Rugby facing a trying time

English rugby faces huge problems with declines in both participation and popularity despite the unprecedented success of the national team, the most comprehensive survey on the game revealed today.

England may be heading to Australia next month with the best ever chance of winning the World Cup following their incredible performances over the last year, but the MORI research makes worrying reading. It was commissioned by the Rugby Football Union and shows the sport is ranked a lowly 15th - behind dance - as a physical activity in schools.

Interest in the game has dropped from a quarter of the population in 1996 to less than one fifth. Only rugby league, boxing and snooker have suffered a greater decline. Even more worrying is the number of rugby clubs, which has dropped in the last two seasons from 1,537 to 1,480. The average number of teams fielded by clubs is also falling.

The RFU, clearly worried where the next Jonny Wilkinson is going to come from, have launched a major offensive to try to increase participation, especially with England in the World Cup spotlight in October and November.

One of the main problems is that rugby is still regarded as a middle-class sport and is not being played by enough youngsters from the ethnic minorities. Even children who take up mini-rugby at six are "burning out" and losing interest in the game before they are 16. The World Cup is going to be crucial in the RFU campaign. "England as potential world champions will provide a catalyst," said Terry Burwell, the RFU's community rugby and operations director. "One of the problems with kids is that rugby is ceasing to be fun. It is all getting a bit serious.

"Rugby is also regarded as a middleclass sport. I wish there were two or three black role models in the England team."

The astonishing decline of Welsh rugby, which not so long ago was producing some of the world's best players, provides a sobering lesson to the English.

The RFU have set themselves the goal of introducing the game to 200 new secondary schools this season and delivering 227 coaching and refereeing courses to 700 teachers.