Agree new PGP deal quickly, urge DoRs

PREMIERSHIP clubs expect the details of the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP) with Twickenham to be agreed early in the new year, allowing them to plan for next season.

- PAUL REES

Negotiations over the agreement, which will see the introduction of hybrid contracts for up to 25 England squad players, a limit on squad numbers in the top flight, a pathway for academy players and a revamped Championship, are in their final stages.

The clubs’ directors of rugby met in London last week when they were supplied with details by the RFU’s director of performance, Conor O’Shea, and Phil Winstanley, the rugby director at Premiership Rugby. Twickenham briefed sections of the media the following day.

“It was a good meeting and you could see that things are starting to take shape,” said George Skivington, Gloucester’s director of rugby. “There were pretty strong guidelines and we had a few opinions. The chief executives and the owners will make the big calls.

"What was clear was that everyone wants financial stability after what has happened in the last couple of years. There are a few more meetings to take place, but I do not foresee any problems. Everyone wants the agreement to be finalised quickly, and that should be early in the new year."

It is the busiest time of year for directors of rugby as they look to build their squads for next season through retention and recruitment, but with the RFU wanting squads to be limited to 35, with an additional 12 places for transitional players, those coming of academies, there is concern that change needs to be gradual.