Deans will have Super say

[travelling_gerry]

Payten From: The Daily Telegraph January 19, 2011 12:00AM




Keep them safe...Berrick Barnes at Waratahs training. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: The Daily Telegraph
WALLABIES medical staff will have power to overrule Super 15 franchises on the fitness and availability of their stars under new World Cup-year player welfare protocols.

The expanded new Super Rugby season begins next month and runs to July.

With the 2011 World Cup starting in September, the ARU is desperate to avoid injuries to any key Wallabies.

Previously the ARU and the states have co-operated on player welfare in a largely unofficial capacity.

There will be no demands to rest players, like the All Blacks in 2007, but Wallabies medicos will have the capacity to make final rulings on candidates for Australia's World Cup squad.

A player returning from an injury to their Super Rugby side, for example, may be checked by the ARU to ensure they are not at risk of further injury.

The oversight could also be used if a World Cup candidate is playing with chronic injury and delaying surgical treatment until after the Super Rugby finals.


Dialogue and trust over player welfare has vastly improved in recent years but coach Robbie Deans indicated during last year's spring tour that a firmer attitude was on the cards.

"We are not here to intervene but if there was clearly a case of neglect, we would probably have something to say about it," he said.

The move could see some state v country fireworks ahead of must-win games but Super franchise bosses are hoping it's injury, not arguments, that can be avoided.

"I am sincerely hoping we don't get to that point but if there is an injury concern about one player then we'll sit down and work out a solution that is good for all parties," Brumbies CEO Andrew Fagan said.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said open dialogue between the ARU and his outfit allowed for a "consensus" approach to player welfare.

Hickey said there would be no resting of players.

"The best preparation for a player ahead of a World Cup is to be playing good footy," he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225990619398

[Burgs]

"We are not here to intervene but if there was clearly a case of neglect, we would probably have something to say about it," he said.

If there is clearly a case of neglect you would hope he would have a lot to say about it, regardless of player contract!

[hertryk]

Mr Deans is supposed to be in Perth today???