AT the last board meeting of Rams, the Directors voted unanimously to impose an embargo on accepting youth players from other Berkshire clubs.

This runs up to and including the Under 16 age group, if they are already members elsewhere.

The Rams Board believes it is in the local rugby communities’ interest for all Berkshire clubs to run successful youth programs.

Clustering lots of children into one club, whether this is Rams, or any other Berkshire team, is in nobody’s interest.

The Colts section at Rams comes under the direct control of the senior playing section and is often used as a stepping stone into elite adult rugby.

Applications from players in other clubs to join Rams Colts will be considered, but only after a discussion has taken place between the Rams Chairman and the Chair of the club at which the young player is currently participating.

Rams Chairman Andy Lynch is fully behind the decision.

He said: “As the ex-Chair of the County I am very keen to see the youth sections of all Berkshire clubs thrive because it is in everybody’s best interest, including the child.

“The physical constraints we face at Old Bath Road have resulted in us needing to cap age-group sizes and introduce waiting lists for potential new young players.

“It makes no sense for a child who is playing at an existing club to leave and join a waiting list, and in any event, I am wholeheartedly against club-hopping.

“This policy, therefore, has my full backing.”