Players’ chief: Schedule isn’t safe
THE Rugby League Players Association will hold talks with clubs and the Rugby Football League over removing double-header weekends as early as next season as support from players continues to grow within the game.
RLPA chief Garreth Carvell says ‘more or less every player’ the union speaks to wants to do away with the prospect of playing twice inside three or four days, something Super League players will endure twice in 2022, starting this weekend with the traditional Easter schedule.
With a game the following weekend, it means many clubs have three matches in just nine days on the horizon, something Carvell called ‘common sense’ to remove if the sport is serious about protecting its players.
“We are happy to have this discussion on behalf of the players now,” Carvell said.
“We’ve spoken with the RFL and we’ll also speak with the clubs. It’s the clubs that hold the power but the RFL’s main strategy for 2022 was about player feedback, and acting on behalf of what the players want. With things like this, we’ll see whether those words have meaning.”
Carvell says talks have already been held with the RFL about the prospect of making weekends like Easter single-fixture in the future, with a desire to introduce mandatory five-day turnarounds between games all season long to give the players the best chance at adequate recovery.
“I’ve had the discussion with the players and they just want to be able to play as much as they can, but with proper rest,” Carvell said.
“I understand that might not be 100 per cent possible if the broadcasters decide you’re playing on a Thursday evening after a Sunday fixture, but we speak a lot about player welfare in rugby league and from the players’ point of view, throwing them into three games in nine days isn’t safe.
“If we’re serious and not just ticking boxes, that’s going to have to change.”
After last night’s game, Huddersfield Giants face St Helens on Monday and then travel to Warrington five days later.
“It’s that third game, when the players have been through so much already, when things begin to suffer,” added
Carvell.
“The players just want one game a weekend and adequate recovery periods.
“I know the clubs will have a lot to say about it, as they see it as a good way to earn money, but this is about improving the game and the welfare of players longterm.”
DARREN Gough says Yorkshire players still want questions answered following the racism scandal that plunged the county into crisis.
The White Rose took to the field yesterday for the first time since their handling of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of racism and bullying was widely criticised.
Yorkshire chair Lord Patel has overseen sweeping reforms after being parachuted into the post and 16 members of staff, including first-team head coach Andrew Gale and director of cricket Martyn Moxon, were removed from their roles.
“I was shell-shocked myself when I took over,” said Gough, who returned to the club in December.
“I have never seen players as down. They had seen their friends sacked.
“Some of them had been at the club a long time. They were upset. I understand that.
“They still have questions they want answering. It is going to be difficult during the season.
“All those questions are they going to drop us? Are they going to dock points from us? They just have to focus on what they can.
“We are giving them an opportunity to play cricket. That’s what they have to do. Get out there and express their skills and play cricket for Yorkshire, the greatest cricket club in the land.”
Rafiq’s revelations on the abuse he suffered at Yorkshire across two spells between 2008 and 2018 rocked the county, and English cricket.
Several sponsors – including Nike, Yorkshire Tea and Emerald Publishing – cut ties with Yorkshire and they were stripped of staging England games at Headingley after their initial handling of Rafiq’s allegations.
The opportunity to host England matches has since been restored after structural reforms were approved by club members.
Gough added: “I think we have all been educated in the last 12 months. It is important we make cricket in general more understanding of what it has been through in the past few years.
He added: “I love the club, I care about the club. It was in a situation that needed someone the players knew and could relate to - and would trust very quickly.
“It was important for the members that it was someone they knew. It was difficult for me because I knew all the people who lost their jobs.
“I have huge empathy for them because some of them were close friends, still are. But I’ve not had a chance to think about anything other than trying to recruit the right people who would fit in to the environment we’ve got and the players would feel comfortable around.”
Yorkshire closed day one of the County Championship Division One match at Bristol on 37-0 having bowled Gloucestershire out for 227, with Matthew Fisher claiming 4-19. Marcus Harris scored 136 for the home side.