A list of injuries to key players should be proof enough of the importance of playing limitations. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Here is a list of England strikers at the World Cup who have been sidelined with injury for eight weeks or more this season: Ollie Chessam, George Martin, Ben Earl, Jack Willis, Tom Curry, Bevan Rodd and Lewis Ludlam. Meanwhile, Ellis Genge became the latest casualty last week with a calf injury that forced him out of the Japan and New Zealand tour.
This is the attrition rate that should raise alarm bells somewhere. Whether anyone listens to them is another question. The Rugby Football Union's dismissive attitude towards the prospect of Maro Itoje exceeding the player's welfare limit is worrying.
In a ten-team Premiership it should be virtually impossible for a player to exceed the 35 match limit or 30 full game equivalents (2,400). minutes). It's like setting the speed limit at 140 mph. And even when caught doing 147 mph in the outside lane, the RFU officers seemed to simply shrug and say, “Well, at least we were wearing seat belts.”
To suggest that this is okay because at least Itoje doesn't break both the full equivalent of 30 games and participation in 35-game matches is a cynical, if unconvincing, attempt to move the goalposts. It's amazing how player welfare is everyone's number one concern, until you actually need a player to play every minute of the business end of the season.
These restrictions exist for a very good reason: they are based on analysis from the University of Bath, published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Its conclusion stated in no uncertain terms that playing more than 30 games would result in a “significantly higher injury burden next season.” However, here we are in such a situation that one of the true thoroughbreds of England is being whipped like a cart horse. And some people are wondering out loud why Itoje hasn't always been at his best over the past 12 months. Here's why.
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When Telegraph Sport noted that Itoge was on track to break the limit after the Six Nations, RPA general secretary Christian Day said: “At the end of the day, it's not to anyone's benefit, especially a player's, to play outside the limits as they are set at the point where the risk of injury increases. These are the jewels of the league and you are putting them at risk.”
Inevitably, a problem arises between club and country. Phil Morrow, Saracens' general manager, is widely regarded as one of the best directors in sport. The same goes for Aled Walters from England. Both will monitor Itoje’s training and game load every minute. Day after day they look after his interests. But one team ultimately needed to rest the 29-year-old for another game or two and decided not to do so. This is what happens when you balance the interests of player and team.
The proposed expanded contracts for elite players should help coordinate more holistic individual management plans in this regard. The real test will be whether both sides can agree in advance which games a player will be rested before, especially as the limit will be reduced to 30 games next season under the new Professional Gaming Partnership.
As Itoje's example shows , when it comes down to it, the well-being of the players comes second.
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