Sam Warburton’s dual contract with the WRU and Cardiff Blues will see him restricted to playing just 16 games this season for his region, from a possible 30 regular season games.
Warburton was the first player to sign one of the new dual contracts that came into effect when the new Participation Agreement between the regions and the Union was signed earlier this summer.
Blues head coach Mark Hammett has been in close contact with the WRU and Warren Gatland himself to discuss when Warburton will play.
“From game time there’s a figure of 16 games… we are not told when a player can or can’t play,” Hammett said to the BBC.
“But we have agreed to negotiate and talk together with the player. So if we use Sam as an example, we talk with Sam, obviously the Blues and the Welsh Rugby Union to work out what is the best schedule for Sam – not just what’s best for Wales or what’s best for the Blues, but a combination.
“I’ve had those conversations around Sam with Gats [Wales head coach Warren Gatland], with Sam himself. We’ve got to keep in mind because of the way rugby is there are injuries, there are illnesses, things like that so it’s a living document, it’s a best guess in a way.”
What do you make of the limit of 16 games for Warburton?
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
9 replies on “Warburton to play just 16 games for Cardiff”
Not an issue. He’s not played near 16 games for us in a single season since he got into the Welsh setup. If we can get the full 16 out of him it’ll be an improvement.
Agree with you there Brighty that this total should not be an issue. Especially with the 6 nations and AIs.
However, how does this work in terms of bench spots and not playing the full 80 mins? If they play him for 60 mins and then sub him can they bring him on for the last 20 in another game and call it one game in total?
I expect the answer to be “No”, but what flexibility is there for this? It may not be a problem, but if Blues suffer injuries then there may be pressure on their squad.
I think this is of interest to all as in the long term, IMO, England may want to go the same way. It requires the national setup to have a much more joined up and long term approach. This is what Lancaster is doing at the moment. I think the natural conclusion is to have central contracts.
Ultimately, the way that this works in Wales may impact the English game.
I don’t know the detail of that Mike, they’ve been very light on sharing the details of the new agreement.
From a Wales Online article on the topic: “Under the new framework, regions will be entitled to field dual contracted players in 16 matches – or for the equivalent of the game-time from 16 matches.”
Sounds like he’ll get 16 lots of 80 minutes, not 16 specific game days.
Probably benefit the national team as well. 16 games for Cardiff, 7 games for Wales. Still seems like a pretty full season.
He’ll go into next summer and the resultant World Cup relatively fresh I suspect.
Correction – 8 games for Wales. I understand that we have moved on to the 6 Nations now!
Most of the All Blacks play less than 16 club games a year (they don’t generally play ITM cup unless coming back from injury, and Super XV has 16 rounds, plus playoffs – but coaches generally have instructions to rest their ABs for 2 or 3 matches).
NZ do play 13 or 14 tests a year though
Agree that this will benefit Wales, and not just in terms of Warburton’s (or any other centrally contracted player) fitness and rest.
The Welsh clubs will need players to step into the breach, so there are likely to be more Wales qualified players getting more game time in Top games. Most teams won’t want (or be able to afford) two stars for one position, so Wales may see more younger players getting more game time and developing into real prospects for the national team.
Or I could be completely wrong, and older or non wales players will fill the gaps.
In this case Mike I do think that Wales are benefiting as we are playing Navidi when Warburton is not available, and Navidi has been in and around a few Wales squads.