Itoje: Players need more time off in the summer — not less
ENGLAND lock Maro Itoje has urged rugby’s powerbrokers to reconsider shortening the off-season after severe injuries hit an all-time high.
Player safety was brought into question this week when the RFU’s injury audit revealed that average recovery time is at its highest since records began in 2002.
Stars such as Billy Vunipola, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson have pleaded for fewer games to be played but instead the season length is set to be extended.
That will result in a shorter stand-down period in the summer, with Saracens star Itoje claiming that will be detrimental physically and mentally.
‘In an ideal world, the off-season would be longer than what we already have — not shorter,’ said Itoje.
‘For me personally, mental recovery is more important than physical recovery. That’s half the battle. What I would say is that players still need a decent off-season. You have to be wary of encroaching on that because while five weeks off may seem like a lot to someone in a normal job, in rugby it’s not really that much. You have two or three weeks off then you start getting into shape for pre-season because you don’t want to start pre-season at ground zero.
‘It’s especially hard if you’re an international and you have even shorter pre-season. Your mind starts thinking about rugby well into the time when you’re supposed to be relaxing.’
Under the new structure, in place from 2019-2022, players will be given enforced breaks during the season. On the flipside, players could in some cases end up being in action for 11 months of the year given the demands from club, country and the Lions.
‘I know there are a lot of moving parts in English rugby but I would be very wary about encroaching into that time off,’ said Itoje. ‘The clubs have their own agenda, England Rugby have their own agenda but it’s important that we don’t put all those agendas above the players’ welfare. It has to be a coordinated approach where everybody wins.’
Maro Itoje is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover has a heritage in rugby, sharing and understanding the values of the sport. @LandRoverRugby.