‘Rugby’s civil war may lead to a stars exodus’

CHRIS Robshaw has warned that English rugby’s latest civil war could drive a host of top talent overseas.

The former England captain will swap boyhood club Harlequins for San Diego Legion in January, taking up a two-year adventure in Major League Rugby.

Premiership Rugby, club bosses and players are all at loggerheads amid a financial crisis caused by the coronavirus shutdown.

And Robshaw admitted the fallout could see increasing numbers of frontline stars looking to head abroad.

The 34-year-old said: “I definitely think that will open everything up.

“Of course, for me, England was a massive pull. I wanted to play for my country so I wanted to stay here and play for as long as I could for England.

“Since not being involved, that has made looking elsewhere and having another life experience a bit easier.

“I’m one of the lucky ones, there’s a lot of people at clubs who won’t get the chance to wear their club shirts again.

“Because my season where I’m going next won’t start until January, that gives me a window.”

Global rugby stands at a crossroads, 25 years into its professional lifespan.

The world game is closer than ever to an aligned global calendar, with summer rugby again on the agenda for the northern hemisphere.

While shifting the English season continues to polarise opinion, Robshaw believes it is now or never.

“In terms of summer rugby, I think we played 90 per cent of our games this year in the rain, which was wet and not particularly nice,” said Robshaw. “If they are ever going to try stuff, they have got a window to try stuff now.”