Rugby union needs its own Richard Thompson

Dear oh dear, as exasperated kings are known to murmur – just look at the state of rugby union. But if our monarch had to pass judgment on the catastrophe enveloping the game in England, you imagine his language would be stronger than that. Mind you, a decent king is just what rugby needs: heads have to be seriously knocked together – off the field – if the game is to survive in anything like its current form. This column feels no shame in returning to this theme; after all, it’s not often that a major sport finds itself looking down the barrel.

It’s clear that the current organisational structures don’t work: the two big beasts, the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby, have in some ways mutually exclusive interests which can’t be good for the game. Heavy hitters such as Rob Andrew and Simon Halliday are arguing that there should ultimately be one body, which seems spot on.