Peter Canavan has backed Colm O'Rourke's call for the Sigerson Cup to be played at a different time of the year.

Speaking after Meath's Allianz Football League win over Clare last Sunday, the Royal County boss slammed the Sigerson Cup's scheduling after he had six players involved in the third-level competition last week, describing it as an "abuse of players".

Canavan feels the Sigerson Cup should be played before Christmas to avoid a clash with the inter-county season.

"With the split season now and the championship being moved forward, and the nature of the league, how it affects the championship... there’s an increased importance in the National League now that has never been there before," the Tyrone legend told the RTÉ GAA Podcast.

"That has a knock-on effect to managers, there’s an increased pressure put on managers for their team to perform so they’re putting pressure on their players.

"In some cases, players are being asked during the week not to play for their university in the Sigerson Cup so right away players are being put in a situation of, 'do I go against my county manager here but I’m on a scholarship, I’m training with friends here and I know how important the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup is?'.

"Yes, you could push the National League back out a week or two, it gets you out of the more inclement weather as well, which is not a bad thing, but I do believe the Fitzgibbon and the Sigerson are going to have to be moved prior to Christmas."

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