After much speculation, the RFU, Premiership Rugby and Rugby Players Association have today confirmed the signing of the Professional Game Partnership. This milestone agreement sees the three bodies working together, in order to make the England rugby team and the Premiership Rugby clubs as successful as possible, whilst also managing player welfare with Independent Development Plans.
There was plenty of excitement around the newly re-christened Allianz Stadium today in Twickenham, as the heads of the organisations got together to reveal the agreed partnership to the media. Present at the event was RFU CEO Billy Sweeney and Executive Director of Performance Rugby Conor O’Shea, Premiership Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor and Rugby Director Phil Winstanley as well as RPA General Secretary Christian Day.
The quintet of sporting directors all discussed the plans in place for their respective organisations, and explained how the players, league and national team will all be working together with greater synergy going forward.
More news from the Professional Game Partnership announcement will follow shortly, with a second break-down piece going out live on Ruck tomorrow.
1. Enhanced England Player Squad Contracts: 25 Spots Up for Grabs
One of the major discussion points following the announcement of the PGP, was the confirmation that England head coach Steve Borthwick will be allocating up to 25 Enhanced England Player Squad contracts. These contracts have no positional limit, and Borthwick will have the final say over medical and fitness issues regarding these contracted players.
There is also an additional 50 England Player Squad (EPS) contracts set to be issued out, and the PGP confirmed that even if a player is not contracted to either an Enhanced EPS or an EPS contract, they can play for England if called upon. Also, there will contracts available to the prospering development players in the England pathway system.
However, the Directors of Rugby for the Premiership clubs have the final say on the 50 EPS players or those without any specialised contracts, regarding any fitness or medical issues.
PHIL WINSTANLEY: “There are 50 (contracts) in the senior EPS squad. There’s 50 in the Under 20 EPS squad and up to 25 will be enhanced. What Steve (Borthwick) and all the clubs are doing at the moment, there’s an indication of when selection is confirmed in October, but they are probably going outside of that 50 at the moment in discussions.
“In terms of Steve, it will be final say on selection, on medical and conditioning on 25 enhanced (contracts). He isn’t going to pick 25 this year. He wants people to really aim and want to be in that group.”
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