THE crazy structure of rugby in England has condemned Bromsgrove RFC First XV to relegation to Midlands Two (West) - more than three weeks since the season ended.

Town, who finished fifth bottom in Midlands One, will be one of five teams - along with Barkers Butts, Kenilworth, Hinckley and Malvern - demoted from the league.

Relegation in rugby is determined by geography and not decided until all leagues across the country have completed. Demoted sides then have to be placed into leagues, West and East or North and South, and the places have to be filled.

That means the knock-on affect, which starts at the top of the pyramid in the national leagues, has forced five teams down from Midlands One.

Bromsgrove will be one of four clubs going to Midlands Two (West) while Hinckley go to Midlands Two (East). And six teams are leaving Two (West) to acomdate the changes.

Not surprisingly, the news has left club officials in a state of disbelief, who, like most people, thought their nail-biting 25-24 final day victory over Malvern was enough to save them.

Robin Davies, club secretary at Finstall Park, said: "We are desperately disappointed. As far as we are concerned we are relegated unless we hear differently.

"It's a shame that by finishing virtually mid-table we end up going down. There's no certainty in relegation, only promotion."

Clubs signed up for the Rugby Football Union's current league structure three years ago, a structre that includes no directive on the number of relegation places.

Bromsgrove agreed because they wanted better rugby but shorter travelling distances.

Chairman Dave Wellington added: "It seems ludicrous to me. I know of no other league structure in this country where issues over promotion and relegation aren't set out at the start of the season.

"We had no idea at all. We weren't advised by the RFU. Everybody started on the basis that three sides would be relegated but as the season went on it became apparent more would be relegated but nobody knew how many."