SPEN ALLISION says he is "fuming" about the way the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) has been blamed for the latest controversy in amateur rugby.

Allison, from York, is the chairman of BARLA, which has become embroiled in an argument over the Great Britain Community Lions, a Rugby Football League-backed representative side which is made up of players from all branches of the amateur game, including BARLA, National League Three, the Summer Conference, GB Students and the Combined Services.

The controversy arose after the BARLA Great Britain players - including York Acorn half-back Andy Gargan - decided en masse not to make themselves available for the Community Lions' match away to France next month.

Their decision was made before their 30-8 win over the Combined Services last weekend, their third win in 11 days, in a match which was supposed to be a selection vehicle for the Community Lions.

Rumours abounded that BARLA GB players had been told that playing for the Community Lions would jeopardise their chances of going on the BARLA tour to South Africa next summer.

But Allison said: "Where that's come from I've no idea. It certainly has not been from anybody in authority at BARLA. People are making things up and it's caused a lot of animosity."

BARLA was to have a meeting about the situation today.

Allison added: "I'm absolutely fuming about the way we've been castigated. There was absolutely no pressure put on from BARLA. These players had their meeting and came to their decision by themselves.

"Nobody has a right to dictate to players what they can or can't do."

Allison, however, backed the BARLA players' decision, saying they were entitled to choose who they played for.

"If you drop on people at short notice that they're expected to find £500 to go to France in the middle of a working week, which puts their jobs in jeopardy, what do you expect?" he said.

"There was no consideration given to the players whatsoever. These lads don't get paid to play. People can't just take three days off work. Plus, who's got that sort of money spare coming up to Christmas?

"One player has made himself available but other lads have different views. That's their choice. Some players just didn't want to play in a different team."

Allison also believed BARLA GB - not the Community Lions - was in any case the pinnacle of amateur rugby. BARLA players would certainly have made up the bulk of the Community Lions squad.

He added: "I don't think the structure is right. If BARLA players turned out en bloc to play (for the Community Lions), where's the development opportunities for the other (amateur RL) organisations? In my opinion our players are better than the other amateurs and BARLA should be top of the tree."