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June 1 is set to be a huge day in the Premiership calendar
By Online Editors
A ball has not been kicked in the Gallagher Premiership since Bristol’s 28-15 win over Harlequins at Ashton Gate on March 8. More than seven weeks have since passed, with the conclusion of the 2019/20 season thrown into doubt by the indefinite suspension of the campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
There have been fears in the interim that the season might not be restarted, but hopes are now growing that there will be rugby on the horizon soon amid reports that most Premiership clubs are planning to return to training on June 1 with matches to follow at the end of that month.
Nine rounds of regular season fixtures remain to be played after the campaign was abruptly halted due to the virus. However, with the peak in Britain now suggested to have passed, plans are being firmed up to get the rugby show back on the road.
It’s believed the PRL are looking to stage the remaining 54 matches in a five-week period, with matches played on every day of the week at one venue - including several on the same day.
A report in the Daily Mail suggests that Twickenham and the Ricoh Arena have been suggested as the grounds most suitable to stage an ambitious made for TV schedule due to those stadiums having an adjacent hotel and plenty of room in the grounds to host broadcast crews looking to comfortably adhere to the current social distancing guidelines.
Upwards of three matches could be staged on any one day, but these provisional plans are dependant on government support, the availability of Covid-19 testing kits and agreement from the Rugby Players’ Association who could well see a cap on the maximum number of minutes a player can play in his particular team’s nine matches prior to the semi-finals and final.
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Latest Comments
John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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