11 month season agreed

[Puja]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... son-summer

So it's basically 11 months, domestic running September to June, internationals July and a "compulsory summer break for all" although not exactly sure where that will happen. There will also be two, 1-week, mid-season breaks.

My take is that it could be a lot worse. The RPA have signed up to it, which hopefully suggests that they've got some tighter max games rules brought in as part of it. I'd prefer to have a month's mid-season break, rather than 2 one weeks, which don't strike me as that useful. And, of course, a reduced Premiership to lower the number of games, but we are where we are.

Puja

[Digby]

The mental and physical fatigue will put England and France at a significant disadvantage, we got some stick for the restructure in Europe recently, I wonder do we get credit here for smiling and taking one for the team?

[fivepointer]

How long is the compulsory summer break i wonder? And this will have to come with some serious attempt to reduce workloads. The two 1 week breaks could easily be made a fortnight break early in the new year which might be a better bet.
But the length of the season and the requirement to be on duty for players - particularly internationals - is going to be hard to step up to.
I'd suggest anyone who tours in July should be stood down from domestic action until at least October. Will the clubs go for that?

[Bloggs]

If the end of the season is now mid to late June, I don't understand why the season can't start in late September/early October? Why can't we just shift the season a few weeks to give everyone a break rather than an 11 month season?!

[Puja]

If the end of the season is now mid to late June, I don't understand why the season can't start in late September/early October? Why can't we just shift the season a few weeks to give everyone a break rather than an 11 month season?!

They want to start in the better weather and I can't blame them.

If I were in charge, I'd have the season start in August and go through to June, but with December and January off.

Puja

[fivepointer]

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/engli ... on-breaks/

The key announcements include:

Guaranteed in-season breaks for players in each of the three seasons.
Mandatory five-week post-season rest for all players which includes two weeks’ absolute rest and three weeks’ active rest
Minimum 10 weeks off/pre-season for England Senior Elite Player Squad (EPS) players (five weeks rest and five weeks preparation)
Minimum 12 weeks between Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final and Round 1 of the following Gallagher Premiership Rugby season
Maximum 35 match involvements (>20 minutes) in any one season for all players
Maximum 30 full game equivalents (reduced from 32) in any one season for all players
Premiership Rugby Cup structure to provide rest weeks for players with the most match time
England Senior EPS players to have a mandatory rest week if playing all international matches and more than 65% of total minutes (reduced from 80%) in the Quilter Internationals or Six Nations

In addition:

England Rugby World Cup squad rested for the summer Tests in July 2020 unless they have had 20 or fewer match involvements in the 2019-20 season
England players on the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to have a rest week during the 2021 Autumn internationals
English Lions’ players to have 10 weeks break
Tri-partite panel with an independent chairman to monitor and ensure compliance with the principles and to decide on any individual exceptions

[Mikey Brown]

I wonder how quickly we’ll see the usual 55 minute subs delayed until 61 minutes.

[Bloggs]

If the end of the season is now mid to late June, I don't understand why the season can't start in late September/early October? Why can't we just shift the season a few weeks to give everyone a break rather than an 11 month season?!

They want to start in the better weather and I can't blame them.

If I were in charge, I'd have the season start in August and go through to June, but with December and January off.

Puja

I think the quality of rugby's excellent in the drier times, but would attendances go up? People tend to do other things in the summer other than watch sport (holidays, weddings etc). I wouldn't have thought attendances would grow as a result of moving more to hot weather

[Puja]

So that must mean that players in the July internationals will miss at least the first two games of the season, right? If the tests run through July and there's a 5 week post-season.

A lot of that makes a lot of sense and looks to be the best that could be done from where we started. Well done RPA!

Puja

[Puja]

I wonder how quickly we’ll see the usual 55 minute subs delayed until 61 minutes.

I noticed that. Hopefully, there's a limit on those as well.

Puja

[Digby]

A huge focus on games, but we have a big problem with the sheer number of days given over to rugby on recovery, training and analysis

[Digby]

The Lions look a big early loser in all this, England would be able to to support what? Maybe just a one month tour if they want any sort of prep. Which might incline the Lions not to take English players, after the Lions have only recently screwed up England again I'm not getting my hopes up but there really isn't even the slightest hope of a 6-7 week Lions camp and tour if we're involved

[fivepointer]

Looks like the Prem final in 2021 is just a week before the first Lions game in SA. Players involved in Prem final unlikely to be available until 3rd game of tour (there is only 8 in total) Apparently the Pro14 final will be a week earlier to accommodate the tour schedule. I guess that means English players might be disadvantaged in selection. A smaller English representation may dilute the appeal.
As someone who can take or leave the Lions this isnt overly bothersome, but i can imagine a number of players being upset and some claims from the other Unions about RFU/PRL being unhelpful.
One solution surely is for the Lions - who make a tidy sum out of these tours - to throw some money PRL's way. I'm sure that would guarantee some co-operation.

[Mellsblue]

The Lions get set off prior to the finals get the Mickey Mouse stuff out the way and then we can send the big guns in for the test series.

[Puja]

Looks like the Prem final in 2021 is just a week before the first Lions game in SA. Players involved in Prem final unlikely to be available until 3rd game of tour (there is only 8 in total) Apparently the Pro14 final will be a week earlier to accommodate the tour schedule. I guess that means English players might be disadvantaged in selection. A smaller English representation may dilute the appeal.
As someone who can take or leave the Lions this isnt overly bothersome, but i can imagine a number of players being upset and some claims from the other Unions about RFU/PRL being unhelpful.
One solution surely is for the Lions - who make a tidy sum out of these tours - to throw some money PRL's way. I'm sure that would guarantee some co-operation.

Apparently they did chuck money to get the Prem final moved back in 2009, offered again in 2013 and was told that the Premiership wasn't interested and wouldn't be in the future.

Puja

[Digby]

PRL are interested in a share of host nation revenues arising from a Lions tour, they don't seem all that enamoured at the idea of a small bump to revenues they already get

[twitchy]

Hopefully this signals the beginning of the end of the lions nonsense. A marker of how small time this sport is.

[Stom]

The Lions is one of the things that sets rugby apart. To lose it would be a disaster, imo.

I'm not sure my attention will remain if rugby moves in the same direction football has over the past 20 years. There's a difference between growing the game and rampant capitalism.

[Digby]

The Lions is one of the things that sets rugby apart. To lose it would be a disaster, imo.

I'm not sure my attention will remain if rugby moves in the same direction football has over the past 20 years. There's a difference between growing the game and rampant capitalism.

On the one hand I understand that, on the other to defend the Lions whilst also contesting other aspects are overly capitalistic seems rather inconsistent

[Mellsblue]

The Lions is one of the things that sets rugby apart. To lose it would be a disaster, imo.

I'm not sure my attention will remain if rugby moves in the same direction football has over the past 20 years. There's a difference between growing the game and rampant capitalism.

On the one hand I understand that, on the other to defend the Lions whilst also contesting other aspects are overly capitalistic seems rather inconsistent

I think the closest financial approximation you can make for the Lions is International Development Aid. How the third world rugby economies of the SANZAR countries would cope without our 4 yearly donations is beyond me. The poor buggers. Has anyone consulted Penny Mourdant about this?

[twitchy]

Absolutely no "danger" in rugby becoming as popular as football.

[Mellsblue]

Stuart Barnes uses the word jamboree to describe the Lions in today’s times. Think on that the next time your finger hovers over the ‘j’ button on the keyboard.

[Digby]

So in one week I'm agreeing with Stuart Barnes and Trevor Phillips, what has happened to my life?

[Digby]

So in one week I'm agreeing with Stuart Barnes and Trevor Phillips, what has happened to my life?

Having read the article now I feel much better, Barnes was pro the Lions

[Mellsblue]

So in one week I'm agreeing with Stuart Barnes and Trevor Phillips, what has happened to my life?

Having read the article now I feel much better, Barnes was pro the Lions

He was/is but, in my defence, in the era of #fakenews why let facts get in the way of a post on the internet.