Is their something rotten in the state of Rugby Union?

Is something rotten in the state of the rugby union. Why the gloom, why the doom? The world of rugby union has surely never been healthier? A lions tour is currently under way under the greatest lions guardian of tradition in Ian McGeechan. The end of the northern hemisphere season was concluded in the most exciting of circumstances with a fine victory by Leinster. There are still things that nag away at me. The first thing that worries me is the danger of the professional game. Recently Matt Stevens received a two year ban for recreational drug abuse. The post ban conversation has talked about the professional rugby game and the physical and emotional pressures that led to cocaine abuse. This is a convenient story and taken at face value makes sense. The back story to the whole cocaine story may run deeper and is being born out by the current resignation by three Bath professionals for allegedly refusing to take compulsory drug tests.

The question is not weather these players are guilty or not it is the fact that rugby playing and training as a professional is allowing them the opportunity to even think about taking drugs. The example can be seen in Australian Rugby League. The NRL has terrible press for many reason's the first is the sex scandals that have blighted the game. Accusations of gang rape and dodgy tackling practices. The worry is that rugby union is heading the same way as Australian rugby league.

The professional governing bodies of the game of rugby union have to act now. The game of rugby union is now losing its last generation of amateurs. What I mean by that is that they are the last generation of players who played rugby before the incentive of payment came in and before rugby was a viable career. Their has to an infrastructure put in for players young and experienced to learn to cope with their spare time. If the infrastructure of the game can be put in place not just to make money but to help players cope with the demands the professional game can put on young players.