PROMOTION-chasing Dudley Kingswinford RFC have been accused of tapping up players by a rival club.

Bromsgrove RFC claim DK officers have contacted two of their players and offered contracts in a bid to tempt them to Heathbrook, without consulting Boars head coach Ross Baxter or anyone else at Finstall Park.

In a damning statement released, Bromsgrove say DK have shown “complete disrespect and disregard” for their club and threatens to report DK to the RFU. The statement claims two un-named player-coaches employed by DK were responsible for the alleged illegal contact.

It read: “That these individuals should be offering contracts in this manner shows complete disrespect and disregard for Bromsgrove RFC its players, officials and members.

“Such actions can only have an unsettling effect on the players in question and on the club’s important end-of-season run-in.

It added: “BRFC will also make representations to the National Governing Body over these approaches and the offering of contracts by a club listed on the HMRC website as a Community Amateur Sports Club, thereby enjoying taxable benefits from their status as an amateur club.”

DK play one level below Bromsgrove but are currently pushing for promotion from National Three Midlands.

The statement went on: “Dudley Kingswinford would be better served on focusing on their bid for promotion and investing in the forwards who have performed so well for them over the past two seasons.”

DK declined to comment when contacted by the News.

On the pitch, DK need just three more wins to seal a play-off place following last Saturday’s 38-13 win at Malvern.

With South Leicester losing to champions-elect Rugby Lions, DK are now 13 points ahead in second place with five games remaining.