It was fascinating to watch England’s progress at the Six Nations.
After a shaky start against Italy, where a handful of newcomers to the international fold struggled to get to grips with the game, Steve Borthwick’s side improved immeasurably.
With a bit of extra quality and experience, England might finally become the finished article once more – although the ongoing stance of the RFU is unlikely to make that a reality any time soon.
Overseas Adventures
RFU chief Bill Sweeney has confirmed that Englishmen playing their club rugby overseas will continue to be barred from international selection.
It means that a good handful of talented stars are being prevented from pulling on the white jersey, which is perhaps music to the ears of the likes of Toulouse and Stade Français.
The online betting UK has Toulouse as the 15/8 second favourites for the European Champions Cup – a team for whom Jack Willis remains a pivotal figure.
And the tips on sports betting might just point punters towards Stade Français for the Top 14 title – Joe Marchant doing the business for the table-topping outfit.
#TOP14 #InvestecChampionsCup
Le @StadeToulousain glisse en quart-de-finale 🏄
Rendez-vous le week-end prochain pour Toulouse à domicile 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/iNKxKJckEl— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) April 7, 2024
Owen Farrell will join the band of the unavailable at the end of the 2023/24 season when he joins Racing 92, while the likes of Kyle Sinckler, Manu Tuilagi, and Lewis Ludlam have also been tipped to make the trip across the Channel.
This named quartet could all, in some cases more than others, still make a huge difference to the make-up of Borthwick’s England team – he must be perplexed, to say the least about the RFU’s stance.
What are England’s Eligibility Rules?
To secure an England call-up, players must be plying their trade with a Gallagher Premiership club – with no exceptions.
Sweeney is on record as suggesting there’s a ‘performance advantage’ to having English players in the Premiership, although the recent history of the Champions Cup – it’s been three years and counting since Exeter Chiefs lifted the continent’s premier trophy – might suggest otherwise.
And the RFU’s chief has even contradicted himself when quizzed over the policy. “There are maybe one or two that you think we would rather have over here [in England],” he confessed, before namechecking Marchant as one that got away.
In a bid to stem the tide of English players heading overseas for a lucrative payday or a different way of life, the RFU will issue ‘hybrid contracts’ to 25 handpicked players. This will provide Borthwick with more of a say on how his key figures are used by their clubs, ensuring they aren’t ‘overplayed’ in the lead-up to major tournaments like the Six Nations and World Cup.
💪 “I don’t want to dawdle through the last third of my career. I want to kick on, continue to get better and win things.”
Maro Itoje has a new look and, soon, a new contract.
The Saracens and England star spoke exclusively to @NickPurewal.https://t.co/Fuew6sNgnl
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) January 16, 2024
However, the roll-out of those Enhanced Elite Player Squad deals has been delayed until the start of the 2024/25 campaign, with only Maro Itoje and Jamie George putting pen to paper so far.
All told, seven English players who appeared at the 2023 World Cup are now, or will be, playing their club rugby in France. In a club vs country war initiated by the RFU, it’s clear that England are very much losing the battle.
