RFU feedback - finally - Part One

Given man's ability to talk - and fast, I propose to break his responses into more digestible chunks so this is the first of three parts in which he discusses the proposed funding for the 12 team division, the current sponsorship situation and the parachute payment.

At about this time tomorrow I will bring you his responses to the issues around the Anglo Welsh cups, the play offs and crucially what does 'professional' actually mean.

BD - There are real concerns about how the Championship will be funded and whether it will be enough to help clubs make the switch to full time rugby. How would you address those?

MT -
"The money that clubs were getting when they were 16 was around £180,000 each. The money will now go up to around £330,000 per club.
"I accept it's not enough; unfortunately none of us gets enough in life. We would all like a greater salary but they're not going to get it.
"We are going to get six games covered on Sky plus there will be play-offs.
"An income of £180,000 was patently not enough. £330,000 is not enough but it's a lot more.

BD - But part of that £330,000 was supposed to come from a sponsorship deal with Guinness which will now not benefit the Championship.

MT -
"Premier Rugby said that as part of the renewal of the Guinness contract they had talked to the company about a very good sound bite of the Guinness Premiership and the Guinness Championship.
"They handled the negotiations because it was their sponsor. As I understand it those were going well until some stage early this season.
"As far as I am aware the Guinness contract is in the process of being renewed but it is a short-term extension.
"There are obviously problems in terms of the view Guinness have, either of the Premiership or of rugby, or they are reviewing their sponsorship budget.
"That said we are conscious of the situation and the commercial department is currently in discussion with three new potential sponsors.
"We are going to fund the Championship for two years unconditionally, after that the funding will move and be based along England Qualified Players in their side.
"There will be money to fund improvements to their facilities, not big money but useful and I don't accept it doesn't help playing budgets because if you have got to clean the toilets and have them refurbished the answer is Rugby Football Union money will pay for it. More of your other money can be moved across.
"Plus their England Qualified money will help."

BD - The parachute payment the relegated Premiership side receives already enables them to bounce straight back up. This will be even more of a leg up if the Championship has a salary cap.

MT -
"The parachute is a source of concern. I understand it in terms of what it was originally intended to do in that it was to ensure that players and employees of a full time club were not suddenly made redundant at the end of the season with the impact it had on their families.
"I don't accept that it should be used as a means of ensuring that come what may the relegated club will be promoted. I am not happy about that.
"It makes it very difficult for other clubs. Exeter look like they could have a crack at it, Plymouth could in time. There are clubs there that could build.
"But we don't have the power to stop it. If half a dozen people get together and decide to give you or me some money there is nothing the world can do about it.
"We do not pay one penny. That needs clearing up. It comes out of the owners' money. They have decided to pool their money and give it to their 13th man.
"The Rugby Football Union no longer pays a penny to the Premiership per se as it used to.
"It now pays for players in one of the three playing squads. If you have a player in the Under 20s you get a sum of money, or one in the Saxons or Elite Player Squad - that club gets a cheque direct form the RFU. The senior squad is worth £146,500."

BD - So nothing will change then? Bristol could come down and get bankrolled to come straight back up, Championship or no Championship.

MT -
"I think the answer lies in the current economic climate and the state of the Premiership where - if you believe the press - they are losing collectively £30 million a year.
"I think they might start deciding to do some housekeeping and saying that 'Whilst we have been generous in the past and given you shed-loads to pay off debts and enough money to get you back on your feet. if you go down you don't need this amount of money'. They may start to say they need to trim this."