ENGLAND’S BILLY VUNIPOLA has warned that players could go on strike if rugby bosses fail to reduce the number of matches played over the gruelling season.
In an interview with The Times on Friday, the Saracens No.8, who missed the recent British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand through injury, said governing bodies did not appear to understand the punishing schedule’s impact on players.
“Everyone complains that they keep pushing the salary cap up but we need more players,” he said. “It’s not about money, it’s about the toil we’re put through.”
Vunipola, 24, said Saracens looked after him well but added that strike action by players might be the only way to force Premiership executives to address the problem.
“Something is going to give,” he said. “Something might happen where we follow the NFL or NBA, where they had a lockout. I’m not saying I’m going to start it, but I feel like something needs to happen for the suits to realise these guys are serious.
“It comes down to how much we play,” he said. “My body could not handle it. I might think I’m strong and tough but I’m not. I just got worn down. The suits are always talking about it but they have never played nine months in today’s rugby. It’s something I would love to change — play less.”
Top players can be involved in a dozen international matches as well as potentially 30 or more club fixtures over the course of a season.
With only one match played a week, that can mean very little respite for players usually starting their season in early September and not finishing until the end of the June tests in the southern hemisphere.
Was there not a commentator recent reprimanded for something like this for mixing up a few city players?
Dont you know…Its only deemed racist if the person making the comments are white. Thems the rules apparently
Champagne Charlie Nicholas on a Soccer Saturday show a few months ago. He said he couldn’t tell the difference between Ferando and Toure since they look the same from a distance. Had to make an apology after although he was fairly sheepish.
Was it not Fernando and Fernandinio? Same hair cut, same size, same position and they happen to be both black. I felt sorry for him.
he was right though,don’t know how that’s racist
Yeah it was Charlie Nicholas getting mixed up between Fernando and Fernandinho. Had all these pundits not been introduced to each other at some stage!? Did Abidal not hear someone referring to Andy by his name?