that is have equal or closer to equal funding in those leagues. You might have a little more for the top league but it needs to be closer.
“You look at the crowds in the Premiership, they are down, you look at the teams at the bottom of the league, there's nothing to play for. You speak to people and those relegation battles over the years have been the biggest games of their careers.
“Whether its straight and simple or becomes play-offs between teams, you want a fair system whereby there is movement.”
With whatever is decided for the structure of rugby's top leagues, Ward's opinion is clear, adding: “Before Christmas or not, they need to get it right. The state of the game in this country is a disgrace at the moment. You've got people dropping out at lower levels, there's the safety issues, you can't tell me that the Premiership in its current form is sustainable, they have just recently had a load of CVC money, well where's that gone? How's the game going to go in the future?
“It's an opportunity now to reset the game and get it right, not just for Championship clubs, for teams in the Premiership, for teams below. We've got to have a good system where rugby union is able to thrive and be sustainable longer term and they've got to get that right.
“The RFU are our governing body, they have got to dictate to all clubs the way forward for English rugby.”
The RFU have been approached for comment.
