Abendanon, 36, recently called time on his career after a three-year spell with RC Vannes, where he’s been playing in the second tier of French rugby.
The twice-capped England international played for Bath from 2005 to 2014 before a six-year spell with Clermont Auvergne, where he was named European Player of the Year in 2015.
Abendanon is planning to spend the next few years coaching in France, where he has had enormous success, and has major concerns for rugby in England.
“From the outside looking in, I’m extremely worried about the state of affairs of English rugby at the moment,” he said. “There’s a lot of negative press not just around the clubs but the game itself.
“There’s a lot of focus at the moment with regards to head-knocks and injuries and as a result participating numbers have completely dropped down, and now seeing three massive clubs go bust will send a shockwave through all the other clubs, who will wonder how they’re not going to find themselves in the same situation.
“Players have such short careers and they want to try and maximise their earnings as quickly as possible and as much as they can, but some of the contracts the players are getting are not sustainable for the clubs.”
Abendanon feels that in the professional era England has lost the community aspect around its biggest rugby clubs, which has led to such divergent fortunes between the top two tiers in England and France.
Denne historien er fra June 11, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 11, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
