As members will know, the RFU introduced the PJ Cup end of season competition last year, in part to compensate for losing the income from two home games as the Leagues were reduced from 14 to 12 teams.
Last season there were ‘teething problems’ with the Cup; some matches were arranged that meant enormous travel distances and as a consequence there were many late withdrawals. We were, for example, due to play one of the games away at Stoke until they decided to withdraw. It was universally regarded as poorly organised.
This season the draw was made before Christmas and Clubs were required to express their interest and then had until the end of January to confirm their involvement. We were drawn in a group with Stockport, Alnwick and Blaydon and, for once, had two home fixtures of the three matches.
Our last League game (6th April) is away at Stockport with the following Saturday (13th) a home fixture against Stockport in the PJ Cup. This was to be followed by an away match at Alnwick (20th) and a home fixture against Blaydon (27th).
We heard over the Easter weekend that Alnwick had withdrawn from the competition some three weeks previously, but we had no formal communication from the RFU to that effect. Blaydon found that their only home fixture (v Alnwick) was gone and were faced with the prospect of two bus journeys without the ability to generate funds from a home fixture. They asked the RFU to find them a replacement home fixture, but when two weeks had passed without a response, they reluctantly decided to withdraw as well.
As I write we still have the home fixture v Stockport but the viability of the match must be in question. A second year with a disappointing outcome does not bode well for the future. Please look at our website for any change in the schedule.
We still have exciting rugby in prospect with the hosting of 4 games in the Finals of the NOWIRUL Cotton Traders competition on Saturday 4th May and a Cumbria County match on 11th May.
Kind regards, Stephen Green
Chairman KRUFC
3/4/24