Even a current England player has called the RFU's Championship budget cut 'pure garbage'
The Rugby Football Union have faced an almighty backlash after announcing on Wednesday it will be slashing its Championship funding by almost half from next season.
Championship clubs were quick to react, releasing statements that were ultra-critical of the RFU’s decision, and many fans also waged in sharing similar sentiments.
Current and former players – including Will Stuart, a current member of Eddie Jones’ England squad – were also quite vocal with their disapproval. Many felt it will all but end any side’s hopes of breaking into rugby’s top flight, and that this may actually be the beginning of the Gallagher Premiership becoming ring-fenced.
Former Saracens and USA star Chris Wyles commented on Twitter, saying this is a “terrible move”. The winger won four Premiership titles with Saracens and two Champions Cups, but cited how important his time with Nottingham was earlier in his career, saying it was “crucial in my development- not only as a player but more importantly as a person”.
I’m not one to offer my opinion often but I feel this is a terrible move. My two years at @NottinghamRugby was crucial in my development- not only as a player but more importantly as a person https://t.co/IscWKGSwSI
— ChrisWyles (@ChrisWyles) February 12, 2020
Similarly, current England squad member Stuart, who made his Test debut at the start of this month in Paris, tweeted: “The Wild West is getting even wilder. I can’t stress how important my time at @NottinghamRugby was for me. This is pure garbage for lads who put their bodies on the line for already laughable levels of player welfare.”
The Wild West is getting even wilder. I can’t stress how important my time at @NottinghamRugby was for me. This is pure garbage for lads who put their bodies on the line for already laughable levels of player welfare. https://t.co/iwyLJOPVqU
— Will Stuart (@WillStuart10) February 12, 2020
Fellow Bath prop Christian Judge, who played for Bedford Blues and Cornish Pirates, added: “There are some amazing players and clubs in the Championship, and without it many like myself wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make it to the Premiership.”
There are some amazing players and clubs in the Championship, and without it many like myself wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make it to the Premiership. Very disappointing decision https://t.co/6DeFpBfP5Q
— Chris Judge (@JudgemanChris) February 12, 2020
These are not the only players to chastise the RFU over this decision, as so many have come through the Championship. In fact, many stats have been shared showing how many of the England team that beat Scotland last weekend have come through or played for Championship clubs, as well as many in the Scotland team as well.
Updated with the added information that has come in… pic.twitter.com/nnH2iEqinr
— Simon Hutchinson (@HutchMedia) February 12, 2020
Hey RFU,
Congratulations on killing off the championship. https://t.co/Mo8vN6KWoh
— Jamal Ford-Robinson (@jfordrob) February 12, 2020
Very grateful to @will_hooley and @guardian_sport for telling my story, and the story for so many others playing in the Championship. In light of the decision for the RFU to cut Championship club funding by 50%- I think this article is particularly poignant. https://t.co/p3HcmNBPCD
— Justin Blanchet (@jblanch93) February 12, 2020
https://twitter.com/AlexLewington48/status/1227514703175389184
Very misleading headline! Gutted for @Champrugby ,provides so much opportunity for players and coaches. 50% cuts almost certainly means the beginning of the end, more players and coaches to slip through the net. Very strange and poor decision. https://t.co/6brsPtmCc6
— Tom Cruse (@cruse_dog2) February 12, 2020
Championship funding reduced by 50%….. horrendous decision!!!! https://t.co/njCojKR9eR
— Alex Davies (@ADavies_10) February 11, 2020
Current Championship players have also given their opinion on social media, with Doncaster Rovers hooker George Edgson saying, “Unless you’ve played or worked in the Champ, you won’t have a scooby how detrimental this will be.”
https://twitter.com/ohedgyboy/status/1227532034295369728?s=20
How generous. What a thoughtful bunch. https://t.co/yh5rEd2Tb7
— Charlie Foley (@charliefoley10) February 12, 2020
It's been a Wednesday of mounting fury in Championship rugby circles… @chrisjonespress hears from two club coaches furious with the RFU's budget cut https://t.co/S4guDoJjDN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 12, 2020
The future will only tell what the impact of this decision will be, but it has not been accepted from those that have benefited from the Championship, which is a significant number of players across the Premiership.
WATCH: Clubs fear RFU’s savage second-tier funding cut will affect many people’s livelihoods
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments