Players' union chief Damian Hopley has called for urgent restructuring of the rugby season following breakdown a third British Lion in recent weeks. >

Iain Balshaw became the third England man to succumb to injury with his collapse in the Zurich Championship final over the weekend - and Hopley believes enough is enough.

He said: "Our concern is that with the intensity of the game going up we cannot expect players to raise their standards week in, week out.

"Jonny Wilkinson, Iain Balshaw and Lawrence Dallaglio have all proved that lately - but they are just three guys at the top level and there are 33 underneath them.

"We need to increase the quality and reduce the quantity of rugby that is played."

Hopley believes the first step on the restructuring road has to be a shake-up of the northern hemisphere's showpiece tournament.

The current February to April Six Nations Championship format is understood to be to placate sponsors who desire maximum exposure, but Hopley believes it is one of the root causes of rugby's ills.

He said: "It is clear that we need a Six Nations championship in a six-week block, there is consensus for that from every country competing in it."