Those competitions all have their purpose, especially in an amateur rugby environment where you can’t dictate terms. Still, in terms of seeing the best against the best, the National All Star Championship is the competition that is supposed to fit the bill – so much so that in the 1970s and 1980s it was the trial for the national team.

If that is true, shouldn’t we care more about it? Shouldn’t we give it a little more love? Look at it this way: the IRB recently told USA Rugby to front up some membership support for the national teams, or the IRB would feel Americans are not invested in the Eagles, so why should the IRB be.

The message was very clear: support elite play and make it seem like it matters, or be left behind.

Should the same message be sent to the territories? Some territories spend large sums on their all-star teams, others don’t. What is clear is that most territorial all-star players have to pay some or all of their costs to attend the NASC.

If that is so, what are players paying their territorial dues for?

It is, of course, not that simple (charge dues, pay for team). Among the complications are: some territories have fewer members than others, yet the cost of sending an all-star team to Florida is pretty much the same no matter where you are (exception might be the South, where many of the players are within driving distance); What do you do about men and women? Women’s all-star teams cost the same as men’s, but have a much smaller dues base than the men do.

However ... could you formulate a plan whereby each territory pays for its all-star team to go to the NASC? Yes. Would players in different regions have to pay more dues than players in others? Possibly. Could territories reevaluate their mission with regard to their all-star teams and find people not only willing to coach, manage and care for the medical health of these teams, but to raise money through donations, sponsorship, and other fundraising (sound familiar?).

It costs somewhere around $15,000 to send a full squad to the NASC (plus or minus depending on air fares and other variables). Some territories could cover that entire amount with dues from their senior men’s clubs. Others would need some help, but it’s really kind of shameful that the oldest and in some ways most important national championship – a championship every player has the opportunity to be a part of – does not fully fund the teams.

Why this is could come down to priorities, or the anti-elitist sensibilities of some, but the NASC is nothing if not ecumenical. Every player can try out. Every player from every division has the opportunity to be part of the team, if he or she is good enough. If that’s not all-inclusive what is?

If we do fully fund the program, we will see some positive results aside from individual players not having to pay to attend. We would ensure that the only obstacles to a player participating are work requirements, apathy or injury. We would be able to give teams better preparation time and create better warmup competitions.

Interest in the teams would increase and the exposure of more athletes to a higher level of coaching would raise the level of rugby all around, and therefore make playing the game more enjoyable.

If you did that, you might also find that raising even more money is that much easier.