The head of European rugby has responded to the worries regarding Saracens' choice to give some of their England stars a break for the Champions Cup last-16 tie at Toulon. Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Ben Earl, Tom Willis, and Elliot Daly will all be absent from the trip to the south of France as Saracens focus on their Premiership play-off push. However, the European Professional Club Rugby chief executive, Jacques Raynaud, insists that the Champions Cup remains the peak for players and coaches.

Raynaud states that such cases of weakened teams are rare exceptions and shouldn't be exaggerated. He points out examples like Toulouse traveling with their best team and Northampton's successful trip. He also adds that teams generally aim to perform at their best in the Champions Cup, as it's a global showcase for clubs.