England Coach Borthwick Secures Enhanced Player Power

Jamie George and Maro Itoje are two of the England players expected to receive the new "hybrid" contracts, combining funding from both club and country.

England head coach Steve Borthwick will gain unprecedented control over elite players under a new eight-year agreement between rugby’s governing bodies. This landmark deal gives Borthwick the final say on all sports science and medical matters for up to 25 England players while the Rugby Football Union (RFU) will contribute £33 million per season to Premiership clubs.

The Professional Game Partnership aims to develop world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney stated that the agreement will transform the rugby landscape and reset the professional game. Each elite England player will receive a tailored program to optimize performance for international matches.

Although the system differs from New Zealand or Irish centrally-contracted models, it provides Borthwick more control than any previous England head coach. Despite the benefits, there are concerns from club directors. Exeter Chiefs’ Rob Baxter expressed reservations about giving up full control of international stars, suggesting that the RFU’s decision might exploit the clubs’ financial needs during the pandemic.

Baxter acknowledged a positive meeting with Borthwick but remained uneasy about the situation. Saracens’ Mark McCall emphasized the importance of effective collaboration between club and country, noting that successful outcomes depend on alignment and mutual goals. The new Professional Rugby Board (PRB), led by former World Cup referee Wayne Barnes,will oversee the partnership’s strategy.

The PRB will include independent members, RFU and Premiership Rugby representatives and Rugby Players’ Association members. Additional changes include an expanded Under-20s squad more England A matches redefined academy boundaries and a two-legged play-off for Premiership promotion.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor highlighted that the agreement represents a crucial step toward financial stability, better governance and improved high-performance planning for English rugby.