No relegation will result in job losses warns Buckland
JAMES Buckland, head coach of London Welsh, fears more Championship players will lose their jobs following the RFU’s decision to kick the Exiles out of the league.
Welsh were ejected and had their record expunged last Tuesday after the RFU Board concluded their ‘Phoenix Entity’ had not satisfied all conditions required to participate in the Championship for the remainder of the season and beyond. With the risk of relegation removed, Buckland believes some of the remaining sides will seize the opportunity to slash costs by releasing fringe players. Buckland told The Rugby
Paper: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of what happened, we had a group of lads who were ready to fight to stay up. Unfortunately, they won’t get that chance but it would have been a good shoot-out at the bottom.
“It would have been great for the Championship but as a result of us being thrown out and there now being no relegation, there might be a few teams who take the opportunity to streamline their operation and take away some financial pressure.
“It comes down to numbers and that will undoubtedly impact on fringe guys who they want to get off the wage bill to save money. London Welsh were not the only club under huge financial pressure so other clubs are bound to take advantage.”
Belt-tightening elsewhere will hinder the chances of London Welsh’s remaining players finding new clubs, but TRP understands prop Lovejoy Chawatama is joining London Irish while winger Kristian Phillips is heading for neighbours Ealing.
Buckland said: “A lot of players have come of age this season so I hope people look at them and give them a chance.
“They’ve all gone above and beyond over the last six weeks and shown character and talent, so they deserve to find new clubs.”
Buckland, 35, is now in the job market himself and looking at the Premiership.
The former Leicester and London Irish hooker added: “I can do a job at the top level and it’s about opportunity now.
“I’ve served my apprenticeship in the Championship and I’m ready to step up.”