Professional rugby working together at Twickenham
Key representatives from across the game have met at Twickenham to discuss professional player welfare.
Twickenham Stadium was the venue for the second England Rugby PRL Director of Rugby Conferences which saw Gallagher Premiership Rugby clubs, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby (PRL) and the Rugby Players Association (RPA) working together to discuss the best care and playing environment for professional players.
An introduction from the RFU Director of Performance Rugby, Conor O’Shea, responsible for the leadership, management and strategic direction of professional rugby to support international success, was followed by England Head Coach, Eddie Jones covering the Road to the Rugby World Cup France 2023.
Jon Clarke, strength & conditioning coach for the England and British & Irish Lions teams and Premiership Rugby's Head of Science and Medical Operations Dr Matt Cross discussed conditioning for club and international rugby. This was followed by a presentation on the Player Performance Management Group (PPMG) who discuss player welfare in relation to playing and rest periods, from the PRL’s Rugby Director Phil Winstanley, Conor O’Shea, and RPA Head of Player Affairs, Christian Day, the latter also providing an RPA update.
Coaching and the player pathway programme for aspiring elite players was covered by Jon Pendlebury, England U18 coach, and England Pathway Coach, Mark Mapletoft.
After a pitch-side barbeque lunch, there was a presentation on High Performance Systems from bestselling author, Professor Damian Hughes, renowned for helping organisations and teams to create high performing cultures.
Head contact and the disciplinary process was covered by Paul Hull, the RFU’s Head of Professional Game Match Officials and David Barnes, Head of Discipline at the RFU.
Conor O’Shea said having closed the conference: “Despite the challenges that are always present within elite sport, the willingness to work together and collaborate is better than ever. Everyone agrees that having clubs, country, players, coaches and medics working together through the season will see the best possible transition between playing environments for each individual player. Conferences like this give us opportunities to meet in less pressurised times, learn from each other and discuss best ways forward with a view to gaining a common approach that can only benefit the players and the game.”
Said PRL Rugby Director, Phil Winstanley: “It’s clearly important for all stakeholders in the English game to be working together to ensure the best management for each individual player and the best possible balance between club and international demands. Collaboration is critical and events like today’s provide the best opportunities to discuss and deliver best practice.”
