Six Nations rugby scheduling slammed

I can see the point- of view from the clubs prospective, they pay good money for star players only to lose them in test matches, but i also see that the test matches should be the first priority.

"why don;’t the clubs and the international bodies both sit down and work out a schedule that leaves holes in the program for the Tests. We used to do it here, and it can’t be that hard." By clubs do you mean the ones in the English Premiership or the other 26 across the Top 14 and Pro 12? The difference is that unlike SANZAR which has just 15teams to oversee and who don't play home and away games against every team, there are less elements to consider, and is therefore simpler to organise in one respect, although the travel element is much more complex. The NH unions have three leagues, one of which is longer than the other two. In addition, they have three cup competitions - LV Cup (which should be dropped by England in my view) and the two-tier European cup to organise, as well as the traditional time for Six Nations. The assumption that Wray speaks for all clubs and NH unions is wrong. what might suit English owners of English clubs might not suit other clubs/provinces/unions. If Guy Noves, Vern Cotter,Tony McGahan, Joe Schmidt, Conor O'Shea, and Richard Cockerill were making very public noises, there might be a few more people sitting up and paying attention.

The Toulon game plan basically is give it to Wilko. And Clermont still won the match (Pass the ball to parra!)

You are correct in that this is the first time we will have potential major conflict with European clubs within a SH comp If the Argies are not released it would be a major blow the ARG administrators and the IRB who have been pushing for their inclusion in a major comp for years. I have never been a fan of including ARG in the 3N/4N but now that its decided the availability of first choice players for the 4N must be assured. Perhaps a number of Argies will eventually move to super rugby as imports in order to coordinate seasons a bit better?

If the standard of the club Rugby is anything like the standard of French Top 14 ...god help em....I watched poor Matty Giteau playing for Toulon against Perpignan - all he did was tackle his heart out because, in attack, the ball never got outside Wilkinson. He needs a keep a photo of a ball in his pocket to remind him of what is used to look like!!! Anyway, back to the article, why don;'t the clubs and the international bodies both sit down and work out a schedule that leaves holes in the program for the Tests. We used to do it here, and it can't be that hard.

So starting in early August, after 36 weeks of solid rugby with no breaks, the players would turn out for their national teams - and then presumably head south for weeks 44-47 to have a go at a three test series against SA/Aus/NZ and finish up at the end of June, break for two weeks in July before pre-season training begins? The whole point of the concurrent competitions is that the season is too long already and games have to be run side by side. And at what point would the Nigel Wrays of this world rest their top English players - when they've flogged them through two comps and hand them over to the national coaches??

I think Nigel Wray has a good point. The season in the NH is a shambles. It needs to have a structure where there is progression from domestic to uropean to internaitonal rugby. How about weeks 1-6 Domestic rugby 7-9 Internationals 10-23 Dometic rugby 24-26 Domestic Play-offs 27-33 European rugby 34-36 European play-offs 37-43 6 Nations The HC should be regional teasm and all EPS players must be involved, there would be no Amlin Cup During the HC and 6 Nations the LV cup could be played that included a USA and Canada team and national teams from 2nd tier european nations alongside regional select teams form GB & I

Wray is speaking for himself. Saracens are struggling financially and playing at Vicarage Road with crowds of 7/8000, too small to give them the revenue they require. All clubs know the impact of the 6Ns. It it will impact on all premier squads but Sarries have a number of Saffas playing for them and they may lose 3/4 players but it should not reduce their effectiveness. My team Quins will probably lose a similar number but they have been careful to bring through more players to minimise the impact. No bleating from O'Shea just getting on with it; its called good management. A switch to summer is a different call and will meet alot of resistance from fans. Many like myself enjoy summer sports particularly cricket. Anyway the weather in the UK is remarkeable at the moment; too warm for snow and little rain and in the main ideal for rugby

I wonder who Nigel Wray thinks he's speaking for when he says "we". "A bit of central planning from SANZAR has resulted in a generally well run SH rugby schedule for several years (despite most roarers calling for a shorter season, a revamp of the 3N, issues around in and outbound tours, etc) Im actually looking forward to the mid-season int’ls this year – will change it up a bit and give a the majority of players a break to rest and recover before the run home" I wonder how well the new strictures on Argentine players are going to run in preparation for the new 4 Nations? Will the French club owners kick up a similar fuss when the time comes round?

Though the southern hemisphere is suppose to be the entertaining one, the 6N has been far more enjoyable to watch in recent times. Southern hemisphere has been kinda dull in recent years and teams fielding second string teams is unacceptable. Wish the wallabies had the same passion as every team that plays the English. Looking forward to this years 6N

Instead, the southern hemisphere is weeping at the far larger revenues, number of teams, and general financial success of the game in the north. There's no obvious reason the south would be laughing its head off anyway.

but they do need as many of that culturally cringe worthy footy show. seriously, I dont buy into the Mungo V Rah Rah debate but that show is an embarrassement to our nation let alone the code.

loig doesn't have to fit in a 13 test calendar each year

The move to summer rugby would be so much easier to do for all sorts of reasons in Europe. Rugby league did it successfully and so can rugby union. Scheduling especially at the top of the reasons why.

Good point but given the often mentioned power of the European clubs, the NH calender is a debacle. A bit of central planning from SANZAR has resulted in a generally well run SH rugby schedule for several years (despite most roarers calling for a shorter season, a revamp of the 3N, issues around in and outbound tours, etc) Im actually looking forward to the mid-season int'ls this year - will change it up a bit and give a the majority of players a break to rest and recover before the run home

this is not strictly true, we are having a break in the super rugby tournament to accommodate the inbound tours from NH teams.

The test matches do come over and above the clubs, that's the problem. The clubs are losing their players to the test teams. They are complaining about the scheduling.

Same old story from the Sarries. Im not English, or in England, but i find myself really hating the Saracens. Is it like that for the average english rugby follower?

Test matches should come over and above all other forms of the game. The clubs are trying to control northern rugby, but unlike the 'other code', should be put in their place.