 |  We have to stop playing as many Zurich Premiership games on international Saturdays |
Former England captain Martin Johnson has called for fewer Zurich Premiership games to be played in weekends when there are international matches. The Leicester lock said that the clash of fixtures meant clubs were turning to foreign players to replace their international stars.
He fears this will lead to clubs devoting less resources to academies which would hit future England teams.
"We are businesses as well as anything. Eventually that doesn't work," he said.
"We have got kids coming through our academy and have got a new academy being built (at Leicester).
"But what is the point in bringing the English players through if they can only play two-thirds of the league games and for crucial games they are not there?"
Over the summer, Leicester director of rugby John Wells recruited exclusively from overseas while Northampton brought in a host of South Africans safe in the knowledge they will be available all season.
"There are a lot more foreign players in the Premiership now. You do have a little bit of a worry about that," said Johnson.
"Clubs are going to lose a lot of their England players for big chunks of the season so it is advantageous for clubs to bring in foreign players.
"We have to stop playing as many Zurich Premiership games on international Saturdays.
"It really needs to be sorted out. It is an issue, an obvious one that is staring people in the face but nothing seems to be done about it."
MMIX
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