In a recent Rugby Paper feature by Ben Jaycock, Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, calls for World Rugby to rethink its guidelines on the maximum number of appearances a player can make in a season. Smith argues that rigid, one-size-fits-all limits fail to account for the broader, more complex picture of athlete welfare.

Drawing on his work with Premiership Rugby and the British & Irish Lions, Smith highlights the importance of factoring in gym sessions, on-field training intensity, recovery protocols, and the evolving demands of competition when assessing player load. His approach emphasizes detailed data analysis to understand how athletes are managed throughout the week, how they recover, and how much cumulative load they carry.

The article also examines how this data-driven, individualized perspective could better protect athletes who consistently log high minutes, while supporting clubs in making smarter, more sustainable player management decisions.

Read the full article in The Rugby Paper or view the full-page feature below.