COVID and rugby union: packed schedule risks players’ mental health

By Stephen Mellalieu, Professor in Sport Psychology, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Professional sport has been dramatically affected by COVID-19, few more so than rugby union. Across the globe, months of postponed matches and a fixture backlog have added to already congested schedules. Following UK government approval, the men’s English Premiership completed its postponed 2019/20 season in the late summer of 2020. The remaining fixtures were squeezed into a short period of time, with the unprecedented step of matches in August and midweek…

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