Perran Moon

First, I thank you, Sir Desmond, for your expert chairmanship of this debate; it has been a sight for sore eyes. I only have a couple of minutes, so I would also like to quickly thank the hon. Members who have contributed. I thank the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George), who mentioned the importance of Cornish rugby to Cornish society, and the hon. Member for Tiverton and Minehead (Rachel Gilmour), who referenced the French model, which we should be looking at, focusing on that kind of adapt-or-die approach. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (Dan Aldridge), who talked about the importance of mental health to our communities, and mentioned Talk Club; he also referenced financial sustainability, on which so much of what we have talked about is based. My hon. Friend the Member for Southend East and Rochford (Mr Alaba) mentioned Rochford Hundred rugby club and the passion there is there. I wish the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth (Dr Evans) good luck with his Bath-Tigers dilemma—I cannot really help him with that one. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Jonathan Davies) talked about the talent pipeline, and that is why we need to invest in these grassroots clubs: to ensure that talent is coming through that pipeline. The omnipresent hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) mentioned Ulster Rugby, women’s rugby and the lessons to be learned there. The hon. Member for West Dorset (Edward Morello) gave us an important insight into the history of rugby, as well as the financial challenges and why we need to look at this issue in much more detail. We were doing so well in making the debate apolitical until the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French), stood up, but I guess that is his job. I agree with him that we have to focus on the community side and ensure that it is open to all. I thank the Minister for responding directly and focusing on the grassroots game. I am conscious that hon. Members needed to talk about their local clubs as well as the higher-level clubs, and I was thankful that the Minister talked specifically about the grassroots. My view, for what it is worth, is that this is our game, and our mess; it is for us to sort out, not for Government to take control. Government can express a view, but I am hopeful that we can sort out our problems within the confines of the game itself and ensure that grassroots rugby remains on a stable footing. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered the governance of English rugby union.