Steve Borthwick handed full control of England's best players in landmark new deal with head coach able to tell clubs stars must sit out of matches
The Professional Game Partnership was confirmed at Twickenham on TuesdayEngland's top 25 players will have their wages subsidised by the governing bodyRFU confirmed Steve Borthwick has the final say on medical matters for players
England head coach Steve Borthwick has been handed full control of the national game's best players after the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby announced a landmark new eight-year agreement. At Twickenham on Tuesday, the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association confirmed the new Professional Game Partnership.Central to the deal, which will see the RFU pay the 10 Premiership clubs £33million per season for the first four years, is that England's top 25 players will have their wages subsidised by the governing body. As part of that, the RFU confirmed Borthwick 'will have the final say on all sports science and medical matters' relating to his elite stars.It means that if Borthwick decides one of his players needs to miss a club game due to a slight knock or injury, he can inform their club boss he must sit out. Steve Borthwick has been handed full control of England's best players in a new deal England's top 25 stars will see their wages subsidised (pictured: Marcus Smith and Maro Itoje) Borthwick has the power to tell clubs players should miss games (above: Jamie George)The RFU said the move is part of 'ensuring optimum preparation for key international fixtures.' Such a move is highly significant for the future of the English game.It pushes England further towards the Irish model of central governance although it is unlikely to be hugely popular with the clubs who, after several years of financial problems, now face the potential prospect of being told their international stars might not be available for some matches.The RFU said the PGP would 'create world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues.' The RFU taking greater control of England's player management has been complicated further by the fact strength and conditioning guru Aled Walters has left to join Ireland. Defence chief Felix Jones and another fitness coach in Tom Tombleson have moved on, too.'I had a very positive meeting with Steve and with our players and I have to say that alleviated my concerns somewhat because it was a positive meeting,' said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter. 'It was nice to have the players involved in those meetings for the first time. All the conversations were very positive and that's great.'But at the same time, I said to Steve, "I do think the RFU have taken advantage of the situation." But that's not Steve's problem. It's the RFU who have done that, not Steve.'This will have been discussed at length, but at the end of the day the clubs aren't in a position to say no.' The move to take greater control of player management is unlikely to be popular with clubs Exeter Chiefs' director of rugby Rob Baxter believes the RFU has taken advantage of teamsRFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: 'This eight-year commitment will reshape the rugby landscape and reset the professional game.'Despite the RFU having £150m revenue losses through Covid and a £30m increase in operating costs over the last four years due to inflation, we are in a stable financial position.'The England national team benefits by having control over the medical and strength and conditioning of the best players in England at the peak of their form and in the best shape to play for their country.'Read More England's backroom exodus could lead to mismanagement of rugby's biggest stars, suggests Rob Baxter The new PGP agreement also includes, among several things:A first joint marketing agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby designed to attract new fans and grow the game's commercial revenuesThe creation of a new Professional Rugby Board to oversee all collective decision makingPromotion and relegation between the Gallagher Premiership and the RFU Championship via a two-match play-off, so long as the Championship club meets the minimum standards of criteria to compete in English rugby's top division.Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership Rugby chief executive, said: 'The new Professional Game Partnership is fundamental to the next phase of English club rugby.'We have worked hard with the RFU and RPA to provide more financial stability, better governance and a joint high-performance plan that will help make the men's England team and the Premiership clubs as successful as possible.'What we have learnt from the challenges of the last few years is how important healthy clubs and a successful men's England team are to the rugby ecosystem and also how important it is to work in partnership with the players, the governing body and other rugby stakeholders.'
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Steve Borthwick handed full control of England's best players in landmark new deal with head coach able to tell clubs stars must sit out of matches
