Premiership Rugby slams Eddie Jones for intense training sessions at Brighton camp

Premiership Rugby on Thursday accused England coach Eddie Jones' strategy of having full intense training sessions in the recently concluded three-day training camp at Brighton ahead of the autumn internationals.

Wasps back-row Sam Jones and Bath wing Anthony Watson are the latest casualties from the training camp as they suffered broken leg and jaw injury respectively, which has already ruled them out of the November Tests. Apart from the duo, Harlequins pair of Mike Brown and Joe Marler and Saracens lock George Kruis are unable to train since the Brighton camp which concluded on Tuesday.

With Jones wanting to test the mettle of the players in high intensity sessions, Premiership Rugby expressed concern on the players put into such an environment especially when they are coming straight from their respective Aviva Premiership games.

"In the interests of player welfare, Premiership Rugby believes that England should not be doing full training sessions straight after a Premiership weekend," a statement read.

"This format was not anticipated and we would not expect full training sessions to occur during the two remaining two-day England camps planned this season."

However, Rugby Football Union (RFU) insisted that such training camps before internationals are in line with the agreement.

"The professional game argeement enables England players to attend training camps, which obviously involve rugby training," an RFU spokeswoman said.

"As we approach the autumn series, game training has to take place. This has always been part of the plan and is fully in line with the agreement ."

Meanwhile, Saracens head coach Mark McCall also slammed Jones for the heavy workload put on Kruis who is prone to back injuries. The 48-year-old also urged the Premiership Rugby to stop chasing money at the expense of the clubs referring to the recently signed £225million deal between them and the RFU.

"George didn't train on Thursday because he's coming back from injury and we need to be sensible with him. It would have been wrong for him to train on Thursday," McCall said.

"We'd have preferred him to do one day with England and two days with us, but that didn't happen.

"From our club's point of view we thought that Premiership Rugby could have fought harder as to where these camps are situated in the calendar," said McCall, who added that he has no objective in principle

"To have the camp 10 days before our first Champions Cup game was flabbergasting.

"I understand England's needs, but it seems madness. Everyone goes on about player welfare yet our international players have had a tough Monday and Tuesday and we are playing on Sunday.

"We would like to have been involved in the discussion. Not to be consulted about it at all seems to be strange

"We've got to fight our corner in these situations. I think the directors of rugby at least should be asked. We weren't part of the discussion at all.

"When I raised it and objected to it I think there was surprise that it should cause any problem.

"England need time with their players - I understand that - but we would prefer it to be at a different time.

"It seems madness that we are playing on a Sunday and everyone goes on about player welfare when our international players have had a tough Monday and Tuesday."