Mind the gap
Ambition is a good thing. It drives us forward and gives us the challenges that give life purpose. Most rugby clubs are ambitious but can manifest itself in many different ways. For the majority it is movement up the league ladder and the rugby world tends to judge clubs by their league status.

What is very clear however is that promotion to the next level is not necessarily to positive thing that it would first seem to appear. At a senior level, promotion can bring as many problems as benefits. One only has to take Bristol as an example. With strong financial backing they have been knocking on the door of the Premiership for two or three years and have been endeavouring to build a squad to compete at that level. Disregarding the ridiculous play-off system that handcuffed them from attracting the top quality players until most contracts were already signed and sorted, they have struggled to come to terms on the field with the Premiership. It’s a big step up.

A couple of levels lower, our near neighbours Macclesfield are finding themselves in difficult times. Three years ago they gained promotion to National 1 and bounced straight back down. Having won their league last year, vowed not to repeat their previous experience and having recruited strongly during the close season, they are again finding themselves one from the bottom, struggling to match the much better funded established National 1 clubs.

Hinckley and Scunthorpe were rightly promoted last year out of our league and both were good, strong teams at Level 5. Yet they are both finding the going tough, Hinckley in the relegation zone and Scunny doing slightly better, but still languishing in the lower reaches. For many there is an argument that finishing third is probably the optimum position. Promotion means change in so many ways. What worked this season won’t be sufficient next season and you have to step up across the board both on and off the pitch and more importantly, sustain it.

For those who attract players via payment, success often means that higher level clubs come sniffing, attracted by that success and making tempting offers. This could mean that the team that got you promotion will bear no resemblance to the team that takes the field the next season at the next (tougher) level up.

So ambition is great, but initial success can, in the long term be more of a curse than a blessing. There are many examples of clubs who over reached themselves and spent the next few seasons tumbling down the leagues.
Better to evaluate carefully how you judge success. League position is a valid, but too simplistic a measure. Are you financially strong? (ie self-sustaining, not dependent upon the whims of one or two individuals). Can you generate the required player resource from within? (a thriving mini junior section and development system). What are your facilities like? (are you proud of your club when visitors turn up).

If your first team do well and prove themselves the best in you league, then great. But it is not the be all and end all and it is certainly not the mark of a great club on its own. But having considered all the above let’s not shy away from being successful on the pitch. Players like to feel that things are moving forward. If they think the club lacks ambition they may look elsewhere.

All in all the best evaluation is probably the simplest. Are you a happy club? This usually works.