Coventry Nathan Jones: “Some Championship players earn no more than minimum-wage”
In moving back to his former club in National One, the scrum-half has called time on his professional career at 28 – citing the need to get on the career ladder as a primary factor. He believes there are many others contemplating following suit, well before their body makes them, because of the paltry Championship sums on offer.
“It’s mainly the money,” said Jones, who has started a new job in financial recruitment. “I’m not saying every Championship player should be on 50-60 grand, clubs have to stick to their budgets. But you have to ask yourself, do I want to continue playing and having my dream job or is now the time to focus on the future.
“There are lads at Notts and my old club Doncaster on full-time contracts who could go behind the bar on minimum wage and earn the same.
“At some point rugby is going to come to an end and the thing is there is no help out there for Championship players in finding work after rugby.”
While Jones maintains the quality of rugby in the Championship is on an upward curve, he believes ex-Premiership players and overseas arrivals are squeezing the talent pool of up and coming players.
“If you look at the quality of the players compared with a few years ago it’s clear the level of rugby is improving,” added Jones. “But maybe it’s more the older guys coming down rather than home-grown players coming up.”
JACK ZORAB
