Last updated 19:52, Thursday, 23 October 2008

CUMBRIA rugby union clubs have been warned to expect a cash squeeze next season as the so-called credit crunch bites.

The tighten-belts advice came from Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron during a visit to the county.

Baron told a meeting of Cumbrian clubs at Penrith: “We believe 2009 will be a very difficult year and we’re planning on the assumption that we haven’t yet seen the worst.

“What we’re trying to do is ensure that the RFU centrally remains very strong and we’re fortunate that we’ve got long-term contracts with all our key revenue streams.

“What we can’t guarantee is what will happen locally. I think that rugby clubs around the country will suffer a downturn in some shape or form with their sponsors.

“We will maintain the continuity of RFU central funding – we’re very secure on that – but clubs will have to watch their budgets very closely.

“It’s not going to be a year when clubs can push the boat out at all and everyone is going to have to look at their costs and be very careful about what they commit to.

“I’m sure we’ll get through it okay as a sport, but there will be some pain suffered along the way.”

One area where clubs can rest easy is with the Community Rugby Coaching programme.

Baron said: “We expect to get a clear indication in December as to what our funding levels going forward will be.

“But we are making it clear to the game that one area where we will not allow any reduction is in funding Community Rugby Coaching.

“We are committed to maintaining a minimum level of 100 community rugby coaches and if we have to pick up the costs of that ourselves, then we will do so.”

With Baron on the three-day visit to Cumbria were Martyn Thomas, chairman of the RFU management board, community rugby director Andrew Scoular and community rugby committee chairman Rob Udwin.

At the start of the question and answer session at Penrith, Baron presented Nicky Ellery, head of sport at Ullswater Community College for 20 years, with a Value the Volunteer Award for his work in promoting the game.

During the visit the RFU delegation also toured Wigton and Kirkby Lonsdale clubs.

Baron said afterwards that he was impressed by the positive way Cumbrian clubs are dealing with the competition for players from other sports.