Quote: Starbug "Much harder since the 2 competitions started to run inline'"
Which might have an impact, yet I'd say the greater effect has been professionalism finally starting to bite. I was at a coaching workshop run by Barrie McDermott a few weeks ago and he said when he first started playing they (the players) were part-timers, by the time he'd finished playing they were full time professionals but now they're athletes.
I think the Championships could just about keep pace with full time professionals, but not with athletes. That's not necessarily a criticism of the Championship clubs, it's just how it is.
For instance at Leeds the backroom staff has expanded dramatically in both size and expertise. It's more than doubled in size in 5 years and expertise-wise is now at the point where the u18's strength & conditioning coach holds both an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and a PhD in Fluid and Electrolyte Balance in Rugby Players. This is a far cry from the days of Mal Reilly as Assistant coach, only 10 years ago, simply telling players to run harder.
The game has moved beyond the current reach of many clubs, we need to find a way of helping them get back within reach again.