The Breakdown | Premiership final masks turmoil simmering

It’s not a sexy topic but rugby union can’t get away from the fact the top of the pyramid needs strong foundations to sustain it

At first glance English rugby has increasing reasons for optimism. A shiny, happy grand final awaits at Twickenham on Saturday involving two teams laden with high-quality homegrown players. The national team are showing genuine signs of life, as they hope to demonstrate against the All Blacks next month. Both sides also insist relations between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs are less fractious than for many years.

Dig a little deeper, though, and the reality is less glitter-strewn. There are only 10 of those aforementioned Premiership clubs still standing and increasingly few are in rude financial health. Adult male participation at club level continues to decline. A growing number of parents are wondering if there might be less fraught school sports for little Jonny or Mary to play. And, as this week’s latest cry for help from the Championship makes clear, there may soon be a cavernous void where a vibrant and ambitious second tier of clubs should be.