Glenn Delaney column

By Glenn Delaney
Nottingham director of rugby

The New Zealand RFU made a policy that only players playing in New Zealand can play for the All Blacks and the RFU may have to think about a similar policy

The recent cold snap has played havoc with our fixture list and it is now a certainty that we will have to play at least one midweek game before the end of the season.

Our continued good form in the National Trophy means that free weekends are disappearing but that is definitely the way we would like to keep it - despite the fixture congestion that then occurs.

We currently have 11 games to play in 10 weeks but that reduces if we move forward in the EDF Energy National Trophy. With such a small squad it is, therefore, vital in the coming weeks that we manage the players' workload.

Eighty minutes of rugby takes a lot out of the players both physically and mentally. The medical staff, strength and conditioning coach and the management must make sure that the rest and recovery strategy has the perfect balance and that we are not overtraining them.

Essentially we may have to play three games in eight days as we draw towards the end of the season but I am sure that is something that we will thrive on.

I am working closely with the directors of rugby at Newbury, Sedgley Park and Coventry (the three games that need to be rescheduled) and I am hopeful that we will have an update on these fixtures relatively soon.

Joe Worsley was immense

Glenn Delaney

In the meantime our concentration is on the fixtures ahead, working together and being honest with the players regarding their energy levels and intensity of training.

The bad weather has not only had an effect on our fixtures but also on our training schedule. The training headquarters at Lady Bay was hit hard by the snow and ice and has been out of action for a number of weeks.

However, I am very grateful to some of our close allies in the city of Nottingham for their support and in particular use of facilities. Both Nottingham Forest Football Club and the University of Nottingham have bent over backwards to help us out and training has been largely unaffected thanks to the use of the Academy Dome at Forest and the new 3G rubber crumb at the University and I can't thank them enough.

I would also add that the ground staff at Meadow Lane have been fantastic, there could have easily been even more games to play than we have already but they have worked round the clock to make sure that the games have gone ahead.

SIX NATIONS, ENGLAND AND FRANCE CALLING

The start of the Six Nations Championship always signals the start of spring in my mind and it was great to see a resurgent England against a very good Wales side.

The coaches and senior players in the England dressing room had put together a very good plan to thwart the threat of the Welsh and Joe Worsley was immense. I think being the underdogs will suit England in the upcoming matches and I am sure there are a few shocks around the corner as they continue to rebuild under Martin Johnson.

It was interesting to hear about the player movement to France this week, however, and the affect that could have on the England team.

I do worry about the effects of the player exodus that has happened at Wasps

Glenn Delaney

I was fortunate enough to have played in France for Narbonne during my playing career. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there but I do worry about the effects of the player exodus that has happened at Wasps.

There is a huge disparity in playing budgets between French clubs and the English, which is largely down to the amount of commercial revenue that the large French clubs are generating.

The New Zealand RFU made a policy that only players playing in New Zealand can play for the All Blacks and the RFU may have to think about a similar policy to stop the French from dominating the club game.

That is something for the powers that be at Twickenham to think about.

Talking of Twickenham, one of our main aims for the rest of this season will be to make a trip there in the EDF Energy National Trophy but it is Mounts Bay next in the quarter-finals and we know it will be a tough encounter down in Penzance.