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Hopes for Premiership season restart boosted by Government backing

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The suspended Gallagher Premiership season has been given the go-ahead to take a big first step in preparations to conclude the currently suspended 2019/20 campaign. It follows the publication of guidelines by the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

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These pointers from the DCMS will allow Premiership Rugby to further develop its plans with the Government and other sports bodies for a return to individual or small group training that strictly adheres to UK Government and Public Health England guidance.

Darren Childs, the Premiership Rugby CEO, said: “With the support of all stakeholders, our job is now to find a safe way for one of our greatest national sports to thrive.

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Chart-topping author Ben Mercer joins Jim Hamilton in the latest edition of The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

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Chart-topping author Ben Mercer joins Jim Hamilton in the latest edition of The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

“Our priority is the health and safety of supporters, players, management, staff and the wider community, so our season will resume only when it is safe to do so. I’d like to thank the RFU, RPA and Professional Game Board for their high levels of collaboration throughout the crisis.”

In a statement, Premiership Rugby added: “During the lockdown, Premiership Rugby clubs and supporters have made an inspiring response to the crisis, supporting their communities. We would also like to thank those many rugby supporters who are key workers and those who have offered their services to the community as volunteers.

“Premiership Rugby is pleased to continue to participate with a Government co-ordinated group of sporting bodies working through the challenges facing the industry; with the support of DCMS, RFU and RPA, as well as BT Sport and our commercial partners.

“Premiership Rugby continues to give its full support to the lockdown measures and urges everyone to follow Government advice and we would like to reiterate that our thoughts and those of our clubs are with all those directly affected by the pandemic.”

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cw 8 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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