Otley's chairman hits out at RFU

Otley chairman Paul Jaques has hit out at the Rugby Football Union and the restructuring of the National Leagues.

The governing body announced in November that National One will be reduced to 12 teams next season.

That means five clubs will be relegated from the division this season, including West Yorkshire side Otley.

Jaques told BBC Look North: "We feel cheated because this decision basically ended our season in November and that can't be good for the game."

Otley are second bottom with 13 points and 35 points from safety.

In previous seasons, only two teams were relegated from National One, which would mean Otley would only be five points from safety.

Jaques explained: "I think this restructuring is why you are seeing a lot of high scores and uncompetitive matches now.

"Team in the bottom five or six realise they are not going to beat the likes of Leeds and Exeter away and are doomed to the drop anyway, so the quality of the sides fielded is reduced."

Otley were established in 1869 and have been consistently one of Yorkshire's proudest rugby assets.

They won National Two last season to return back to National One.

"I don't fear for the future of Otley as a club as we are an asset-rich club and will fight on in the future.

"What I do fear for is the future of semi-professional rugby.

For the teams that do play in the Championship I wish them luck as the idea is half baked currently. The amount of funding the RFU is providing is derisory and I can't see how it will work.

Otley chairman Paul Jaques

"Since the game went professional we have seen a huge improvement in the standard of rugby played at our level year on year.

"The reason for that is that there has always been something to play for and we've always had incentives, particularly financially.

"That is coming to an end with the RFU introducing their new plans. Their new plans mean clubs below the new Championship will receive very little funding.

"This means clubs like us can't fund many rugby activities, this includes sending players into local schools to help develop youngsters and that will have a knock-on effect for the whole game.

"For the teams that do play in the Championship, I wish them luck as the idea is half-baked currently.

"The amount of funding the RFU is providing is derisory and I can't see how it will work.

"The fixture lists looks like it will be a nightmare too."