Is there an Echo??

This is a recent article that I produced for the Exeter Express and Echo which includes my predicitions for this season - I would love to hear your thoughts:

The Championship is set to revolutionise rugby at Level 2 in the English game and despite retiring I am really excited about the kick off to the season.

In theory, with the dawn of the new playoff system, this should be the most open league for quite some time but it seems that the new Championship is destined to begin under a cloud of uncertainty for a number of would be contenders.

All the news coming from the capital was that perennial under achievers London Welsh were going to come out of the shadow of the famous names of the past and mount a serious challenge for the title.

Having signed some quality performers, from this league and above, all looked rosy for the Dragons but they were plunged into administration citing the credit crunch as the cause of their problems.

Things seemed to have settled and the likes of Chris Whitehead and Michael Holford will add steel to a front row that has struggled to dominate teams in the past – but will all the off field issues come back to bite them?

It was a difficult time for the players at Nottingham last year when wages were cut and financial uncertainty was the hot topic – it will be interesting to see if the difficulties have brought the team closer together or left them worried about their future.

It is rumoured that a number of clubs are feeling the financial pinch which is only going to play into the hands of the big guns, Exeter and Bristol.

Birmingham and Solihull were promoted to the Champions as Champions of National Division Two last season but have thus far failed in their attempts to get planning permission at Sharmans Cross Road and they must be one of the favourites for the relegation play off.

Nottingham’s troubles also continue – the lack of forthcoming investment has resulted in a smaller squad and they have also been asked to leave Meadow Lane following Notts County’s takeover and the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson.

Nottingham’s biggest concern will be in the ball carrying department having lost their three talisman in Dan Montagu (Bristol), Joe Duffey (Leicester Tigers) and more recently Tim Molenaar (Gloucester).

In season’s gone by it has been important to hit the ground running but the playoff system will change the dynamics of the year.

As we have seen in the Guinness Premiership it is all about timing and making sure that you have qualified for the later stages and hitting form at the right time.

Much of this emphasis will be placed on the Director’s of Rugby – they will need to manage their squads well and keep them fresh for the big games.

Will this be Exeter’s year?

They certainly have the squad that could win the league but it has been their ability to perform under pressure that has let them down in the past few seasons.

A change of leadership might help but more importantly they will be able to draw on the experiences from Twickenham and Billesley Common and put right what went wrong as England did in their 2003 World cup victory.

Pirates seem to have more solidity than in the past few seasons – having Gavin Cattle back will make a big difference, he is one of the best scrum halves and game generals in the league.

Can we look past Bristol for the title?

With the parachute payment and some clever signings including Montagu, Spice, Bedes and Jack Adams they will definitely be one of the favourites and with a large squad should be fresh for the play offs.

Top Eight: Bristol, Exeter, Bedford, Doncaster, London Welsh, Nottingham, Cornish Pirates,

Plymouth

Bottom Four: Birmingham and Solihull, Rotherham, Moseley, Coventry