Clubs To Get Cash For England Players
The Rugby Football Union is implementing financial incentives for top flight clubs who field England-qualified players in their teams in a bid to improve the national team.
The move by the RFU is designed to curb the number of overseas players in the top-flight Guinness Premiership which has been blamed for the failure of the national team.
‘If enough players aren’t coming through that will affect England,’ said RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew. ‘There’s no doubt about that and we’re seeing it happen in football.’
Andrew said he was happy for clubs to continue to sign the star names of world rugby, but he wanted them to review the policy of turning to journeyman players on short-term contracts.
He added: ‘There will always be foreign players and coaches and we don’t have an issue with that – if they’re of high quality. What we do have an issue with is the run of the mill foreign player who is standing in the way of the development of some very good English youngsters.
‘The balance is shifting back to English players now and that’s something we need to protect because long-term if that starts to fall then we’re in trouble.’
Approximately 35% of the players in the Guinness Premiership are not qualified to play for England.
As part of the agreement between the clubs and the RFU, which came into force on 1st July, money will be on offer for clubs which develop and select England-qualified talent.
