Yarnbury angry at RFU punishment

Hood has guided Yarnbury back up to Yorkshire One from Yorkshire Three

Yarnbury head coach Bob Hood has hit out at the RFU after the Yorkshire One club were deducted eight points for an administrative error.

The Leeds-based club were also hit with a £320 fine because they submitted the wrong player registration form.

The points penalty puts newly-promoted Yarnbury bottom of Yorkshire One on zero points.

"The RFU has made an example of us and the deduction is draconian," Hood told BBC Radio Leeds.

The club claim the error has come about due to confusion between the RugbyFirst website and RFU website and their registration procedures.

These two websites and the RFU's registration procedures have previously been criticised nationally for their confusing processes and unclear information.

The whole thing has made me ashamed to work for the RFU. They have lost sight of the fact that this is a community club that serves over 300 families and is just keeping it's head above water financially.

Bob Hood

Yarnbury were originally hit with a 12-point deduction, but that was reduced to eight on appeal.

Yorkshire head coach Hood explained: "The original oversight came from one player called Liam Wilson who trained with Yarnbury during the summer to regain his fitness, but had no intention of actually playing for us, which we knew about.

"He inadvertently filled in a form which was then processed by our administrator, so he appeared on our system despite never playing for us.

"He went on to play for Old Mods, who were then hit by a two points deduction. So we came to their rescue and explained to the RFU what had happened. So they gave Old Mods their points back but then hit us hard despite Liam never putting on a Yarnbury shirt.

"We have been caned here. I would say about 50-60 percent of clubs are in a similar situation to us and have really supported us, but they can't do that officially because of fear they will be punished too."

As well as letters of support for clubs across the county, the Yorkshire RFU and Yorkshire referees, former British Lions and England manager Geoff Cook also joined the fight, who highlighted the confusion the RFU's websites cause regarding registration of players.

Sport England Coach of the Year for the season 2000 and 2001, Hood coached the Yorkshire under-20s and 21s for 12 seasons. He is the current head coach of the the Senior County Side and the North England under-20s. He is also an RFU National Assessor for coaches.

"The whole thing has made me ashamed to work for the RFU," added Hood.

"They have lost sight of the fact that this is a community club that serves over 300 families and is just keeping its head above water financially.

"They have acknowledged that the fact that we weren't trying to cheat but just a little human error.

"It's hurt everyone at the club and forced two volunteers, that have over 60 years service to Yarnbury between them, to quit."