Last updated at 12:50 AM on 8th April 2011

There are frequent references to a north-south divide in rugby, relating to the balance of power between the hemispheres but it is an increasingly acute issue in the Aviva Premiership.

This weekend will provide a stark indication of how the English elite's northern clubs are struggling as Newcastle and Leeds go head-to-head in a pivotal relegation contest.

Spot of bother: Sale are 10th in the Aviva Premiership

The clubs lie 11th and 12th respectively at the bottom of the league, with Sale just ahead of them in 10th. Last season, these three clubs finished ninth, 10th and 11th.

Sale are on the soundest footing of the three and they will welcome a record home crowd of about 15,000 when they take their game against London Irish to Bolton's Reebok Stadium on April 16. It is a bold venture at a difficult time, but sensible ticket pricing means it will be a success.

Yet, Leeds and Newcastle exist on paltry crowds of 4,000 to 5,000, in cities where football is undoubtedly king - a scenario that the likes of Northampton, Gloucester and Bath do not have to contend with.

John Bentley, the iconic former Lions wing who manages Leeds' community programme and played in Newcastle's 1997-98 title-winning side, is worried about the situation.

'It is desperately sad to see two clubs who not only represent their city but their region battling it out for survival,' he said this week.

'I do fear for the game in the north if we are not represented at the top level because I think the game needs a geographical spread across the whole country.'

His fears are well-founded. England as a rugby nation rely heavily on northern talent, despite the competing claims of rugby league in the region.

The World Cup-winning team of 2003 featured five bona fide northerners, plus an adopted Geordie in Jonny Wilkinson. The current national side have a back three who hail from Chester, Workington and Wigan, plus Yorkshireman Mike Tindall.

The RFU have been sufficiently concerned to discuss the option of investing in the northern clubs, but Premier Rugby oppose such a move, which is understandable. It would set a potentially divisive precedent and could lead to over-zealous central control and meddling in such matters as recruitment and selection.

Union money is not the answer, it is private money that is urgently required. Sale, Newcastle and Leeds, more than any of their more southerly rivals, need marquee names to put bums on seats in a crowded sporting market place, even if the results do not come immediately.

Saracens famously revitalised their campaign last season by enjoying a weekend of drinking and home truths in Brighton, but this year their approach has changed significantly.

The Hertfordshire club have prepared for a tilt at the Premiership title by spending time in Miami, where Matt Stevens (below) used his contacts in the world of ju-jitsu to arrange a 'mixed martial arts' session with worldrenowned Ricardo Liborio.

The Brazilian coached them in the art of grappling and wrestling, so rival teams can expect to encounter some unorthodox breakdown moves in the coming weeks.

Daly reminder to be optimistic

The Daily Mail Schools Rugby finals day at Twickenham on Wednesday provided an encouraging glimpse of the future. Among a heartening abundance of midfield talent, two stood out in the Under 18 Cup final.

Whitgift talisman and England Under 20 centre Elliot Daly had a hand in all five of his side's tries and kicked goals with aplomb, but a real highlight was his sublime, one-handed off-load to set up one try. It was a moment of pure class which will excite his club, Wasps.

All smiles: Whitgift celebrate after defeating Oakham during the final of the U18 Cup at Twickenham

Oakham were inspired by a pedigree Anglo-South African outside centre, De la Rey Veenendaal, whose elusive running terrorised the opposition defence. England fans must hope that these and other talented teens successfully make the transition to senior level.

We have become accustomed to debate and controversy surrounding the haka, but now New Zealand is in the grip of a row over a waka - the Maori word for a 'war canoe'.

Authorities have revealed shortnotice plans to construct a 200ft-long waka to sit in Auckland harbour as a showcase for Maori culture during the World Cup. Unfortunately, the project is expected to cost approximately 700,000, leading critics to denounce it as 'idiocy' which will leave officials open to ridicule.

While the motives for the plans are undoubtedly worthy, the timing - amid continuing economic problems heightened by the cost of repairing shattered Christchurch after the earthquake - is far from ideal.

The last word

There can be no doubt that the last two English clubs in the Heineken Cup going into this weekend's quarter-finals, Leicester and Northampton, operate at a disadvantage compared to the leading teams from France and Ireland, in particular.

They do not have the financial clout within the salary cap to amass huge, expensive squads and thus rotate players to keep them fresh, but the Midlands clubs are matches for anyone when their leading lights are fit, which is largely the case on this occasion.

Northampton are flying again and they should beat Ulster at home, while Leicester have it in them to upset Leinster in Dublin. If the Tigers and the Saints progress, they will both earn home semi-finals against French opposition - always vulnerable on the road - so all of a sudden, the prospect of English representation in the final doesn't look so far-fetched. In fact, what a welcome turn-up it would be if they could turn the Cardiff showpiece into a local derby.