Ian Davies blasts RFU as Tier Two attendances dwindle
Davies insists there must be a root and branch review of where tier two stands in the wider professional game.
He believes funding, dual-registration and who governs the league are issues to be looked at and has thrown open the possibility of ring-fencing the Championship as a means of strengthening the impoverished second tier.
With attendances at eight of the 12 Championship clubs down year-on-year, including notably large falls at London Scottish (28.8 per cent), Nottingham (27 per cent) and Rotherham (18.9 per cent), Davies thinks interest in the league is waning.
He told The Rugby Paper: “The RFU bang on about how many players in England squads have played in the Championship, but if they want that to continue more money is needed because clubs are struggling to stay professional.
“Also, in many cases the brand of rugby being played is based on survival rather than development because of the fear of relegation to National One and the huge loss of funding, which is what Moseley are facing now.
“Unfortunately, that means the product is not really what people want to see, which may explain the drop in gates. People like watching winning rugby but if you had a better product, fans are more likely to come and watch.
“The whole competition and play-off structure needs reviewing and the professional end of the game needs running by PRL. The RFU pay lip service to the Championship so it would be interesting to see what PRL could do.”
Davies doubts Richmond’s newly promoted semi-professionals will survive next season and believes a radical rethink is required on promotion and relegation between levels two and three.
He added: “The top two tiers need to be a fully professional competitions and if there are teams in National One who can provide a business plan and have the financial backing, then make it a 13 or 14-team league.
“A few people are saying National One is stronger now, but if Richmond don’t turn professional they’re going to have some real hidings next season, which you don’t want because the product will be watered down further.”
Davies has a powerful ally in Worcester boss Dean Ryan, who believes ring-fencing between the Premiership and Championship is inevitable unless English rugby’s second tier can become more commercially viable.
Ryan told TRP: “I’m an advocate of promotion and relegation but only if it’s viable. At the moment it isn’t, so what’s the point?
“Talking to people in the Championship they’re struggling more and more this year and most are operating in survival mode. You’ve got directors of rugby who are trapped in that cycle so maybe we should look at ring-fencing.”
NEALE HARVEY
