England Rugby Putting Player Welfare First

The RFU, Rugby Players Association and Premiership Rugby today announced major changes, with the focus on player welfare that will take affect in the 2019/20 season.

 

The announcement sees a number of the top players earning rest ahead of the Lions Tour as well as a number on maximum number of games per season.

 

 

Key Announcements:

 

1. Guaranteed in-season breaks 
2. Mandatory 5 week post season rest. This will be 2 weeks rest and 3 weeks active rest
3. Minimum 10 weeks off/pre-season for the EPS
4. Minimum 12 weeks between the Premiership Final and Round 1 of the following season
5. Maximum 35 matches of 20 or more minutes in one season for all players
6. Rest weeks for players with the most match time during Premiership Rugby Cup 
7. Senior EPS players have a mandatory rest week if playing in all Test matches 
8. England RWC Squad rested for Summer Tests in 2020 if they played 20 or more matches in 2019/20 season
9. England Player sin the Lions Squad to have a rest week during Autumn Internationals
10. England Lions Players to have a 10 week break