Bid to boost Heineken squads to 40

With concern growing for the health and safety of players, it has emerged that Premier Rugby (PRL), which represents the 12 Premiership clubs in England, will ask the organisers of the Heineken Cup to allow larger squads from next season.

A sharp rise in injuries this season, which saw Bath (twice) and Newcastle (once) unable to field full 22-man matchday squads, has persuaded PRL to stump up 250,000 ($660,000) more from next season to encourage English clubs to increase their squads to 40.

PRL chief executive Howard Thomas said: "We will be talking to ERC [European Rugby Cup] about increasing the number of registered players that clubs are allowed to nominate for European competition, possibly up to 40."

At present the limit of players registered for Europe is 34.

This season, Bath coach John Connolly frequently struggled to find enough specialist players as his squad was hit by serious injury.

To date Bath can boast a full XV of such crocks - the latest being flanker Andy Beattie, who has suffered a broken leg that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Northampton learned this week that wing John Clarke will also not play again this season.

But there are fears that the extra 250,000 from PRL will merely be used to bump up the salaries of big earners in club squads and there were calls to ensure that does not happen.

- INDEPENDENT