IT'S a time of year when plenty of folk have a hectic diary – work functions, shopping, getting everything done in the office before clocking off for the festive period, all along with the usual stuff that fills the other 11 months of the year. Soon many will ponder 'just where has the year gone?' while linking arms.

Time is precious, as many volunteers at rugby clubs up and down the land will tell you. They fulfil roles that are increasingly demanding and, worryingly, they frequently have nobody to pass the baton to.

Those in the Principality Premiership have so many hoops to jump through and a mountain of paperwork to fill out.

Last week Cross Keys chairman Colin Vernall stood down only for his retirement to be even shorter than Martyn Williams' withdrawal from the Test scene in 2007. He was back on his post at the Pandy Park gate on Saturday to help out.

Similarly, Bedwas vice-chairman Dave Newton will be leaving his post at the end of the current campaign. He will be a hard act to follow and one only hopes that somebody is willing to put their hand up.

Sadly that isn't always the case – plenty of men and women keep grafting away for their club just because they fear nobody else will take over.

The Welsh Rugby Union certainly aren't the only sporting governing body to be facing some problems but they need to ease the burden on their volunteers.

Perhaps – and this won't be a popular suggestion in some quarters – we need the upper levels of club rugby to head back towards the lower levels rather than trying to bridge the gap between semi-professional and professional.

The Principality Premiership will become a ring-fenced 14-team tournament next season and, despite an awful lot of effort and money being put in, it's going to be a hard sell for some clubs.

Maybe it's time to decrease the demands on the club officials, leaving it to the four regions to bridge the gap between semi-pro and pro as they have done by taking over the British and Irish Cup. More 'A team' fixtures could reinvigorate the club scene, not harm it.