12 team league farce.

[avinastella]

What a resounding success the 1st round was - no doubt the RFU will suggest.
Reality?
50% of games were walkovers.

[backrowbandit]

I think we will be going formal on this. Open letter soon.

[real-ale]

Morley's Cup Update

Wetherby have withdrawn from this Saturday's fixture, unable to field a team.

Saturday, 12 April 2025 – Regional 2 North Plate, Round 1:

Morley v Wetherby – Home Walkover
Old Brodleians v Pontefract
Olney v Daventry
Sandbach v Burnage – Home Walkover
Scarborough v West Hartlepool – Home Walkover
Shipston on Stour v Cheltenham – Away Walkover

That's four walkovers in one round — hardly a ringing endorsement for cup rugby. The next round isn't scheduled until 26th April, which will mark three weeks since most teams last played. It's easy to see why many players might decide to pack it in for the season and call time on rugby until September.

For a cup competition to work, it needs commitment from both clubs and players. The reality? This competition has fallen flat.

It surely strengthens the case for moving to a 14-team league structure as soon as possible.

Pontefract dropped out of their game at Old Brodleians making it 5 Walkovers

What a farce

[Dalesman]

Clubs need more commitment.  Every club was asked whether or not they wanted to enter the competition so there no were forced entries.  They are obviously trying to cover all eventualities, and a National competition is going to require distance travel.  Some of the walkovers will be because of genuine issues but I think most will be because teams refuse to travel. It begs the question, why enter a National competition when you have no intention of travelling?

We all want an extra fixture or two. If clubs continue to this treat this cup as is, it could be withdrawn and those clubs that honour the fixtures will be denied an opportunity to get an extra fixture.

[DesperateDan]

Pretty disappointing number of walkovers but can see why. When the competition was first launched a couple of seasons ago it was touted that everyone had the opportunity to play at Twickenham.. This was then changed to only certain levels of the competition got that opportunity..
Rochdale played in the Regional 2 Championship Round 1, which does have a final at Twickenham and all 8 fixtures were honoured. I think that without the 'Big Stadium' draw, a random cup competition doesn't have the level of interest following a tough season, especially if you haven't made the draw for the Twickenham final route.
I'm in agreement with all stated above, we should return to 14 team leagues, as the PJ cup just isn't working without the draw of 'the big day out'...

[ScrumAndGetIt]

The cup needs to be scrapped or played during the season as mandatory.

It's too easy for teams to not turn up, maybe they could put it instead of the ridiculous amount of gap weeks we have every other week.

[Fredsbar]

The Papa John's Community Cup will not be held next season. Instead a Community Cup for level 7 club's and below is being considered.

[avinastella]

The Papa John's Community Cup will not be held next season. Instead a Community Cup for level 7 club's and below is being considered.

So the powers that be haven't learnt anything then.
PJ Walkovers last week at L7 and below = 49%
And somehow someone thinks they've come up with a great idea for cup rugby.

Looking locally shows it will fail. Walkovers at L7 and below in the Yorkshire Cup comps are:
24/25 - 15
23/24 - 14
22/23 - 15
21/22 - 14
19/20 - 19

[backrowbandit]

I suspect we will be writing and publishing an open letter shortly on this subject.

[Sail By]

Or drive it from within BRB
 https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4208083357/?refId=t3DxA3xxQ%2Ba%2BOERtGL4hTQ%3D%3D&trackingId=t3DxA3xxQ%2Ba%2BOERtGL4hTQ%3D%3D

I could see you down at HQ

[backrowbandit]

Lol - they couldn't afford me in a month of Sundays 😂.

I've always believed that the purity of volunteering helps deliver better and quicker results.