New Coventry wing Ben Toft believes the Championship is losing its lustre and is becoming less attractive to play in.

The 26-year-old revealed how he turned down two offers of full-time Championship rugby to drop down a level in order to move forward with his off-field aspirations.

Toft, who played at level two with Coventry before moving to Doncaster via Oyonnax, has opted to return to the Butts Park Arena, despite the fact Cov now play in National One.

But the security of a two-year contract and the offer of support in finding a post-rugby career proved too good to turn down and as well as playing for the Blue and Whites, he will also be working with club sponsor Unipart.

And the Leicester academy product claims most level two players would rather follow suit because the division is not adequately funded to offer worthwhile full-time contracts.

“It is a major problem in the Championship and something has to be done to improve things because a lot of players are in the same boat,” Toft maintains.

“It’s fine when you are 21, 22 or 23 but when you start to get a bit older there is always that thing in the back of your mind about ‘What if I have to stop playing?’.

“My partner is ready to settle down, we’ve been to France, to Doncaster and she wants some stability and I think if any National One club out there went to a Championship player and said, ‘We will offer you a two year deal and a job’ then 60 per cent would take it.

“There just isn’t the money in that league, if there is not a sponsor for the league then the majority of players are going to have to go to part-time rugby, something like Bedford do where they pay quite well but allow their lads to work.”

However, the Goldington Road outfit are not typical and most second tier clubs require their players to be full-time without having the finance to offer attractive salaries.

Which was why Toft decided to go back to the semi-professional game. “I had three offers to stay in the Championship, two full-time, but in terms of what they can offer you as full-time players, it’s not really enough.

“That’s fine if you choose to accept it but then you don’t have the opportunity to move on with your career after rugby.

“You’ve basically got another contract for one year, get to relocate for one year then you are in the same position 12 months later, still with no experience of what to do when you do finish playing.

“The RPA (players’ union) does stretch down but you don’t get the full benefits as if you are in the Premiership. They are not as proactive in the Championship, we didn’t have a meeting with them once at Doncaster.”