Players voice welfare concerns

The English Rugby Players’ Association has warned rugby chiefs they could face another backlash if they ignore the views of leading players in any plans to expand the Six Nations by including South Africa.

Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Rugby Players’ Association which looks after England’s leading players, believes the failure of World Rugby’s plan for a Nations Championship which was due to start in 2022 should act as warning to those bidding to create a new-look championship in Europe.

Ireland captain Jonny Sexton, as International Rugby Players’ Council president, last year led the chorus of disapproval from players for the Nations Championship. Hopley is confident the united front delivered in the face of that threat to player welfare would be triggered by any change to the Six Nations that increases the demands on those taking part.

A Seven Nations, shoe-horned into an already packed Northern Hemisphere schedule, would put extreme pressure on players.

If a team had their bye on the opening weekend of fixtures, it would leave them facing six successive tests without a break.

Hopley said: “If you look at the failed attempt at launching the Nations Championship by World Rugby, that effectively died a death when seven of the sport’s leading captains came out and said it wouldn’t work based on player welfare.

“That sent a very clear message that we are all partners in this game and everyone should be afforded that importance when you are talking about how the game operates.

“Clearly, the players’ voices are the most important because you want to make sure you have a team to run out there for the matches.

“You would expect there would be a strong player consultation going forward as you don’t want to go down the same road again because it becomes self-defeating.

“When the Six Nations has discussed moving to a six week schedule for the tournament, there were concerns about player welfare, and Scotland were concerned about not having the strength in depth to get a team through the intensity of that kind of six week window.

“The opposition to the Nations Championship was a massive step forward. One thing that doesn’t happen enough around all of these ideas is player consultation, and we can get better at it.”

● This article first appeared on RugbyPass.com and has been republished with permission.