Bristol centre James Williams believes the Championship is overlooked by Premiership clubs and deserves more funding from the RFU.
Williams topped the charts last season in the Championship scoring 162 points for Hartpury that resulted in him earning a second chance in the Premiership.
Williams, 26, spent two seasons in the Premiership from 2018-2020 with Worcester and Sale but made only four appearances in all competitions. This season, Williams has played 13 times for Bristol, scoring one try.
The Championship was a useful lifeline between his two spells in the top flight, helping Williams flourish with regular game time at a level that he sees as under-appreciated.
He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the Championship. It’s tough for some boys working full-time alongside developing as a rugby player. Financially, most players don’t really get rewarded for what they do but there’s some real talent in the Championship.
“Tommy Wyatt has come through and started to play at Exeter in the last few weeks, Rich Lane at Bristol, there’s numerous names out there who have played in the Championship to develop. It’s a relentless league, the fixtures come fast. It’s good for younger lads, the more exposure they get the better.
“In terms of Hartpury as a place it was brilliant, they could facilitate training around work and try to get the best out of me with some top coaches in Mark Cornwall and John Barnes. They’ve had another successful season with the budget they have and the players they can bring in.”
Williams feels there isn’t the gulf in quality between the top two tiers that many think there is. He added: “In the Championship you’ve got some big boys and it’s pretty attritional rugby, a lot of teams just run straight at you. There’s some brilliant players in the Premiership, so if you make a little error you’re probably conceding a try whereas in the Championship you can sometimes get away with it.
“With the salary cap coming down, Premiership clubs are looking to put academy kids with Championship teams. There’s a lot of boys in the Championship who can make the jump up but it’s to do with the opportunity and players often get overlooked.”
The RFU has cut Championship funding in recent years and, while Williams recognises the lack of finances currently in the English game, he sees a clear link in France between the professionalism of the second tier and the success of the national team.
He said: “The Pro D2 is well funded, televised, with big crowds. It’s no coincidence that France are one of the best teams in the world and that’s down to how the leagues are structured.
“For the Championship, we’re not talking big money. I know money is tight and there are priorities but if the Championship could get half of what they used to get, it would be brilliant for the league.”
