Public Funding And The Rugby Football Union

EDM number 361 in 1994-95, proposed by David Hinchliffe on 11/01/1995.

That this House notes with interest the selection of Mike Catt in the England rugby union team participating in the Five Nations Tournament in view of the fact that he is on record as stating that, contrary to International Board regulations, he has been paid for playing rugby union, recalls that last month Adrian Spencer, the Cambridge University rugby union player, was banned for 12 months by the Rugby Football Union under the same regulations for playing rugby league as an amateur; and, bearing in mind that the contrasting treatment of Messrs Catt and Spencer is yet further clear evidence that the application of the International Board regulations by the Rugby Football Union is more concerned with curbing the development of the completely independent sport of rugby league than preventing the growth of professionalism in rugby union calls upon the Government to ensure that the Rugby Football Union receives no funding arising from the proceeds of the National Lottery until such time as it ends its blatant discrimination against those involved in other lawful sporting activities. (Relevant registered interest declared)

This motion has been signed by a total of 83 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.