Potential stars will quit ‘treadmill’ warns Jones
RICHMOND No.9 Luc Jones predicts potential England players will go part-time or quit the game unless the RFU reverse their decision to slash Championship funding.
With the RFU confirming Championship sides will this season receive just £80,000 – a staggering reduction of £455,000 per club from two years ago – former Harlequins and Dragons pivot Jones says players will have little choice but to seek employment elsewhere.
Jones, 26, who gave up his full-time rugby dream in 2018, told The Rugby Paper: “It’s quite clear now that with the lack of fundfor ing, players are going to be seeking other options.
“Some clubs will still be able to pay some players, but you’ve seen Nottingham go part-time and professional rugby is simply not going to be an affordable way of living.
“I read that Alex Penny (below), one of Bedford’s props, called it a day and is going into full-time work and, sadly for rugby, that could happen for a lot of other guys this summer.
“Third or fourth choice players in Premiership squads are going to feel it the most and with options in the Championship or in France reducing because of funding issues or eligibility rules, it might not be viable some guys to carry on when they weigh-up standards of living.
“A lot of talent could be missed because the viability of playing in the Championship is just not there, especially with ring-fencing and the RFU continuing to cut their funding. “It’s a nightmare for players who are probably too good for the Championship but not quite ready to be first or second choice in the Premiership. They’re the guys who will have decisions to make but it’s only heading one way in my eyes, which for English rugby is really sad.”
Jones, the son of former Ospreys and London Welsh head coach Lyn, is now forging a career as a relocation manager at K2 Corporate Mobility while playing for Richmond.
Explaining his own decision to quit full-time rugby, Jones said: “I didn’t want to be third or fourth choice at a Premiership or PRO14 club, play ten games and then repeat.
“I had an opportunity of full-time rugby in 2019, but circumstances changed so instead of trying to begin a new career after rugby at 30 or 32, I brought it forward.
“Clubs like Richmond, Blackheath and Rosslyn Park offer guys a chance to play a high level of rugby while starting a career away from the game and getting ahead of the curve, so why would you remain on that full-time rugby treadmill if the funding is always being cut?”
RFU officials insist previous Championship funding levels did not represent a good investment but Jones points to Cornish Pirates’ victory over Saracens last weekend.
He added: “It was great to see what Pirates did and it was a good middle finger to the establishment. Unfortunately, the RFU won’t fund it properly so unless something changes, you’ll see a lot of potential Premiership and England players being missed.”