Execs At Premiership Rugby Clubs Speak Out Against Proposed Extension

Leading club directors "have voiced their opposition" to the proposed Premiership Rugby season extension, according to Chris Jones of the BBC. In March, Premiership Rugby announced plans to lengthen the season to 10 months from '19-20 onward "to reduce the overlap" between int'l and domestic rugby. The concept has already been widely criticized by "some senior players on welfare grounds." Saracens Dir of Rugby Mark McCall said, "My view is that longer isn't better." Gloucester Dir of Rugby David Humphries said, "I understand the concerns the players have, and they are concerns we as a club would have as well" (BBC, 9/28). In London, Owen Slot reported Northampton's Dylan Hartley "wants his fellow players to respond collectively to proposals to extend the season." He said, "I can't obviously speak for every player, but the general feeling is that an extended season is not welcome. This is not just about England players, this is about all the players in the Premiership." Hartley added that the players "needed to find one voice on the subject." He said, "Initially, if they are talking about playing more games, then player welfare is going to go on the back burner" (LONDON TIMES, 9/28).

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE?: In London, Gavin Mairs reported the proposed extension has reportedly "raised fears in the Celtic Unions that England’s leading clubs will have an unfair advantage" in the opening rounds of the Champions Cup. There is "growing concern in the Celtic Unions that a staggered start" to the respective domestic seasons would hand the English clubs an advantage "unless the start of the tournament is put back." European Professional Club Rugby Chair Simon Halliday admitted that it was "vital to address concerns over the start date in order to protect the integrity of the tournaments." He said, "To have a level playing field you cannot have Glasgow Warriors playing only two (league matches) and then being pitched into an away game in the Champions Cup against a Premiership team who have started their season earlier" (TELEGRAPH, 9/27).