Protherough angered by Bromsgrove's level transfer - The Bromsgrove Standard

Protherough angered by Bromsgrove's level transfer

Bromsgrove Editorial 6th Jul, 2016 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

BROMSGROVE’S director of rugby Dan Protherough has expressed his disappointment after the Rugby Football Union rejected the club’s appeal against the level transfer from National Three Midlands to National Three South West.

The decision was made by the Midlands Division Organising Committee (MDOC) who followed RFU regulations of calculating the distances to home grounds of South West clubs and Midlands clubs to find a team which provided South West sides with the least amount of travelling.

The need for Bromsgrove’s level transfer was caused by there being, in Level Five – subsequent to promotions, relegations and play-offs – 16 clubs in the North, 13 clubs in the Midlands and 13 clubs in the South West.

The Boars had submitted their appeal to the RFU at the end of May but it has now been rejected with no further appeal permitted.




Bromsgrove are now set for long away days with trips to Camborne, Bournemouth, Brixham, Launceston and Ivybridge.

Protherough said: “We are really disappointed that we lost the appeal because we felt we had good enough grounds to succeed.


“However, the decision has been made and we now have to roll our sleeves up and just get on with it.

“On a positive note, it’s going to be a new challenge for us and from a rugby point of view, we need to be in good shape and ready for that challenge.

“We are looking at the potential of moving the kick-off times back from 2.15pm so that we can make it feasible for players with work and family commitments to get to away games.

“Hopefully the RFU will show some flexibility with their regulations to allow this to happen.”

After ending last season ninth in the National Three Midlands table and collecting only three league wins since the turn of the year, Protherough is making player fitness and strength his number one priority in training.

“Last season we struggled with so many injuries due to lack of fitness so that’s something we’re putting first over the summer as well as making us a stronger outfit,” he said.

“The pre-season training has started really well and we’ve got some guys from Worcester helping us out and the impact they have had is excellent.”

The Boars have arranged two pre-season friendlies against Dudley Kingswinford and Broadstreet before they kick-off their National Three South West season on Saturday, September 3 with a home fixture against Lydney (3pm KO).

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