Ring-fencing would lead to player exodus warns Boden
YORKSHIRE Carnegie forwards coach Steve Boden believes ring-fencing the Premiership would leave the Championship ‘dead’.
He says cutting off the second tier would hamper player development for England and top-flight clubs and drive aspiring coaches from the game.
Boden said: “If it does get ring-fenced, the Championship’s dead. It’s just going to go part-time and it’ll be like National One is now. There’ll be a huge wastage of players who leave the game and you’ll lose coaches as well.
“As the Premiership stands there are only a certain amount of English coaches and where are you going to go if standards in the Championship are not where they need to be? It will badly affect both coach and player development.
“The Championship needs recognition because the game at this level is getting more skilful and people are getting more ambitious. Just look at the number of former Championship players in the Premiership to see that.”
Boden’s comments follow a Rugby Paper survey which reveals that of the 72 front rowers named in Premiership squads last weekend, 20 (28 per cent) had spent a significant chunk at Championship clubs.
These include Exeter quartet Harry Williams, Jack Yeandle, Tom Francis and Alec Hepburn, Leicester foursome Jimmy Stevens, Campese Ma’afu, Tom Youngs and Greg Bateman, WillGriff John, of Sale, and Saracens star Richard Barrington.
In addition, England front row regulars Dan Cole, Jamie George, Joe Marler and Luke CowanDickie honed their skills whilst dual-registered with Championship clubs, while Mako Vunipola and Ellis Genge played for Bristol and Dylan Hartley spent a formative season in level two as Northampton bounced back from relegation.
Former Doncaster and Leeds prop Bowen added: “For forwards the Championship is a fantastic breeding ground and the level of the league is getting higher each year.
“Richard Barrington (Saracens) came to Jersey as an ambitious guy who just needed some coaching, as did Harry Williams (Exeter) and Sam Lockwood (Newcastle). They’ve gone into the Premiership and never looked back, as have many, many others.
“Premiership clubs are getting those players on the cheap, but that’s good recruitment so I tip my hat. Championship clubs can’t pay much but the carrot you dangle is you can make them Premiership players.”
He added: “Would Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole and Joe Marler be the players they are if they hadn’t taken a few hammerings in the Championship? No. I understand the funding issues but the Championship needs promoting, not killing.”