WorldCup champions New Zealand in the summer of
2017, so that will be a good refresher for the leading
players to look forward to.
ANSWERSONA POSTCARD
Amidst all of this, I keep repeating the question about
what, exactly, is beingdone to address the issue of
player workload volume at a timewhen all the athletes
are becoming faster, fitter and stronger? The length
of international careerswill only continue to dwindle
asmore andmore players struggle to keepup to the
demands beingmade by the game’s Governing Bodies
and a structured season that was creaking at the turn
of the century and is now crumbling in terms of player
welfare.When is enough enough?Answers on a
postcardpleaseWorldRugby.
On a cheerier note, we have some exciting Player
Welfare news to sharewith you all in the coming
weeks, sowe look forward to seeing you all out at the
clubs indue course.
Enjoy the rest of the summer and here’s to a home
Ashes victory toget us in themood for the biggest and
best RugbyWorldCup todate.
Keepwell
DamianHopley
GroupCEO
The Rugby Players’ Association
ENJOY THEBREAK –YOU’LLNEED IT..
With the summer holidays largely a distantmemory,
this unique pre-season provides an opportunity for
themajority of players in England to ‘enjoy’ the
longest build up to the start of competitive fixtures
since the gamewent professional some 20 years ago.
In speaking to a number of players and coaches
over the last fewweeks, the theme of workload
volume throughplaying and training is ever present
andmany are relishing an extendedbreak over the
summer. It will be fascinating tomeasurewhat the
undoubtedly positive impact on player wellbeingwill
be andwhether this sets the template for the season
to come.
BACK TOBACK
That said, in the absence of the LV=Cup, what the
new season does present is an infinitely tougher
physical challenge for all the Squad’s as they play
top end domestic, European and International rugby
week in andweek out for eightmonths back to back.
You then throw in a gentle end of season three test
series inAustralia at the end of a RugbyWorldCup
season and, yet again, we are facedwith the lunacy
of a structured season that is doing noone any
favours.
The Sevens programme also goes from strength
to strengthwith a season that has been increased
in tournaments and curtailed inmonths – so less
recovery all round. Then the small matter of rugby’s
long awaited return to theOlympic family next
summer in Rio and to cap it all off the excellent news
is that the British& Irish Lionswill be taking on a ten
match tour of none other than the reigningRugby
Welcome to the latest editionof
The Players’ Room
.
CEO
Welcome
Intro
3
