Working together is name of the game

ONCE upon a time, when the game went pro, the astute national rugby unions took control of their biggest asset, which was the players, by contracting them.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

Unfortunately, the RFU put a moratorium on it, and the businessmen stepped in – and we know the rest. The clubs basically underwrote professionalism in England, and the RFU has been paying the clubs for the release of English international players ever since.

The RFU hybrid contract agreement, which involves 25 England players earmarked by Twickenham for a £160,000 annual payment, and is due to be signed off shortly, has not yet been confirmed despite Maro Itoje and Jamie George being flagged up some months ago as the first two signatories.

In principle, it’s a great move for the players and their welfare, with part of their salaries, and their playing schedule, fitness, conditioning, nutrition, and medical treatment, all taken care of through joint club-country co-operation.

The difference between the English hybrid model being proposed, and the central contract system in countries like Ireland and New Zealand, is that their national unions have by far the main say in the pay and conditions of their international players.

For example, in Ireland the national union decides each individual player’s rugby calendar in terms of which matches they play, and when they rest. This meant that a player like Johnny Sexton was told to be ready to play all international games, and to use Leinster’s club matches to get himself ready – including big European Cup games.