England players can reportedly now move to France without curtailing their Test careers – provided they secure vital clauses when making a move.
The Evening Standard has reported that: “England players must secure full release for Test windows from French clubs, written into their contracts, in order to keep their international careers alive,
“This new development will not lead to the kind of mass exodus that the RFU feared when imposing impediments to Test stars heading overseas.”
Clermont Auvergne are understood to retain an interest in recruiting Saracens’ England hooker Jamie George, and could look to use the Test window release clause as a way to tempt the 32-year-old into a move.
Joe Marchant will join Stade Francois while Sam Simmonds will trade Exeter for Montpellier at the end of the campaign, having already both secured their availability for England at the 2023 World Cup.
Jamie George facts:
- He has played all of his senior career for Saracens, making his debut in 2009
- He had a short loan spell at Southend Saxons in the lower tiers of English rugby in 2008-09
- George supports Aston Villa
- After 18 consecutive appearances for England from the bench, Jamie George made his first international start against Samoa at Twickenham Stadium in November 2017
Five England stars who could still swap nations before the 2023 World Cup
They could all swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
- Age: 31
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 20
- Last cap: March, 2019
- Did you know? His uncle, Asaeli Hughes, is a former dual international having represented Fiji in both basketball and 15s rugby
Hughes, who grew up in the sugar cane town of Lautoka on the west coast of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu, has. revealed that he has full support from the RFU to swap nations after moving to Japan.
