BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Woodward defends players' release

England coach Clive Woodward has defended his decision to send home 19 players from a fitness testing session earlier this week.

The players in question, including eight from European champions Leicester, were not considered fit enough to be tested after picking up injuries on club duty.

Some made long car journeys to the national squad's Surrey training base last Sunday night to report to England doctor Simon Kemp.

But they were then told to return to their clubs the following morning after consultation with Woodward.

The decisions were made in the spirit of the partnership we have with the clubs

Clive Woodward

Leicester were reportedly annoyed that players were needlessly required to report for England duty when they could have been receiving treatment.

But Woodward insisted it was important to put his actions into perspective.

"After the weekend Zurich Premiership programme, which included three games on the Sunday, it was essential that the players reported to Dr Simon Kemp to see who was fit and available for the tests," he said.

"It would have been counter-productive for all concerned to fitness test players who weren't fit.

"Their participation in the sessions could have contributed to the deterioration of the knocks and injuries they had already sustained.

"Simon made his recommendations, and I endorsed them on the basis that the players' recuperation was vital and that their interests would be better served by going back to their clubs for treatment."

Austin Healey in action for Leicester against Harlequins last month
Healey has missed Leicester's last two games

Woodward explained that if the session had covered normal training, the players would have been required to stay for the full two days as usual.

He insisted they were sent back to their clubs immediately to give them more time to recover before their next club games this weekend.

Others from Newcastle, Sale Sharks and Leeds - faced with significant travel times home - all stayed with the squad and were treated by the England medical team.

"As a majority of the time was spent on fitness-testing, it was plain commonsense to send players who clearly could take no part in the fitness tests, and who did not have to travel far to their clubs, back for treatment straightaway," Woodward added.

"The decisions were made in the spirit of the partnership we have with the clubs."

'Excellent feedback'

England hold their next fitness tests on 16 and 17 December, and Woodward insisted he would make the same decision should the situation occur again.

"I've heard nothing other than excellent feedback from the players, clubs and the directors of rugby in the way we handled this situation and the way the other training sessions have gone," he added.

One of those released, Leicester's Austin Healey, was due to see a specialist to asess the extent of a groin problem.

But the maverick wing wants to delay a possible operation to give himself a chance of playing in the autumn series of Tests.

England's next scheduled squad session is a two-day gathering on 21 and 22 October, ahead of their Twickenham date with New Zealand on 9 November.


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