Marler calls condensed Six Nations proposal 'ridiculous'

DUBLIN - England prop Joe Marler believes the proposal to condense the Six Nations to a six-week tournament is "ridiculous", saying some international players may need to sit out tours in order to recover from the hectic schedule.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is looking to scrap one of the two rest weeks in the tournament as a part of World Rugby's revamped calendar from 2020, despite opposition from Scottish and Welsh governing bodies on player welfare concerns.

Marler, who last year made himself unavailable for England's tour of Australia, said the shake up would force players to miss tournaments to retain their fitness levels.

"If we lost a rest week -- I think it's ridiculous," Marler told the Guardian newspaper.

"They can slap me on the wrist for that all they want but it's such a physical tournament, the game itself is getting more and more physical every week

"(And) if it makes the season longer they will have to manage boys better or the boys will have to start managing themselves more."

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said the English players had not been consulted about the potential schedule changes as he shrugged off concerns over the removal of a rest week.

"We believe it is perfectly right to have a six-week competition as opposed to a seven-week one. We think it would improve it," Ritchie said. "It would narrow the off-periods, help with the broader narrative. We think it is a good route."

As part of the reorganisation of the calendar, England's summer tours are set to move to July, while the English Premiership are planning to begin the 2019-20 season in September, as usual, but end in June. -Reutuers