The decision to cut the length of the Six Nations from seven weeks to six from 2026 has been strongly criticised by leading neuroscientists, who believe the move will not only put player welfare at risk but also lead to a drop off in the quality of the rugby on show.
As things stand, the jewel in European rugby’s international crown allows for two ‘down weeks’ where matches aren’t played, giving players a vital chance to rest body and mind from the strains of rigorous, competitive action. One of those rest weeks is being removed.
Professor Willie Stewart, honorary professor at the University of Glasgow, is among those with concerns it will lead to an increased risk of injury for those who take to the field.
‘International rugby is a brutal, physical contact game. It’s attritional. There is a high risk of injury. It’s so hard to ask the players to do that week in, week out,’ he said.
‘But at least in its current structure, the Six Nations has two weeks where it allows for a break and for the players to rest.
‘Knocking a week off that takes a week away from the players in terms of recovery. It’s incredible. I don’t understand it.
The decision to cut the length of the Six Nations to six weeks could lead to more injury and a decline in rugby quality, according to experts
Professor Willie Stewart has insisted that rugby is a dangerous sport and the decision to axe the rest weeks may put pressure on the players’ recovery
‘We’re not going to be seeing the best players in the Six Nations playing at the top of their game week in, week out. We’re going to see the players who are left standing.
‘Unfortunately, the injury rates are going to go up and careers are going to end sooner than they should have. I just cannot conceive why they think taking one of the break weeks out of the Six Nations is a sensible idea for player welfare.’
Dr Barry O’Driscoll, a former member of World Rugby’s medical advisory board, said: ‘It’s a shame. The impact on players and their brains is already huge and it’s going to go up.
‘The speed of impact in games now is huge. We’re going to have more players with brain injuries and brain damage.’
World Rugby, the game’s governing body, continues to maintain player welfare is its ‘No 1 priority’ despite more and more being asked of the game’s Test stars.
The decision to cut a week from the Six Nations comes at a time when rugby’s international calendar is becoming ever more congested.
From 2026, a new, biennial Nations Cup will take place involving the globe’s top 12 teams.
In the background, World Rugby, the RFU and WRU remain locked in an ongoing legal case with former professionals who are suing the game’s authorities for alleged negligence over the brain diseases they are suffering with in retirement.
Meanwhile, Dr Barry O’Driscoll has added that the new schedule could cause more ‘brain injuries’
In February, Scotland’s Darcy Graham was forced off the pitch after a clash of heads in the game against Ireland
Rugby’s authorities argue the introduction of the Nations Cup doesn’t mean more games. Instead, it is turning the existing July and November Test windows into a tournament with competitive meaning.
The decision to reduce the Six Nations window from seven weeks to six is part of a wider discussion about the global calendar at both club and international level.
The game’s stakeholders insist ‘the removal of a Six Nations fallow week doesn’t mean removal of rest within this new calendar’ and that ‘player load is being discussed with every single rugby stakeholder and World Rugby.’
The release of the fixtures for the 2026 Six Nations has been delayed as discussions continue over a new broadcast deal, with the current tie-up with BBC and ITV expiring this year.
But from next season, the Championship is likely to be structured with a three-week block of games at the start and then a rest week before the tournament concludes on back-to-back weekends at the start of March.
Prof Stewart added: ‘If you look at the game between Scotland and Ireland this year, there were a lot of injuries which took place. The recovery week between rounds two and three meant a player like Finn Russell recovered in time to play against England.
‘I didn’t necessarily agree with that. But if you take a week away, there’s no way they’re getting back. Clearly, player welfare perspective is the key thing here.
‘But also for paying fans, the last few weekends of the Six Nations moving forward are going to become about which squad has the capability to survive the longest.
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‘It’s not going to necessarily be about who has got the best team. There is so much rugby. What rugby should be doing is playing less rugby, less frequently.
‘Rugby is looking to pack in as many matches as it can and squeeze the players for all they’ve got before ultimately casting them aside.
‘At a time when rugby as a global sport should be looking to cut the number of games, it’s doing the opposite. I just do not understand it.
‘Going to the big Six Nations games as a fan, there can be a slight disappointment if the big players aren’t there. I think we’ll see more of that.’
