Gruelling schedule risks killing goose that lays the golden eggs

The professional rugby treadmill churns on relentlessly. Only four weeks ago, the blinkers were on and our immersion in the Six Nations was total, followed by short, sharp doses of Guinness Pro12 and European action. And that's without mentioning the concluding stages of the All-Ireland League, which you'd be doing well to be even remotely aware of if you're not a member of one of the participating clubs.