During the inaugural season of the tournament, England trekked nearly 42,000km to compete in matches in Johannesburg, Liverpool, and Santiago del Estero against teams like the Springboks, Fiji, and Argentina. Earl described the experience as exceptionally harsh.
"It's been brutal, there's no two ways about it,"
Earl voiced a suggestion that instead of scattering games across various nations, a single host country could stage clusters of matches. This approach, he argued, would enhance the experience for both players and fans by creating a festival atmosphere.
"Why would we not all be playing in one country? You just go to one nation and have that festival feel,"
While acknowledging he isn't involved in the financial aspects of tournament organization, Earl expressed the players' perspective, emphasizing the significant challenges posed by the current setup. The intense schedule not only exhausts players but also affects their training routines.
"You just don't do as much training,"
Earl remarked that despite the logistical hurdles, the honor of playing for the national team overshadows these difficulties the moment they step onto the field.
"I love playing for my country,"
In conclusion, while England remains a strong contender and the players remain dedicated, the call from Earl brings to light the need for potential changes in the structure of international tournaments to better accommodate the health and performance of athletes. The message from the players is clear - optimizing the competition format can benefit everyone, from participants to spectators.
