Playing at the elite level in rugby can often come at a cost, and it stands to reason that the tougher one's opponent, the more likely they are to sustain a significant injury.
That being said, England have developed something of a reputation for suffering more bumps and bruises on the training field compared to their international peers since Eddie Jones took over in 2016.
A report published by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in early 2019 suggested England players were suffering more severe injuries (and more frequently, at that) in training.
It's worth noting those figures came following a particularly bad season for England training injuries, but the issue is highlighted again after Bristol Bears scrum-half Harry Randall was sidelined for two months following a paddle-boarding injury in camp.
He'll now miss the autumn internationals and a handful of fixtures for his club, urging Mirror Sport to revisit some of the more unusual (and substantial) injuries England players have suffered outside match conditions in recent years. . .
Harry Randall's paddle-boarding
What was intended to be a team-bonding exercise for the Red Rose during their recent Jersey training camp ended in despair for Randall after he came away with a hip flexor injury.
It's understood the 23-year-old aggravated the damage after he was "cleared by England’s medical team to train in a subsequent rugby session," highlighting how one's own desire to play through pain can sometimes be a hindrance.
Many may praise Jones, 61, for thinking outside the box in attempting to bring his squad together, while others would argue it's not recommendable for high-level professionals to practice movements to which they're not accustomed.
You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
What's the most unusual training ground rugby injury you've heard of? Let us know in the comments section.
Sam Jones wrestling leads to retirement
The archetypal example of how disaster can strike even while training, former England prospect Sam Jones saw his career ended by a wrestling-related accident before he'd even had a chance to win a first cap for his country.
A Wasps flanker on trajectory for a big career, Jones fractured his fibula, ruptured the medial ligament in his knee and suffered serious ankle damage after tussling with Lion -to-be Maro Itoje practising judo in a 2016 camp.
The back-row star never recovered and was forced to retire 18 months later at the age of 26, robbing English rugby of an emerging international due to an incident that could have been avoided.
The Telegraph reported in 2018 that Jones and the other Wasps players were allowed to participate despite arriving late to the Brighton camp and missing a safety demonstration that might have saved his playing future.
Anthony Watson's broken jaw
Bath were hit particularly badly by the aforementioned Brighton training camp of 2016 when Anthony Watson was one of no fewer than five players from the West Country club who were crocked in the aftermath.
Torn hamstrings and twisted knees are unfortunately fairly common in rugby, but despite its hardy reputation, Watson's broken jaw suffered during that three-day spell on the south coast stuck out as something of a rarity.
Watson unfortunately missed the entire 2016 autumn programme and didn't return to play for England until March the following year.
Courtney Lawes' pec problem
Speaking of injuries not frequently seen in training, Courtney Lawes' Six Nations campaign was cut short earlier this year when an innocent fall led to him requiring surgery on his pectoral (chest).
“The first part of training yesterday he slipped over. He felt something in his pec," head coach Jones said at the time, unaware that the player would be sidelined for some three months before his return.
Lawes had enough of a run-up with Northampton Saints at the end of last season to still earn his place on the British and Irish Lions tour, but it was touch-and-go for a time, and all thanks to a simple slip.
Eddie Jones' black eye
The rugby world watched in some awe when the Red Rose supremo showed up to the 2017 Six Nations launch sporting a blackened left eye and enough bandaging to convince he was in contention to play.
The coach was coy when it came to what had caused the injury, suggesting at one point he'd got a little close to the action during a training camp in Portugal.
"We've had a bit of fun in the Algarve, we've had a really good training camp," he said at the time. "It's just one of those things. I slipped over and got hit, nothing too drastic."
Jones threw a spanner in the works by suggesting he'd in fact hurt himself getting out of the shower at his hotel, but it may be only he (and possibly his players at the time) are privy to all the facts.
Owen Farrell on Annie's bad side
There have been times during Owen Farrell 's England career where it's felt as though he can do no wrong, but falling afoul of Eddie Jones' prized Papillon, Annie, is one way to change that.
The Red Rose captain was a doubt heading into England's 2017 Six Nations clash with Scotland due to a leg injury, which Jones joked had been caused by his dog after he brought her into training.
"Owen could be a doubt. He's got a bad leg, so he couldn't finish training. He'll be all right," Jones told reporters. "I think he ran into my dog. My dog was running around and he ran into it."
Jones might think to encourage Annie to go after his captain again in future considering Farrell started against Scotland and went on to score 26 points, the most he's ever tallied in a Test match.
