Pat Lam pleads for rule change after slew of injuries

Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam has pleaded for a rule change in the PREM Rugby Cup after counting the cost of their opening two games against Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs.

Full-back Noah Heward (knee), prop Max Lahiff (foot) and lock Joe Batley (ankle) are all facing spells on the sidelines after injuries sustained in PREM Cup games.

Lam says every director of rugby in the league wants to be allowed to use 30-man matchday squads for the opening two rounds of the competition while they get their players up to speed for the long season ahead.

He admits that if the rules aren’t changed, clubs would be better off playing friendly games or even just start the Gallagher PREM season in the first week of September.

“A lot of us spoke about this after last year. We were keen to have 30-man squads at this stage. Obviously, we would appreciate the calendar window, but for player welfare, we feel we should have 30-man squads in the first two rounds.

“In our first game against Gloucester, take Fitz Harding, we only wanted to play him for 50 minutes, and then there were injuries, and he had to go for 80 minutes. And in all the other games, there were injuries and cramps.

“All of us DoRs (Directors of Rugby) are in agreement that we could have 30-man squads in the first two games as we do in normal pre-season. So ideally, we want games, and if we can’t get to 30-man squads, then we’re better off having just friendly games.

“You could have three hookers, three scrum-halves etc. I could decide to play Harry Randall for 30 minutes, take him off, put Kieran Marmion on for 30 minutes and get Max Pepper on for the last 20 minutes.

“But against Gloucester we lost two backs, so Marmion had to go into the wing, and then Harry Randall had to stay on the field for 80 minutes, and you don’t want that at this stage of the season. The other option to start the PREM on September 5th,” said Lam.