Friday 7 October 2016 10:00, UK
Premiership Rugby says Eddie Jones' three-day England training camp risked player welfare, while Mark McCall labelled it "madness".
Winger Anthony Watson joined England's growing list of absentees for the autumn Test series on Tuesday after breaking his jaw in the intensive sessions at the Brighton base, while Wasps confirmed Sam Jones had broken his leg in a judo session on Monday.
Mike Brown and Joe Marler of Harlequins and Saracens' George Kruis have also been unable to train since.
Saracens director of rugby McCall regards the timing of the camp as "flabbergasting" with their opening European Champions Cup tie against Toulon on October 15.
McCall blamed Premiership Rugby for the £200m deal signed with the Rugby Football Union, which gave Eddie Jones greater access to clubs' players.
However, Premiership Rugby insists the intensity of the training, signposted by head coach Jones on Friday as a "test of resolve" designed to make players feel "uncomfortable", is not in keeping with their interpretation of the agreement.
"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."
The RFU have defended Jones' training camp though, insisting the Australian has done nothing wrong.
"The professional game agreement 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."
Jones put his 37-man squad through a gruelling session the day after they had practised judo in front of the watching British coaches JP Bell and Kate Howie.
McCall has challenged the intensity of Jones' sessions, raising particular concern to Kruis, who has been suffering with a back problem.
"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."
McCall was adamant clubs should have a say in planning international training camps and pointed the blame at the top-flight's organisers.
"From our club's point of view we thought that Premiership Rugby could have thought 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."
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