EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Noon calls for leniency on England’s selection policy

Former England centre Jamie Noon believes the RFU should take a more relaxed stance when it comes to picking France-based players.
Noon, who has stayed on in France with his young family after a successful four-year spell with Brive, feels England should still look at selecting players, who have crossed the channel, on merit.
“I understand the reasons why they don’t want so many players nipping across the channel, but it’s not that far and I don’t see why England should say you can’t play for us if you’re playing in a different country,” he told TRP.
“If a player is good enough and you need him, then why not? He’s not playing on the other side of the world with the time-zone difference.
“I could get to Twickenham from my here in the same time as it took from Newcastle.
“Also, coverage of the Top14 is so much more widespread nowadays so it’s not as if you’re out of sight, out of mind.”
The RFU’s stance remains unequivocal, with CEO Ian Ritchie last week stressing the need to do whatever it takes to keep England’s leading players on these shores.
But for 38-cap Noon, it is not all about the finances. “The money is pretty good; but the rugby in France is at a top level – you face top quality sides week in, week out, and the lifestyle is great too. All three of my kids love it here and speak the language.
“I think after the World Cup we’ll have more guys coming over, especially those on the fringe of England selection, and I don’t see why that is such a big deal.”
Any post-World Cup migration to France has the potential to be wonderful for Noon’s future business prospects as an agent. However the flow of traffic from England to France may not necessarily be a one-way street, he reveals.
In the 16 years of professionalism surprisingly only 62 French-born players have played in the Premiership.
And given the English Qualified Player scheme incentives available to clubs that figure is unlikely to balloon.
But Noon, 34, says there is a growing groundswell of opinion in France as to the merits of playing in England.
“Jerome Schuster and David Mele are at Leicester and Julien Dupuy was there before them. He went over for a couple of years and became an awesome player as a result.
“In France, the English game has a good reputation for the physical and professional approach. More young French players are looking at opportunities to come over to England to learn their trade.”
Noon loves it so much in France that Sunday’s match with Saracens was the first time he has seen former club Newcastle in action at Kingston Park since his last game for them almost five years ago.
Noon, who will be inducted into the Falcons’ Centurion Club, adds: “It’s great that they got back in the Premiership and it’s important they stay there. There are lots of quality northern lads who need something to aspire to.”
JONE NEWCOMBE