Plymouth Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe says plans for a new professional second tier in English rugby could threaten the club game.

Dawe was reacting to plans put before the Rugby Football Union Council for a 12-team professional 'Championship' from the start of next season.

He says the plans will stop small clubs having the chance to play at the top.

"We've got to be careful we don't kill the club game all over England," Dawe told BBC Spotlight.

"The most important thing in this league structure is that a team say can come from the bottom league which could be Torpoint and go and play in the Premiership and we don't want to lose that."

And he says the top clubs have too much power in comparison to the rest in England.

I think it'll be a good idea for a professional league in the second tier to try and compete, but the danger is that if we do do it we may well be seen as a development league for the Premiership Plymouth Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe

"They won't let anyone else in the bedroom and they make their bed to suit."

The issue will be discussed at an RFU council meeting on Friday.

But Dawe says the principal of a professional second tier are, in practice, is a good one.

"I think it'll be a good idea for a professional league in the second tier to try and compete, but the danger is that if we do do it we may well be seen as a development league for the Premiership and that none of these teams can ever get in the Premiership," he added.

"It's probably slightly underfunded but it's a start. Whether it ever bridges the gap between Division One and Premiership, we shall have to wait and see.

"There will be a funding issue in as far as we may only be allowed to take the young players - the 18, 19, 20, 21-year olds - who really want to try rugby full-time but who certainly wouldn't be able to support a family further on in their career, so the funding has got to be right."

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