Sweeney backing for a strong second tier

BILL SWEENEY has pledged Twickenham’s support for the Championship but said the level of funding for the second tier, which will be renamed Premiership 2, will not be decided until the agreement with the Premiership clubs is renewed. 

- PAUL REES

Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, has come under fire from the Championship clubs following the demise of Jersey Reds. They issued a statement at the end of last week saying they had “very low levels of confidence” in the governing body and added there would be a review of their relationship with Premiership clubs.

“We firmly believe that a strong second tier is important for the development of the game,” said Sweeney. “It is not something that is easy to get right. We have had consistent talks with the Championship clubs since a meeting in Farnborough last February.

“We have been talking about the shape of Premiership 2, academies, player development and mechanisms. We have not been able to confirm the level of funding which will have to wait until the Professional Game Partnership is agreed.

“We have said we will advise them ahead of next season and there has been much more dialogue than before. It has been a challenge but we are committed to it and would ideally like to have a system similar to France, but the average attendance in the Championship is 1,300. We need to grow that and it will not happen overnight.”