Two weeks off in two years for Eddie’s World Cup stars
ENGLAND players could have just two weeks off in the next two years, with preparations for the Japan World Cup adding to their packed schedules.
Sportsmail understands the RFU are expected to announce that all domestic players will be assured of five weeks of ‘down time’, as is written into their contract — but three weeks of that is earmarked for a training programme.
As reported in Sportsmail yesterday, there are growing concerns over the workload of England’s players in the wake of Joe Marler’s retirement at the age of only 28.
It is understood that the relentless nature of England duty was a factor in Marler’s retirement, and these World Cup preparations will only exacerbate that issue.
In contrast, Welsh players will be able to put their feet up for a full four weeks at the end of their season before returning to the national set-up.
Wales and England could well meet in a World Cup quarterfinal in October 2019, when their varying preparation styles would be put to the test.
With the tournament running until November 2019, overlapping with next season, and a two-Test tour of Japan planned for July 2020, England players are only guaranteed time away from the sport for two weeks in the next 23 months.
Wales sources have expressed surprise but England believe their plan is superior to the Welsh model, saying players will not be in camp for the last three weeks of their time off but following tailor-made schedules.
England are confident that gradually upping the intensity is preferable to having a month off and then being thrown into a World Cup camp.
‘It is down to England to manage them appropriately,’ said Christian Day, the Rugby Players’ Association player liaison officer.
Clubs often allow their players rest weeks during the season, but top talent like Saracens’ Maro Itoje ( right), Owen Farrell, Mako and Billy Vunipola and Exeter’s Jack Nowell and Henry Slade have a bumper schedule.
Those clubs are likely to go deep in the Heineken Champions Cup this year and are favourites to contest the Gallagher Premiership final on June 1, 2019.
England players not in the league play-offs will not be able to go on holiday straight away, with the Barbarians coming to Twickenham on June 2.
Players will then begin their five weeks of ‘holiday’ but will start slowly returning to action after two weeks. By July they will be in fully fledged World Cup training ahead of three warm-up matches in August.
The squad will be finalised on September 2, with a final warmup game against Italy just before they fly out to Japan.
If England make the World Cup final they will return with the club season well under way.
‘If they are very successful those England players will be eating into the Premiership season, and it is a question of how quickly they are allowed back in,’ added Day. ‘We have to trust the scientists to work that out and not just throw them into a never-ending season.’ BATH have announced that Todd Blackadder will remain as coach until 2020 but will then be replaced by former captain Stuart
Hooper.