Challenging times for rugby create conditions for a new dawn

I have resisted the temptation to follow up too soon on a previous piece where I summarised what a mess we are in in our great game. It has got worse but perhaps it is the darkest hour before the dawn with so much to look forward to.

In a week when our thoughts turned to Doddie Weirs memorial service it was easy to be distracted as he represented all that was good about our game, his bravery in immense adversity, and a reminder that the rugby family is one of the strongest units of any sport in the world,

Elsewhere, my constant worries about rugby leadership, formed while Chairman of EPCR and therefore?with something of an insight, have grown with the ruling in France against key figures in FFR, notably Bernard Laporte who is/was Vice-Chairman of World Rugby.?

It was always said that CVC as financial investors would be careful not to impose themselves on the administrators given their relative inexperience in the sport. I think they now have no option now as the challenges for the game are so significant and cannot be solved alone by the incumbents.

To counter significant criticism and a decline in player numbers due to safety issues, new laws are now being introduced to lower the tackle height. Also efforts to speed up the game and put people on the clock have welcome echoes of NFL best practice. Small steps but bravo at last.

On field, as a committed England supporter (Welsh and Scottish ancestry notwithstanding), the pain of the National team's performances was hard to bear and the players themselves looked seriously devoid of any inspiration. We were even attracting sympathy which had to be the pits, worsened only by the thought that our National coach was taking us for fools with his narrative. Make no mistake, this was a slow train coming but we had to wait for it to run over us before change was at last made, and on the back foot again. Plus ?a change.

Amidst the oceans of opinion, only two things mattered in my mind. Jones was a poor selector and fell into the trap so many England coaches do - too much talent to choose from and unable to stick with a chosen group. All 3 of England's best eras came about through consistency of selection, inner belief and a happy group united by a common goal - win the next game and then the next one and then......well done newly appointed Borthwick for making that simple point and he has a real chance to reignite some confidence in our team.

Secondly the disrespect for players, coaches, media, administrators, fans and anyone else in the firing line placed Jones on a dangerous footing only going to end one way.

Both the appointment and accountability of our Head Coaches have been questionable since the departure of Sir Clive Woodward and we all hope that this new 'era' will accompanied by a structure which actually works.

Elsewhere, the need to restructure our domestic game is pressing and urgent. In my new strategic role with Ealing Trailfinders, there is nothing but excitement, their appointment to build one of eight women's rugby franchises a ringing endorsement of their commitment. For the mens game, key truths will apply in the coming weeks. Hard times ahead but the prize is significant.

Importantly, I wish you all a peaceful and healthy Christmas - and on the rugby front the only domestic game that matters is the Xmas Eve top of table clash between Ealing TrailFinders and Jersey Reds!