PARIS: There are no current moves afoot to establish a global calendar for the rugby union season, a senior IRB official said yesterday, amid complaints that it is too long.
Brett Gosper, chief executive officer for world rugby’s governing body, the International Rugby Board, said it was a matter of complex negotiation for which no one currently had the “heart”.
Many players such as All Blacks great Dan Carter have backed calls to overhaul global rugby’s playing calendar, saying the off-season is too short under the existing schedule and risks player burnout.
Carter says that a combination of international duties and the Super 15 season meant he had missed pre-season training every year for a decade.
The playmaker argued the Southern Hemisphere’s eight week off-season in December-January should be doubled to 16 weeks, allowing players to properly recuperate from the physical demands of a high-impact sport.
His concerns have been echoed by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief Rob Nichol, with Hansen blaming the demanding season for the departure of a number of All Backs to Japan.
However, all previous attempts by the IRB to improve coordination of the global calendar have failed due to the demands of various interests in the game.
Traditionalists do not want showpiece events such as the Six Nations moved, Europe’s powerful clubs oppose further disruption of their season, while the Southern and Northern Hemispheres each want Test windows tailored to their needs.AFP
