England gain more control over stars in £264m deal
England's Jamie George and Maro Itoje (centre) are two of the players expected to receive the new "hybrid" contracts that combine funding from club and country
- Published
England head coach Steve Borthwick has been handed more control over his elite players by a landmark new agreement between the powerbrokers of the men's game.
As part of the eight-year deal, up to 25 England players will be given "enhanced contracts", with Borthwick getting the "final say on all sports science and medical matters".
The Rugby Football Union will pay the Premiership clubs £33m per season as the Professional Game Partnership aims "to create world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues".
"This will reshape the rugby landscape and reset the professional game," said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.
As part of the deal, each elite England player will be given a programme to help them peak for big international games.
While the new system stops short of a New Zealand or Irish-style centrally-contracted model, it nonetheless means Borthwick will have more control than any other England head coach before him.
While selection decisions for club rugby will stay with the club directors of rugby, Borthwick will have unprecedented influence over his key players' fitness and conditioning.
Feels like someone taking advantage - Baxter
Exeter and England have lost established stars like Jack Nowell (left) and Sam Simmonds (right) to French clubs in recent years
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says a meeting with Borthwick has "put his mind at rest a little bit" but has voiced his unease about relinquishing full control of his international stars.
"I have to admit I am less concerned having had a very, very positive meeting with Steve [Borthwick] and with our EPS [Elite Player Squad] players. So that's put my mind at rest a little bit," Baxter told BBC 5 Live.
"That said I will still stand by it - and I actually said the same to Steve - I do think the RFU has been wrong with what it has done, because we were going through Covid as Premiership Rugby clubs, we needed financial help, and there was none on offer.
"We end up now negotiating this new agreement and to get the finance from the RFU the only way we get it is to give up more control of our players.
"That to me feels like someone taking advantage of a situation, personally I think that's wrong.
"Having said that, it is what it is, that happens in a lot of businesses. That's what you do I suppose and we're going to have to get along with it and going to have to try and make it work."
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall added: "If there's proper collaboration between club and country this can be used very effectively and very positively.
"I guess in the wrong hands potentially [there is a concern], but the proof will be in the pudding to begin with.
"A player feeling that both parties are aligned, both parties are on the same page as to how they can get better and how they can develop and how they can be looked during over the course of a year can only be a good thing."
England A fixture list to be expanded
England A fixtures, like February's rout of Portugal at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in February, will give young prospects like Guy Pepper the chance to shine
Meanwhile, former World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes has been appointed to a newly-formed Professional Rugby Board.
The PRB will "lead the partnership into the next era", with all rugby decisions brought under one roof "to oversee the strategy".
Barnes will be joined on the panel by an independent chair, two independent members, and representatives from the RFU and Premiership Rugby - who will each have three voting members.
The Rugby Players' Association will also have two seats on the new board which has been hailed as "world-leading" by the RPA.
Also as part of the PGP:
A rejuvenated player pathway, with an expanded Under-20s squad and up to four England A matches per season.
Redefined academy boundaries to ensure regional coverage.
Confirmation of a two-legged play-off between the bottom placed Premiership side and the winner of the Championship, provided the second-tier club meets Minimum Standard Critera (MSC).
Increased flexibility in the MSC for entry into the Premiership, to help aspirational clubs gain promotion.
"The new Professional Game Partnership is fundamental to the next phase of English club rugby," added Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor.
"We have worked hard with the RFU and RPA to provide more financial stability, better governance and a joint high-performance plan that will help make the men's England team and the Premiership clubs as successful as possible."