Changed rugby circumstances have resulted in significant changes to player welfare approaches in English rugby this season.
With rescheduled finales to the 2019-20 season, which were uncompleted due to Covid-19 interventions, and the onset of the 2020-21 season, England players' chief Damian Hopley said the next 12 months would be the most arduous undertaken by players.
More games in a shorter space of time to make up for the games lost last season will see midweek games included in the programme.
As a result, changes were necessary to ensure player welfare.
These require clubs and the Rugby Football Union [England's administrative body] to work together with medical and strength and conditioning experts to monitor player loads.
Players will not be allowed to play more than 180 minutes across three games in a week.
Any players involved in the 2020 Premiership final to be played on October 24 will have a two-and-a-half-week break before they start the 2020-21 season on November 20.
All players will have their mental health monitored. No player will start all three games in a week, and no player will be selected in more than six matches in the seven fixtures between August 14 and September 13.
Should a player be selected in three match-day squads in any seven-days, his playing load would be managed.
There will be no pre-season friendlies for those sides involved in the Premiership or European finals.
The Premiership final for the 2020-21 season will be played on June 26, the week before the British & Irish Lions' scheduled first game in South Africa.