This isn’t correct. **Acsenray **is right that the RFU did not allow a league structure to be set up until 1987. There was not even a cup competition above the county level until 1972 and also right that the RFU thought having a league structure would lead to dirty play and - heaven forbid - pressure to turn professional. All matchs were arranged on a club to club basis, mostly regular traditional fixtures with local rivals.
In a way the RFU was right, nine years after the full league structure was set up the top teams went professional.