Players need to be consulted more, insists Lions star

WALES centre Jonathan Davies thinks more consultation with players should take place before major changes are made to rugby’s calendar.

There is so much uncertainty in the sport at the moment, with games being cancelled and rearranged because of Covid-19 and the Lions tour is under threat.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that the 2021 tour of South Africa will go ahead in the traditional form, with one option being to delay the trip by 12 months.

That, though, would cause problems for unions who have tours already pencilled in for 2022.

One element often missed in these discussions is the players, the most important cog in the wheel. Davies feels they need more of a say on such matters.

“The big issue as well is the fact that we talk about player welfare and stuff like that, but are players consulted on their plans when they’re making these plans?” Davies said on the House of Rugby podcast.

“Do they ask a senior group of players ‘Right, how do you feel about this competition moving in this direction? Is that better for us as a group, do you think?’

“They seem to make decisions and they go ‘Boys, off you go, play X amount of games through the year’.”

He added: “Nothing on the PRO14’S been changed, this Rainbow Cup, I don’t think our player association was consulted on it.

“There are the international players’ group and stuff, but decisions are made before players are probably consulted, in my eyes.”