Jason Robinson backs mandatory five-week break for England’s top players

World Cup-winner Jason Robinson believes a mandatory five-week break for England’s top players will “protect them from themselves” as the sport attempts to minimise injuries and burn-out.

At present, the Premiership clubs operate a piecemeal system where they fit in downtime for their players — equating to the proposed five-week break — during the season. After England clinched the Grand Slam by beating France in Paris last month, the majority of players were in action for their clubs the following weekend, but Wasps captain James Haskell and Exeter wing Jack Nowell enjoyed a week off in Dubai.

The news comes as England captain Dylan Hartley, who sat out seven weeks of this season after suffering concussion, may not play again before England’s summer tour to Australia after suffering the same fate against France.

Under the new deal between the Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union, which is currently being finalised, it has been agreed that players will take the break as a block.

Robinson said: “Players need protecting from themselves because they will play with an injury or when they should be having a break for lots of reasons, including the fear of losing their place in the team.

“A mandatory break will be a good move because you need time away from the collisions of the sport. I know players who do not stop training at any point of the year because they don’t want to get ‘beasted’ at pre-season training. It’s a good move.”