BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Players feel the heat



By David Walmsley BBC Sport Online

After Rock of Gibraltar's success on the racecourse, rugby union could be the next sport to feel the influence of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The game's leading clubs are being urged to follow the lead of the Manchester United boss in managing their players to ensure they survive the season's ever-increasing demands.

An International Rugby Board (IRB) conference this week recommended that all players get more rest to prevent them burning out.

"This is probably the biggest single issue facing the game," Professional Rugby Players Association (PRA) chief executive Damian Hopley told BBC Sport Online.

Directors of rugby can learn from Alex Ferguson as they work out what is best for each of their players

Howard Thomas
Premier Rugby chief executive

"Our guys are desperate," he added.

Burn-out is a catch-all term for a variety of complaints, but its prime contributory factor is over-training leading to physical and mental fatigue.

The Dublin conference recommended that all players have a 12-week close season to recover from the previous campaign and prepare for the next.

But international tours mean that scenario is currently impossible for the game's leading stars.

So clubs are being advised to improve their squad management skills and devise individual programmes for each member - even including mid-season breaks.

Player threat to North-South match

Howard Thomas, chief executive of Premier Rugby, told BBC Sport Online: "If a player is unable to take sufficient rest in the off-season, we recognise that the clubs need to make up that balance during the season.

"Where Alex Ferguson has been particularly successful is in getting a mid-season break into his key players.

"That is something our directors of rugby can learn from as they work out what is best for each of their players."

British Lions legend Barry John
Barry John took breaks before Lions tours
Anecdotal evidence appears to support the Ferguson model as just as effective in rugby as in football.

Hopley said: "The guys who had an enforced break last season - like Martin Johnson with his ban and Lawrence Dallaglio with his injury - have come back and performed at the top of their game because they have had time to recover.

"It's a player and squad management issue, ensuring that directors of rugby are managing their squads appropriately and that players are well-managed individually."

The only alternative to taking time out during the season is to restructure the international calendar, as advocated by New Zealand coach John Mitchell in Dublin.

Mitchell calls for rest

Hopley supports Mitchell's move, but recognises that it may remain wishful thinking for a while yet.

"The problem is the existing commercial arrangements," he said.

"But as commercial and broadcasting rights unwind, I hope we will see a more co-ordinated approach throughout the game.

"I don't think we will see a global season because television will continue to have a big say in when games are played.

"We have to be very pragmatic in our approach but we might see the Six Nations and Tri-Nations played at the same time.

"We need to aspire to something more co-ordinated on a global scale."