Pressure restricts players - Tait

Tait has coached in the Celtic League and the Premiership

Newcastle Falcons coach Alan Tait has said that the Rugby Football Union should look at reducing the pressure on players in the Premiership.

Tait believes that the desire to stay in the top flight means teams are focused on winning rather than nurturing attractive, enjoyable rugby.

"The Premiership is a pressure pot and restricts players from playing," he told BBC Newcastle.

"Something needs to be done, there are options they [the RFU] can take up."

Tait's comments come after Wales coach Warren Gatland said that this season's Premiership is "the weakest I've ever seen since I've been up here [the northern hemisphere]."

And, having been involved in the Celtic League during his time with Edinburgh Reivers, Tait can sympathise with Gatland's views.

"We're all so hammer and tongs at it in this league, but in the Celtic League you're encouraged to play rugby. The pressure's never on and you can see the players never get that tense," added the 44-year-old.

"At the end of the day, they're not going anywhere, the league's pretty safe, but in the Premiership, and Warren's coached there with Wasps, it's a pressure pot."