Macclesfield Rugby Union FC's 1st XV have been demoted to the Regional 1 North West.

The club say they are 'disappointed and angry' with the decision made by the Rugby Football Union and National League Rugby.

The team were initially allocated to the National League 2 West for the forthcoming season, despite explaining that this would be beyond the club's means.

Following an intense negotiation period with the NLR and RFU, as well as the 15 other National League 2 North teams, consensus has not been reached and therefore Macclesfield were relegated to the Regional 1 North West.

Director of Rugby Matt Coleridge said: "We are massively frustrated by the actions of the NLR and RFU as being relegated for your performance and points tally is one thing, but for being allocated to a league in which it directly affects your ability to compete due to travel time and cost of travel is devastating.

"I feel for the players, coaches, committee and fans as the years of work on an upward trajectory has been immediately un-done for administrative reasons rather than on-field ones."

Macclesfield 1st XV finished 3rd in the National League 2 North last season, narrowly missing out on a place in the promotion playoffs.

Towards the end of the season, it became clear there was a chance the 1st XV could be allocated to play in the National League 2 West for the 2026-27 season.

This month, an initiative was proposed which would see the creation of a 16 club league, up from the standard number of 14 teams, with each side playing 26 games.

The proposals were discussed during a Zoom call with representatives from all 16 northern clubs on Monday, June 8, with the RFU insisting that all 16 clubs reach a unanimous agreement by 5pm on Wednesday, June 10.

Unfortunately, no consensus was reached and immediately before the deadline, Macclesfield chairman Bob Cooke wrote to the RFU to explain that club would be declining allocation in the National League 2 West.

"The principal reason for doing so is the high costs to the club of playing in that league that would put the club in danger of becoming financially unsustainable," Mr Cooke said.

"As a result Macclesfield have been obliged to accept relegation to Regional 1 North West.

"This is a bitter pill for us as a club to swallow. After a highly successful season our reward is relegation, not because we failed on the field, but because we are in Cheshire and are geographically in the wrong place and were obliged to travel huge distances.

"In fact, eight of the 13 away games would have been either in Bristol or further south. I realize this will come as a real disappointment to everyone, but I hope you will continue to support your club, on the field as well as off it as we face new challenges.

"We are massively frustrated by the actions of the NLR and RFU as being relegated for your performance and points tally is one thing, but for being allocated to a league in which it directly affects your ability to compete due to travel time and cost of travel and accommodation is devastating.

"This coming season will be an opportunity for the club to rebuild and renew and return to challenge for a return to the National Leagues in due course."