My suggestion is that the Premiership should set a minimum squad size, and it should be higher than it was before this crisis started, say at 55 players. Alongside that, I would reduce the salary cap, and, as soon as is contractually possible, remove the option to have ‘marquee’ players.
We have been hearing for years about player welfare, but the reality is that too often these have been weasel words. As the clubs start what will inevitably be a lengthy and difficult recovery, they are going to want to play more rugby than ever in order to generate as much cash as possible, and if we truly believe in player welfare, that means bigger squads.
Those clubs that survive – which hopefully will be all 13 – will inevitably be looking inwards at what they can do to steady the ship, and the answer must surely be to focus on English players rather than foreign imports. My lockdown reading last week was Ben Mercer’s excellent book, Fringes, which focuses on his experience of playing in France once he found that life in the Championship for a fringe player was very uncomfortable.
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Denne historien er fra May 10, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
