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SportsBen Earl slams 'brutal' Nations Championship schedule after England's 25,000-mile tour
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England rugby player Ben Earl has criticized the new Nations Championship format after his team endured a grueling July itinerary featuring three Tests in three continents on successive weekends. Steve Borthwick's squad traveled 25,000 miles, taking four long-haul and four short-haul flights in under four weeks, culminating in a victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero. Earl described the schedule as 'brutal' and questioned why matches could not be hosted in a single country to reduce travel and create a festival atmosphere. The demanding schedule was especially tough for British and Irish Lions players who also toured Australia last summer. Despite the challenges, England secured two wins and remain in contention for the inaugural final on November 29.
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Image: England back row Ben Earl has slammed the new Nations Championship schedule
Ben Earl has called for a rethink of the Nations Championship format following England's "brutal" itinerary that featured three Tests in three continents on successive weekends.
Steve Borthwick's team ended their 25,000-mile July tour with a victory over Argentina on Saturday. Their two wins offer sight of a place in the inaugural competition's final at Allianz Stadium on November 29.
However, victory over the Pumas in Santiago del Estero was sealed despite sleep-deprived players being limited to a reduced training schedule to recover from the travel, while the time difference also proved a hurdle to overcome.
Image: England's Ellis Genge (centre) celebrates scoring a try against Argentina
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The itinerary — the toughest faced by any nation this month — was especially challenging for England's British and Irish Lions stars such as Earl, Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum, who faced Australia last summer.
Having taken four long-haul and four short-haul flights in just under four weeks, the amount of travel has been a point of discussion within the squad.
Image: England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored a stunning solo finish against Argentina
Earl said: "It's been brutal, there's no two ways about it.
"We've been speaking about it — why would we not all be playing in one country? So you just don't travel, you go to one nation and have that festival feel.
"You come to Australia, South Africa, wherever, and there's so much rugby going on. How cool would that be?
"I'm not paid to make those decisions but it has been tough. It's been tough coming at the end of what's been quite a long season anyway for most of us.
Image: England's Tommy Freeman scores a try while being tackled by Argentina's Mateo Carreras
"It's been back and forth, coming back to England, seeing your families and then going away again.
"It has seemed a bit weird but it's just something we're going to have to get used to because I think it's just the beginning."
England's Nations Championship Results
- South Africa 45-21 England (Johannesburg)
- Fiji 8-73 England (Liverpool)
- Argentina 24-31 England (Santiago del Estero)
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Ben Earl slams 'brutal' Nations Championship schedule after England's 25,000-mile tour