Maids' move to London leagues off as Bracknell swap places

Maidenhead RFC's move to the London leagues has been reversed after the Berkshire RFU confirmed Bracknell would transfer from the South West leagues instead.

Due to the national RFU restructure of the leagues and the locations of promoted and relegated teams, Maids were moved into National League 3 London & South East last week, filling a vacant spot in the league.

It would have been a historic milestone for the club who have always been in the South West section.
However, after losing their South West 1 play-off, Bracknell chairman Ian Hallam asked Maids chairman John Wanklyn if they could swap places for next season.

Berks RFU ruled on the proposal yesterday (Sunday), agreeing to move Bracknell across instead with Maids proceeding into National League 3 South West as was originally the case.

Wanklyn said: "The Berkshire RFU accepted Bracknell's request to go to the London leagues, so we will take Bracknell's South West place.

"We were quite happy to go to London, but the view of Ricky [Khan] and the players is it's better the devil you know than the devil you don't know."

He added: "Historically Maids have always been a South West team and we want to stay as one."

Head coach Khan agreed with his boss, saying he is happy to still be in the South West leagues: "I preferred to stay in South West, but was not too bothered either way.

"And anyway, we didn't have a say in the matter so we just decided to play it by ear.

"I don't think there's anything between the leagues. There may have been in the past, but not now.

"The only pain has been that we cancelled our pre-season matches with Tring and Hertford because we would be playing them in the league. Now we have to get those matches back if we can."

- Maidenhead were given a huge boost in their plans for next season's assault on the national leagues by the news that flanker Ryan Long will stay at the club next season.

The 17-year-old was a key component in Maids' title-winning season and is sure to be an important figure in Khan's team for 2009-10.

"Ryan Long played really well for London Wasps in the National Academy Sevens at the weekend," said Khan, who is a coach at the academy. "He was one of the stars of the show.

"He has signed a new contract with us for next season."

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