"Why did they change our game?” - Three rugby players who really don’t like rugby anymore

Woodward has lashed out at the quality of the modern rugby game, describing it as "unwatchable".

He wrote: "Kicking should always be part of the game — but only part. If it takes over to the extent we are seeing, it's not rugby anymore.

"What's the end game here? Are you happy spending the prime years of your short rugby life playing like this?

"Do you not wish sometimes to play 80 minutes of exhilarating, skilful running rugby with yes, of course, some clever grubbers and kick passes to the wing?"

McBride has savaged modern-day rugby, claiming it has become an unedifying mixture of union, league and American football that is being wrecked by an injury crisis and the dominance of money.

McBride wrote: “Rugby today is nothing like the game I played. It is a mixture of rugby union and rugby league – which is a huge influence on rugby union, with players lined up across the field against each other – and American football, with the obstruction and blocking. 

“In the modern game, you can theoretically keep the ball for 40 minutes with endless phases. In the amateur era, once you went to ground you had to release the ball and get away. Players could then drive over the ball rucking the ball.

“Any game is all about space. The modern game is all about closing down space with players lining across the pitch because of phase rugby. The one thing that strikes me is why did they change our game?” 

The 35-year-old, who last played for Leinster in Ireland, says he believes the external pressures of professional rugby have changed the culture of the game for the worse.

"Rugby has just changed beyond identity to me. I started when it was semi-pro, and just starting professionally," he told the Irish Times.

"The game is different [now], and it's almost like I don't like it anymore. As professionals, we're paid to do this, that's kind of our product. The game is what I love, I've said that before, but all the s*** around it is hard.

"I see the guys who have just retired, sadly passing away, or having heart complications or, the worst case scenario, committing suicide."