Holders can’t defend country rugby trophy

Holders can’t defend country rugby trophy

Instead they will be playing for the Hampshire Plate, as will the team they beat in last year’s final, New Milton and District.That is the result of a rethink by the Hampshire RFU who have changed the format of all of their county competitions.According to press officer Richard Isaacs the revamp was forced on Hampshire because there were some terrible mismatches in the cup competition last year, and because, with so many fixtures in an already hectic season, many clubs withdrew to concentrate on their league.So the top 16 clubs in the county, based on their league status, have been split into two tiers of eight, the top tier to play for the Hampshire Worthington Cup, the other for the Bowl.Ironically, Jersey RFC, who were due to play again in the Hampshire Worthington Cup, having reached the final last year, have since withdrawn because of the cost.This complete rearrangement of county competition means that all of Hampshire’s junior clubs have been given a new trophy to play for or, as Isaacs explained: ‘It’s virtually the same competition but with a different name.’As Les Quennevais have been looking to play more games against mainland opposition, it is not entirely a satisfactory situation.’At the end of last season we were looking to play more away games against teams in the Hampshire leagues,’ said Les Quennevais president Peter Deffains, ‘but for a variety of reasons that hasn’t proved possible.’We were invited as a Channel Island team to go into the Plate,’ he said.

‘We asked if we could defend the Bowl and they said “”no””.’

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