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Page 1 of 2 IRB to discuss 'global season' idea
WALES' idea of a global rugby season is to be discussed by the International Rugby Board later this year.
English RFU chairman and Pembrokeshire businessman Martyn Thomas revealed it was on the agenda for November's meeting of union's world governing body.
The plan, drawn up by former WRU bigwigs Paul Thorburn and David Moffett for harmony between the northern and southern hemisphere seasons finally looks like reaching the drawing board. Thomas said he would be watching with interest what emerges from November's IRB meeting.
"Francis (Baron) and I were at a chief executive and chairman's meeting at the IRB two weeks ago," he said. "For the first time there was recognition of the potential for a global season. The IRB are going to look at it at their November meeting."
Thomas admitted the structure of the current English club season needed urgent review but pointed out competitions such as the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup gives clubs a bigger guaranteed income than the showpiece Heineken Cup. He was speaking as English rugby administrators struggled to deal with a cycle that places increasing demands on the players.
Professional Rugby Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley has called for the season to be restructured.
"Something has to give. Unfortunately it always tends to be the players' bodies," he said.
One quarter of all professional players are injured at any one time and Thomas conceded, "We have been pouring a quart into a pint pot for 10 years." But competitions such as the EDF Energy Cup are organised because they bring vital income into the game.
It takes just five matches to win the trophy - and for English clubs a place in Europe - but the income generated swells each club's coffers by £600,000 each year. The Guinness Premiership brings in around £1m and the biggest prize of all, the Heineken Cup, just £300,000.
Many see the EDF Energy Cup as an unnecessary additional burden on players - but the clubs need the money.
"That is the conundrum," said Thomas. "If we want the sponsors' money in the game we have to accept the responsibility that goes with it.
"The game does need money and that is the issue. The EDF Energy Cup competition brings in serious revenue.
"Players' careers are shorter and I fully understand these guys want to be well paid for what is a relatively short career."
The World Cup scheduling has not helped those at the RFU and Premier Rugby, who are trying to manage the elite players.
England head coach Andy Robinson was only able to call on 17 of his 40-man elite squad for a training camp in Loughborough this week.
The rest are all injured, either from blows they received in the weekend's Premiership matches, or from longer-term problems.
In a season that will end at the World Cup in France next September and October, there is no opportunity in the season for a breather.
The EDF Energy Cup semi-finals take place during the Six Nations and over the festive period clubs face four Premiership games in 16 days.
The fixtures are being squeezed both this season and next season because of the World Cup.
"As England always said in their unsuccessful bid for next year's World Cup, the French bid will result in a disruption of two years," he said.
"That has only just come home to roost but no one accepted that at the time. We have a problem for two years as a result of the World Cup.
"We are still discussing next season with Premier Rugby. We would like it to start before the World Cup and acknowledge the fact the international players will be out of the equation.
"Premier Rugby would like to start slightly later but we want some games under our belt."
Andy Howell, Western Mail
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