England stars to miss half of club campaign

THE huge fixture shake-up brought about by the coronavirus pandemic means Premiership clubs look set to miss their England stars for at least 11 of the first 14 games next season.

Eight of the first 14 Premiership rounds clash directly with Autumn Nations Cup and Six Nations fixtures.

Although England head coach Eddie Jones is likely to release some players back to clubs during two Six Nations fallow weeks, the majority of his squad will remain unavailable for domestic action throughout that time.

The Nations Cup tournament runs from November 13 until December 5, with the Six Nations starting on February 6 and ending six weeks later.

There are four rounds of European club action in December and January as well, so it could mean England stars being available for just three Premiership weekends between November and March.

The 2020-21 Premiership campaign will start on November 20 – just 27 days after the 2019-20 champions are decided.

And the season will run until June 26 – a day before the British and Irish Lions’ scheduled South Africa tour departure – including nine successive rounds between late January and late March.

Such a schedule will be a huge test of Premiership clubs’ squad depth, although the planning for it is already under way.

Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter, who has made 15 changes for tonight’s game against London Irish, said: ‘You look at the side this week, and there are a number of people who will start these games who we know we will need to use when the new season starts again in a few weeks time. There is a reality they need to be ready.’