The Premiership Rugby season will end in "late June" for the three seasons beginning with '19-20 under a new structure, according to the PA. Twickenham will host the finals from '20-22 on June 20, 26 and 18, respectively, with the seasons starting on Oct. 20, Sept. 12 and Sept. 18, respectively. Summer tours will take place in July. England players will play a maximum of 30 full games per season, reduced from 32, and be "confined to a limit of 35 match involvements of 20 minutes or more." Other key changes announced by the Rugby Football Union include in-season breaks for players and a mandatory five-week postseason rest for all players. RFU CEO Stephen Brown said that the structure is a partnership between the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players' Association and that it focuses "on the requirements of player welfare." Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty said that the structure achieves "a number of progressive goals for the English structure over the next three seasons" (PA, 10/23). The BBC reported the measures are designed to protect players during a "demanding schedule" that includes the 2019 World Cup and 2021 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa. However, the domestic season has been extended, with '19-20 running from Sept. 21-June 20 (BBC, 10/23).
