In Wales things are so bad that the top Heineken League clubs want the Welsh

In Wales things are so bad that the top Heineken League clubs want the Welsh to extend the season.Northampton, whose England representation meant they were also able to appeal the new date for their Second Division fixture against Moseley, have settled on 27 January, when neither they nor their opponents will be in the Pilkington Cup.Yesterday's fifth-round draw at Twickenham gave Rob Andrew the earliest possible return to the big time by giving Newcastle a home tie against Harlequins, twice winners, as soon as the former England outside-half becomes eligible for competitive rugby. Whatever the case, the last thing Jack Rowell, the England manager, wants is to have his players involved in games a week before an international. Rugby Union STEVE BALE Having exercised their right to postpone again the postponed Courage league games rescheduled for 13 January, a pre-international Saturday, Bath and Leicester find themselves with precisely the same problem on the second new date, 9 March.Instead of being expected to face Gloucester and Sale, respectively, when their England players are in the middle of a four-day training weekend at Bisham Abbey one week before the opening of the Five Nations against France, they now have to do so one week before the championship concludes against Ireland.This is a daft piece of fixture planning made on the assumption that the England squad will not have a weekend get-together before playing the Irish. It's no coincidence that we get so many injuries over the Christmas period because we play so many games in a short space of time, normally at this time of year on heavy pitches.". "The public wants some games at Christmas and I'd give them one on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but we need some sort of break. "If my players had not played for a week, I would have had to hold up my hand and say it was eminently forgettable - but I think I have got to defend the players."Backing the call for a mid-winter break, Gerry Francis, the Tottenham manager, said: "It's something we could learn from Europe The break would let us recharge our batteries.

Officials have been investigating the mechanics of the proposal since the start of the season."It needs a lot of examination, but we fully understand the thinking behind the League Managers' call," said an FA spokesman, Steve Double. "We recognise it would be beneficial for the players and the technical progression of the game. But with a World Cup programme coming up we don't envisage any changes earlier than 1998."Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager who is chairman of the LMA, voiced his concern at the number of matches being played after the 0-0 draw with Blackburn on Monday. We are just involving the 20 Premier League clubs at the moment."The FA support the idea of a midwinter break but warn that World Cup commitments will delay its introduction until 1998 at the earliest.

We are behind the times in England and need to look at rescheduling fixtures. "We are preparing a paper which will be distributed to both the FA and the Premier League. Gordon Milne, their chief executive, said: "It has become a necessity to look at the number of games played, not just first-team matches but those involving reserves and youth teams The pressure on clubs to field teams is immense. Play would resume in early February with the FA Cup third round. The LMA would like the changes to be implemented next season. The League Managers' Association are to petition the Football Association and the Premier League to introduce a four-week winter break for the country's top clubs after the Boxing Day games or New Year's Day matches.

But for Rangers, it was a false hope.Queen's Park Rangers (3-5-2): Sommer; Ready (Bardsley, 82), Yates, Maddix; Impey, Quashie (Dichio, 83), Holloway, Brazier, Challis; Allen, Sinclair. Substitute not used: Wilkins.Chelsea (3-5-2): Kharin; Duberry, Lee, Myers; Petrescu, Gullit (Peacock, 69), Newton, Wise, Clarke; Spencer (Spackman, 84), Furlong Substitute not used: Dow.Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).. It was a sudden reminder that football can be a thrilling game.Sadly it can also be a cruel one, and Gullit departed in pain in the 69th minute after injuring himself attempting a shot on the turn.Rangers struck immediately as Sinclair's cross from the left created confusion in the Chelsea defence and Allen - all of 5ft 7in - was left free to guide it inside the far post with his head. Dennis Wise, sliding in, saw his shot ricochet off Jurgen Sommer's knees.Just past the hour Gullit came alive, driving a loose ball from outside the box past Sommer, only to see Steve Yates clear off the line. When the ball came out to him again, he returned it with interest but it cleared the bar by inches. We're playing good football and giving away bad goals."For all the diligent passing movements put together by both sides in the first half, it was debatable whether the proceedings offered more entertainment than the pre-match spectacle - all flags, brass and pom- poms - of a visiting American high school band brought over as part of the London Parade.The early stages of the West London parade were dowdy in comparison, but after 30 minutes Gullit created the first chance of the game with a long cross from the right, which Furlong knocked it back across goal. "That is the poorest we have played in six or seven games, and we are disappointed with that.