IS RUGBY TOO BRUTAL NOW?

England prop Marler: I’d rather take less money but still have a functioning body

ON Friday morning, Newcastle and England Saxons prop Scott Wilson announced his injury- enforced retirement at the age of 24.

On Friday afternoon, the former Wales captain Sam Warburton spoke about being unable to play with his daughter on the trampoline in his back garden at the age of 29. On Friday evening, a PR manager sent out details of a testimonial match for Rob Horne, who was paralysed in his right arm at the age of 28.

Meanwhile, Sam Jones, Will Fraser, George Lowe and George Catchpole — all under 30 — were taking in their first summer as exprofessional rugby union players.

‘There will be a fair price paid before rugby gets it right,’ warns former World Rugby medical advisor Dr Barry O’Driscoll.

New tackle regulations are being trialled in England this season to improve the safety of the game but the message from the players is clear: We are playing too many games.

The 32- game limit is set to be reduced to 30 for season 2019-20, yet England internationals have told The Mail on Sunday that the limit should be cut further to 20.

There is growing envy in the England camp at the dual contract systems used in New Zealand, Wales and Ireland. Rival players are peaking on the Test stage because their club game-time is managed by the national union, while English players are reporting to separate bosses for club and country. It is an unsynchronised relationship which manifested itself last season, when Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola and Maro Itoje played more minutes than any of their team-mates from the Lions tour to New Zealand.

‘It’s a great system for Ireland, isn’t it?’ said centre Ben Te’o. ‘I played at Leinster and Johnny Sexton and those guys are very lucky. Are players here burning out? Is it a battle between club and country? These are all things you can point to. Can the RFU centrally contract 30 players?’

Introducing such a system would be hugely complex, since English players are owned by their clubs, who are independent of the RFU. But with the latest annual injury audit showing an increase in the severity of injuries, radical measures may be the only way to force through long-term change.

‘ Sometimes England want one thing and your club want something else,’ said prop Joe Marler. ‘Your club pay your wages so they’re the strong voice but you want to get picked by England.

‘It’s difficult to manage without upsetting either party, so you either get caught up in the politics of it all or just go out and play. I look at the systems in Wales, Ireland or New Zealand with envy but senior people here say “too late, the ship has sailed”, and go back to the power of the clubs.

‘ Am I saying I know the right number of games? No, but I just know it should be less. I’d rather play fewer games per year, take less money and have a longer career. Just like I’d rather have a functioning body after rugby and less money, instead of more money and a hip replacement. There are those nagging thoughts in the back of your head that say, “Will I be able to play in the park with my kids when I’m finished?” Yeah, that sounds a bit extreme, but look at Rob Horne...’

Players today are squatting up to 260kg and bench-pressing 200kg in the gym, while maintaining their running ability. Most have 80 minutes of anaerobic fitness but there are fears that some players are conditioned for short, powerful bursts off the bench. This only increases the risk of injury — particularly with the growing trend of reckless breakdown clear-outs.

‘There are some big boys in union and you think, “Jeez, he doesn’t look like an athlete”,’ said Te’o. ‘It’s ludicrous because you see guys — at international and club — who would not be able to run for 80 minutes. I’ve come from rugby league where they’ve dropped the number of substitutions which makes the game better and safer. It would be interesting to see that in union.’

In the championship this year, players will be required to tackle beneath the nipple to reduce the risk of high tackles. The trial will provide data to help future decisions but doubts have already been raised.

‘It could have a negative impact,’ said winger Anthony Watson. ‘We could see more concussions from collisions with the knee if players are going lower in the tackle.

‘You want to see confrontation. I remember watching that Jonny Wi l k i n s o n tackle o n E mi l e Ntamack. You don’t want to see passive tackles. I don’t think changing the nature of the game is the answer. What’s difficult is playing 25 plus games per year and you end up playing at 75 or 80 per cent. These things aren’t decided by the players but I’d have thought 20 games maximum is t he ri ght number.’

A global season — with coordinated playing calendars between clubs and countries — will simplify the problem. Yet reports this week claimed that an initial agreement is ‘under pressure’ as all parties try to settle on a compromise. Exeter coach Rob Baxter, however, believes there are improvements that can be made in the English game.

‘We need to start talking about players over 12- month periods rather than an on-season and offseason,’ said Baxter. ‘The five-week break is so written in stone but I don’t think it’s what’s best for the players. I’ve talked to the RPA [Rugby Players’ Association] about it already. You could look at a calendar with three or four breaks over the years, which gives the players eight to 10 weeks off a year.

‘The big, scary thing that everyone’s scared to say is that what would look after our players the most is Premiership clubs making a profit. If you’re making a profit then you can invest more money in how you look after your players.’

The nature of training, too, has been pulled into question. The NFL have introduced a measure to limit the amount of contact work allowed in sessions and Marler says rugby union should follow.

‘Saying this will probably upset a few coaches but I think we do too much contact in training,’ he said. ‘Contact is my favourite part of the game but is it worth taking that risk in training? I don’t think so.’

The players have spoken, now who is going to listen?