Six Nations has little impact on grassroots progress, says Cambridgeshire rugby director
England play Ireland in their penultimate game of the tournament
The director of a rugby club in Cambridgeshire believes the grassroots game doesn't rely on tournaments like the Six Nations to help it progress.
England take on Ireland at Twickenham at 4.45pm today in their penultimate match of this year's tournament, with Steve Borthwick's men third in the table.
"I don't think the Six Nations has that big of an effect"
Alex Skingley's the director of rugby at Ely Tigers - he's said more can be done to help the amateur game:
"I don't think the Six Nations has that big of an effect on grassroots rugby as we'd like," he said.
"I think it comes more from people who are already involved in rugby who tend to watch the Six Nations rather than the Six Nations bringing new, fresh players in.
"Certainly a larger number of kids coming through the door wanting to have a try, that's what we'd hope large tournaments would bring and hopefully inspire the next generation to take up the sport."
"It always comes from volunteers and always will do"
Alex said younger people would be more inspired to play by seeing people their own age play:
"I think you get better inspired younger players by being able to see the younger England players, like the under 20s, but it's not readily available to see," he added.
"In regards to the higher echelons of rugby (on where the future of grassroots game lies), very little comes from the top and it always comes from volunteers and always will do."