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Smith accepts role in helping ‘lift profile’ of rugby union amid financial crisis

Marcus Smith has admitted he feels a responsibility to help promote rugby union in England amid the financial crisis unfolding in the Premiership. As England’s fly-half and one of the stars of the sport, Smith also revealed he has a duty to “put on a show” and said he would be open to holding talks with officials over how best to grow the game.

Smith’s Harlequins have developed a reputation as the game’s entertainers and before Sunday’s match against Northampton had sold out the Stoop for every home league match since the start of last season. That belies the current trend across the league however, with the respective plights of Worcester and Wasps highlighting the fragility of Premiership clubs.

There is a growing acceptance that change is needed to drive greater commercial revenues and increasingly the penny is dropping that players need to be at the forefront, even if singling out stars goes against the team ethos of rugby union. Smith is one of the few current household names and acknowledged that the level of attention he receives in public is growing.

He spent three weeks in Los Angeles over the summer, during which he worked with an NFL coach, and believes there are a number of lessons that can be learned from US sports. Harlequins are front-runners in that regard also and Premiership Rugby praised the club for how they attracted a younger and more diverse audience for their May fixture against Gloucester at Twickenham.

“I feel very responsible,” said Smith. “Ultimately we are the patrons for the game. The light is shining on us and it’s our job to entertain and put on a show for the people who come and support. Obviously it’s a problem at the moment with Worcester but potentially Wasps as well. At Quins we’re

Read more on theguardian.com