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RPA statement: 'To continue along this path will cause irrevocable damage to clubs'

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Rugby Players Association (RPA) have issued a statement in the wake of news that supporters could be banned from attending rugby matches for up to six months.

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The RPA say that the move could cause ‘irrevocable damage to clubs’ and that the game must be given a financial support package from the UK government.

The RPA statement reads: “Following the Government announcement last week that supporters will not be allowed into stadiums for up to 6 months and the subsequent message from the Premiership Rugby Club Chairmen seeking urgent support, The Rugby Players Association are advocating the vital importance of a Government backed rescue package in order to save the game in England.

“Premiership Rugby Clubs have already suffered significant financial losses from the suspension of the season following the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequently playing matches behind closed doors. To continue along this path will cause irrevocable damage to clubs across the Premiership that will impact the wider game and communities they serve in England. In the absence of the revenues that live crowds bring to the sport, it is imperative that that game gets significant financial support to help it through this challenging time.

“We have spoken to a number of very concerned players who recognise the devastating impact this latest news will have on their employers and the broader game. Professional rugby provides important physical and mental positivity across a wide range of community and grassroots sport and the removal of this will have enormous implications for clubs and fans of all age ranges.

“We are calling on the players and fans to show their support in keeping the sport of rugby alive – this sport has outstanding values and we all need to align our interests to ensure its pending survival.”

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    Over the weekend the owners of Worcester Warriors met with the UK Sports Minister to discuss how they could manage the challenge posed by COVID and potentially open to fans.

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    IkeaBoy 33 minutes ago
    Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

    Very, very thoughtful piece!


    It’s far too much rugby for players as it stands and the new competitions - club world cup and Nations cup - are proposed on the basis it’s the best players competing who will usually be established test players.


    An established NH test player is in pre-season from August (at the latest) then going thorough until the following July. They likely will have carried niggles and some injuries into their pre-season. They would then have between 22-30 domestic games if their teams went far and contested finals in say the URC and CC. Although many would have stand down periods, they would still train and be squad ready for all of those games.


    Their test commitments across that same time would be 3/4 games (Nov series) then 5 games (6 Nations) with a rest for the July development tours. That rest would only now be once every 4 years with the Lions, Nations Cup and RWC warm-ups occupying the July window.


    A squad player at club level would potentially have a full run of games in any given season but run a greater risk of injury the more often they play. They would likely know that form alone wouldn’t get them to the next level and into a national squad. It would be their bodies and their ability to recover quickly and deal with elite level competition. They wouldn’t have the baseline of having played an 11 month season so how could they upsurge a 40 cap player?


    I think there will be a huge divide before long between solid club players, who are basically salary men, and the ringfenced test animals who will likely dwindle in numbers as their playing demands increase.

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