The Whitby Gazette exclusively told of how the club may fold within six years if a rent issue is not resolved.
But Emma Garbutt, who played at Whitby before going on to win 14 England caps at prop, wants everyone to give the club their backing before it is too late.
The wrangle centres around whether the council, as landlords, should increase rent following the club's own improvements which they themselves have funded over the past 30 years.
"I would urge the town as a whole to support the club and maintain the pressure on the council to review the current lease," said Emma.
"I was lucky enough to represent England at the sport I love, rugby.
"I would not have done this without the support which I received from Whitby Rugby Club.
"This town should not stand by and watch the local authority deny others the opportunity of taking part, at whatever level, in such an inclusive sport."
Emma, of Green Lane, said there was a simple solution – the current lease could be surrendered and a new lease entered into.
This would not be so commercially attractive to the council, she said, but would secure the future viability of a valuable asset.
Emma first got involved 20 years ago when the minis section had a girl playing and this led to the formation of a women's team.
After a couple of years, the team could not be sustained so Emma played instead for Headingley which then merged with Roundhay to become Leeds.
From there, she was picked to play for her country as a prop.
Emma – whose daughter Ruth now plays for the minis – said without the club's Geoff Scott asking her to become involved, she would probably not have had the chance to go on and play for England.
She added: "It's more than just a club – it's a facility the town needs."