There is much discussion at the moment around what a professional rugby season should look like. Interest has been heightened because of a number of factors, the main ones being the English Premiership losing significant amounts of money, player welfare and the number of games they are expected to play in a season – do more games mean more money? – as well as Ireland’s success in the domestic and international arenas.

Going forward, there are bound to be ideas and opinions from all quarters of the game, and it is making those who want to see the best structures put in place, particularly in England, think very hard about the next steps.

It has been established by World Rugby that, in restructuring...