Vunipola’s warning over strike splits stars

BILLY Vunipola’s warning of strike action if the rugby season is not shortened has brought a mixed reaction from former international stars.

Rugby Paper columnists Jerry Guscott and Jeff Probyn take different views on Vunipola’s belief that “something is going to give”.

The 24-year-old Saracens and England No.8 who has undergone surgery on his knee and shoulder told the

Times: “Something might happen where we follow the NFL or NBA, where they had a lock-out. I feel like something needs to happen for the suits to realise these guys are serious.

“It comes down to how much we play. My body could not handle it. I might think I’m strong and tough but I’m not. I just got worn down.”

Guscott, the prince of centres, capped 65 times by England and eight by the British and Irish Lions, says on Page 7 inside: “It’s great that someone of Vunipola’s stature has made a comment like this. It makes people sit up and take notice and think about what it all means going forward.

“Billy is basically saying ‘our bodies can’t cope’.

“Vunipola has made a good point that needs addressing or more and more top players may find

themselves on the sidelines just as much as on the field. What I hope now is that it stirs debate between the clever people to come up with a great solution that suits all.”

Probyn, who propped England to two Grand Slams in his 37 caps, argues that Vunipola’s club Saracens look after their players better than most because they have such a large squad.

He adds on Page 35 inside: “How player fatigue is managed is as much a choice for the player as it is for his club but it involves some hard decisions.

“Vunipola could refuse his England call up but that could cost him around a quarter of a million pounds a year, or he could take a sabbatical from the game like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.

“Unfortunately for him, they were employed by their Union who agreed to their break, but he could be like Alex Corbisiero who found his sabbatical cost him his career.”

Vunipola’s comments came in a week when Lions captain Sam Warburton confirmed he would be out until next year’s Six Nations after undergoing neck surgery.

Warburton’s operation is thought to be his seventh in as many years and one of Britain’s most renowned orthopaedic surgeons, Professor John Fairclough, whose distinguished career involved working with the Wales football and rugby teams, warns of the danger posed by neck damage.

“You can come back from neck surgery but it’s always a risk. It always leaves you with something which is not what it was.

“Neck injuries, brought about by wear and tear, have become very common which is a concern for everyone. I said just before the last World Cup that injuries would go on increasing as a result of multiple games in a highimpact sport like rugby with little or no time off.

“You can’t continue indefinitely with that amount of injury and impact.”

Ospreys have received full payment from Newcastle Falcons over the £150,000 transfer of Josh Matavesi from Swansea to Tyneside.