Club v country - planning : Mon May 02, 2016 11:26 am  

I'm always curious about how the international planning committee decide when fixtures should be played. I've just read that Hull FC will be without Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu for their challenge cup match against Saints next week as they are to be released to play for Tonga and Samoa.
These players are a massive loss to FC who must be spewing that they have to release such top quality players on the weekend of one of their biggest games of the season. I accept that FC may have been drawn against lower league opposition but surely international matches should be stand alone fixtures with a weekend off domestic rugby?

Re: Club v country - planning : Tue May 03, 2016 9:30 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

I'm always curious about how the international planning committee decide when fixtures should be played. I've just read that Hull FC will be without Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu for their challenge cup match against Saints next week as they are to be released to play for Tonga and Samoa.
These players are a massive loss to FC who must be spewing that they have to release such top quality players on the weekend of one of their biggest games of the season. I accept that FC may have been drawn against lower league opposition but surely international matches should be stand alone fixtures with a weekend off domestic rugby?

I'm 99% sure that clubs don't have to release players for internationals. Of course the problem is Pritchard and Manu wouldn't be too happy, possibly to the point of leaving for a club that does let them represent their country.

Re: Club v country - planning : Tue May 03, 2016 10:03 am  

There are too many fixtures in the English season for us to take a week off. Fair play to Hull for acknowledging the importance of international competition.