Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans has written a 1,200-word address to the club's supporters defending his decision to form a ground-breaking partnership with London Broncos rugby league club.
Tuesday's announcement that the Broncos will become known as Harlequins Rugby League, move to The Stoop and adopt the famous quartered shirt has received a mixed response from both sets of fans. Many union supporters are concerned that Harlequins' long traditions will be diluted by their association with the Broncos.
And there are still some union fans who do not believe the impasse between the two codes can ever be bridged and want nothing to do with rugby league.
But Evans insist Harlequins must not be ``hamstrung by the past'' and that the partnership makes sound financial and commercial sense for both parties - the Broncos in the short term, Harlequins rugby union in the long term.
``The reaction amongst the fan base has been predictably mixed and, as always in sport, aroused strong emotions,'' Evans wrote. ``Above all this is an opportunity to grow the name and the size of a famous rugby name by partnering with another rugby code.
``Some NEC Harlequins fans will express concerns over the licensing of the Harlequins brand to another sport. In their eyes Harlequins is, and should only ever be, associated with rugby union. This is a perfectly reasonable point of view but not one that I, nor the board of the club, share.
``Of course there is a risk of reputational damage if the dual code concept does not capture the imagination of enough people in south-west London. However, the possible upsides are exciting. Within a few years I think it is perfectly possible that we may see a Harlequins team competing at the very top of both the Guinness Premiership and the engage Super League.
``The ground belongs to Harlequins, the whole feel and look is geared towards Harlequins and only Harlequins rugby teams will play there on a regular basis.
``In such circumstances I feel there is a good, albeit not guaranteed chance that professional rugby league in London will become a viable proposition. If it does, then Harlequins will benefit significantly in the medium to long run.''
Evans also sought to clear up confusion among supporters that is evident on the internet message boards by making clear the rugby union club will not be subsidising the league side.
Many Quins season-ticket holders are angry because they agreed to pay Premiership prices despite last season's relegation and feel their money has been badly invested. But Evans wrote: ``Our primary focus at Harlequins will remain on securing our return to the Premiership at the first time of asking.
``Harlequins have agreed to invest their ground, brand, logo and colours for a fixed period of time and not to saddle the rugby league operation with crippling high rents. So far as revenues are concerned, they will be able to take full value of the revenues their activities create. This will be the first time for many years that rugby league in London has a chance to operate on a normal commercial basis. What will not happen is that one side will subsidise the other financially.''
The Broncos supporters, whose club will have moved nine times when they return to the Twickenham Stoop for the 2006 engage Super League season, are not wild about the partnership either. The gap between the two codes has grown smaller over the years since rugby union went professional and while Broncos chairman Ian Lenegan believes it has now been bridged, the club's fans are not convinced.
One wrote: ``Instead of being a rugby league team, they'll be an offshoot of a rugby union team. They'll also be the laughing stock of rugby league. I'm not interested in a club like that.''
Another said he was ``absolutely stunned'' at the partnership and added: ``I might be defecting to the London Skolars or staying at home next summer to do some gardening.''
The Broncos have had to sacrifice their name and colours to find the stability which has eluded them since they were founded as Fulham RLFC 25 years ago, but it will earn them an extra £250,000 a year. Evans wrote: ``The most contentious element of the partnership was always going to be the use of one name and set of colours. This change will be most heartfelt amongst Broncos supporters, who will see their colours retired at the end of this season.
``I don't believe the two codes will ever merge to form one game because they are too different in terms of the skill sets involved and too popular in their respective heartlands. I'm well aware of the resentment felt in many league quarters towards the union game over the years.
``The actions of the Vichy government in France in the 1940s when they all but destroyed the 13-man code are particularly indefensible. I can still recall the ridiculous situation in South Wales in the 70s when some of my boyhood heroes, such as Dai Watkins, were not allowed to coach or even have a beer in a union clubhouse after they returned from rugby league.
``Thankfully things have changed a great deal and there are now two fully professional codes of rugby in England, with a good deal of exchange of ideas and good practice on playing and commercial matters. Things change and new opportunities present themselves. No two sports are so well suited to operate out of the same venue.''