Mitchell said that unless the international seasons were aligned players would suffer.

"It's a critical issue because we're killling off the players and the players' quality is certainly enhanced if they can get away from the game and prepare properly for a new season.

"The international season needs to become a total block and the northern and southern hemispheres need to create a parallel season," he told Sport on Five.

Mitchell stressed the domestic competitions would not be affected under his plan.

"The Six Nations is at the ideal time in this part of the world and maybe the Tri-Nations should align itself at a similar time and after they've finished then look at international tours."

Mitchell said it was unlikely any harmonisation of the international schedule would take place until the 2004 season at the earliest but said it was necessary to safeguard the players' welfare.

All Blacks captain Rueben Thorne will miss November's tour of England, France and Wales to undergo ankle surgery and Mitchell said his was the kind of injury brought about by the pressures of international rugby.

"He's had an ankle injury for over a year now and we had hoped to postpone it but specialist advice told us the rehabitilation post-surgery would be three months and he is critical to my team and it was important he had the srugery now."