Madam, - I was interested to read Gerry Thornley's article of August 26th concerning the possible demise of Connacht rugby and, more interestingly, the supposed numbers playing rugby in Ireland.
I have been involved in club/school rugby for the past 25 years as a player, referee, coach and administrator and it saddens me to see the decline in numbers playing rugby at club level.
I put this down to the dawn of the professional era. The playing base of 15,700 quoted in the article is far from the reality on the ground. Clubs are struggling to field junior teams, despite the fact that rugby in general is getting plenty of publicity.
The problem, as I see it, is money. In the past there was pride in playing for your team and great camaraderie. Players stayed with their own teams and showed loyalty and commitment.
That day is sadly gone and players are moving from club to club annually. It has now become difficult to get people to act as coaches, managers and administrators at junior levels as they feel aggrieved at others being paid.
I think people in the IRFU need to know that their primary objective is to spread the growth of playing rugby at all levels, not just the top level. - Yours, etc.,
NICK HEENEY,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.