are we saying that a free beer here and there paid for by a club member or a bit of free kit supplied by the club paid for by a club sponsor is wrong.... i don't think that is the point of the original question. i think the point of the question was about players receiving cash for playing.
flagman - in terms of the tim kill scenario i love because you have read a post on here that you now know all the details. could you help me out with something, I have a friend that has won the nigerian lottery but is unable to claim the prize, all i need is your bank account details and pin number. i would help them out but HMRC are looking in to my bank account after once receiving a pint from a club i played at in the early 2000s.
Doesn't really matter what anyone on here thinks is monetary gain or benefit in kind. It's HMRC that matters, along with the RFU of course.
If they decide to check, and conclude (because they always try to find something once they start looking) that free kit is linked to playing - which it will be - then guilty as charged.
We can all take the moral high ground and say such 'benefits' are trivial, and they are, but you have to consider it.
I'm guessing you've never been subject to a HMRC investigation. It's a whole world of pain you really don't need.