Braintree Rugby Club has made a shock announcement that it is to pull out of London League division two north east with immediate effect.

In a statement released by the club today, chairman Barrie Winwood said it was with sadness that the decision had been taken not to fulfill its outstanding fixtures in the current campaign and would be seeking a move down the rugby pyramid into the Essex Leagues next year.

It has been a torrid time for the Black and Ambers in division two north east this year.

They sit bottom of the pile after losing 16 games in a row and were unable to field a team to travel to Diss last weekend.

They had been due to face Norwich tomorrow, but were unable to get enough players together again and Winwood said the decision had been taken to withdraw the club from the competition with immediate effect to the game would not now go ahead.

The Braintree chairman said there had been huge problems this season with getting enough players available each week capable of performing at first-team level and constant defeats had hit morale at the club.

He said younger players at Robbs Wood were not ready to step up to division two north east rugby so hoped by stepping down into the Essex Leagues would allow them to develop at the right pace.

Any move into the lower level will have to be ratified by the RFU, though.

Winwood said that withdrawing now would give other clubs in the division a chance to arrange alternative games on weekends when they had been due to face Braintree, but added that the decision to step out of the league was not one that had been taken lightly.

He said: " I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the players and coaching staff who have given their all for the Black and Ambers in every game this season, despite the difficulties they have faced, and also to our staunchly loyal supporters who have been there week in week out supporting the club.

"It is now time to rebuild."

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