Welfare will be priority, says Davies

WELSH Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies says player welfare will be the main priority when the professional game resumes next month.

The four regions return from their coronavirus enforced shutdown on August 22 with two rounds of Guinness PRO14 derbies.

With Wales set to play a potentially packed autumn schedule and the Lions tour ending the 2020-21 season, leading players face 12 months of non-stop action.

And Davies told BBC Sport: “Player welfare is at the top of everybody’s concern.

“Players are going to want to play. We have a responsibility as a union to keep these guys on a leash as well.

“There could be five or six Tests in the autumn and the regions will then want the players back and then you are into the Six Nations.

“There will be a responsibility with the union working with the regions to monitor these guys so they don’t play every game.”