Rugby world player of the year ‘Johnny Sexton’ said, ”World Rugby is riding roughshod over players’ concerns regarding their proposed ‘League of Nations’ 12-team annual competition.”Â
Johnny Sexton, who’s also the president of the International Rugby Players, has slammed the game’s international governing body for caring more for commercial interests over the safety of players.
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Argentinian vice-president Agustin Pichot has mooted Plans for a 12-year competition, along the lines of football’s UEFA Nations League.
The ‘League of Nations’ is also seen as of particular potential benefit in the southern hemisphere, where rugby economies have been struggling so bad.
Though Johnny Sexton made clear after a conference call that the IRP Council; comprising 40 players with nine of the world’s top 10 nations’ captains taking part, are not happy with the pace of things.
Johnny Sexton said in a statement that was issued by the International Rugby Players association. “While players gave this idea a cautious welcome when we met at the end of last year, it now seems like a commercial deal on the future of the game is being negotiated at a rapid pace with little consideration given to the important points we raised with World Rugby in November,”
“The issue of player load has never been so topical, however it needs to be properly understood. To suggest that players can play five incredibly high-level test matches in consecutive weeks in November is out of touch and shows little understanding of the physical strain this brings.” The Rugby star added.
The world champions New Zealand’s skipper Kieran Read and England’s Owen Farrell both supported Johnny Sexton’ idea.
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Owen Farrell said, “Players are definitely open to discussing a new global season, but what we develop has to work with the club game in order to reduce conflict, deal with player release issues and make sure their welfare is looked after. The proposal presented to us at the moment doesn’t seem to have considered this properly and shows no signs of improving this already difficult situation.”
Source: AFP
