England coach Steve Borthwick handed out the first elite player squad (EPS) contracts in English rugby history, awarding 17 players on Friday.
The inaugural list notably features three flyhalves but only one prop, loosehead Ellis Genge, and one scrumhalf, Alex Mitchell.
Notable omissions included back-rowers Sam Underhill, who started all eight England Tests this year, and Chandler Cunningham-South, who featured in all three summer Tests in July.
Under the new system, Borthwick can select up to 25 players who will each receive up to R3,7 million (£160,000) per year instead of match fees amounting to roughly R530,000 (£23,000).
In return, Borthwick gains final authority over the players’ sports science and medical protocols and assumes greater control of their management when they’re on club duty.
Players who received contracts include Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ollie Lawrence, George Martin, Mitchell, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith.
“I am confident that these contracts, and our strong relationship with the Premiership clubs, will play a significant role in England rugby’s continued development,” Borthwick said.
Historically, the England men’s team’s fees and commercial deals were negotiated by the Rugby Players Association (RPA), but that arrangement was dissolved earlier this year. This latest EPS contract initiative, led by the newly formed Team England Rugby (TER), allows players to have a direct say on matters critical to them, such as playing conditions, rest and recovery time, pay, and commercial opportunities.
The agreement also includes an exemption process to cap player load, limiting each player to a maximum of 30 games per season. Both parties agreed to conduct a season-long research project to guide future welfare policies.
England captain and TER board member George expressed optimism, saying, “While we have reservations about some aspects of the current protocols, we’re encouraged by the progress made.”
“Reducing games from 35 to 30 demonstrates a commitment to player welfare that we believe is crucial for the success of English rugby,” George continued.
“However, the intensity of international rugby is greater than ever, and we believe that specific international rest protocols need to be explored. We hope that the results of the research project will support this.”
England will face the All Blacks next week at Twickenham.
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
