England head coach Steve Borthwick has been handed more control over his elite players by a landmark new agreement between the powerbrokers of the men’s game.
As part of the eight-year deal, up to 25 England players will be given “enhanced contracts”, with Borthwick getting the “final say on all sports science and medical matters”.
Felix Jones’ resignation as England defence coach after only seven months is “deeply disappointing”, Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney said as he confirmed the Irishman’s departure.
Jones, 37, joined the set-up after securing a second successive Rugby World Cup with South Africa last autumn.
He overhauled England’s defence, introducing a Springbok-style blitz approach.
England conceded 13 tries in the 2024 Six Nations, compared to 18 in the same tournament a year earlier.
The Rugby Football Union will pay the Premiership clubs £33m per season as the Professional Game Partnership aims “to create world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues”.
“This will reshape the rugby landscape and reset the professional game,” said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.
As part of the deal, each elite England player will be given a programme to help them peak for big international games.
While the new system stops short of a New Zealand or Irish-style centrally-contracted model, it nonetheless means Borthwick will have more control than any other England head coach before him.
Sweeney said the RFU are looking to move on after Jones’ resignation “came out of the blue”.
“Felix is on a 12-month contract so from the moment he announced his resignation he is committed to us for 12 months,” Sweeney told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We are in discussion about what we do in that transition period.
“It has been deeply disappointing and I won’t beat any bones about that. You saw with the performances in New Zealand and at the end of the Six Nations great momentum and good energy.
“You have a great squad of players now with a blend of experience and young players. The mood in the camp is great and it’s a fun environment to be in.
“It was totally unexpected but these things happen in sport and we will move on and make the necessary changes to rectify it.”
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says a meeting with Borthwick has “put his mind at rest a little bit” but has voiced his unease about relinquishing full control of his international stars.
“I have to admit I am less concerned having had a very, very positive meeting with Steve [Borthwick] and with our EPS [Elite Player Squad] players. So that’s put my mind at rest a little bit,” Baxter told BBC 5 Live.
“That said I will still stand by it – and I actually said the same to Steve – I do think the RFU has been wrong with what it has done, because we were going through Covid as Premiership Rugby clubs, we needed financial help, and there was none on offer.
“We end up now negotiating this new agreement and to get the finance from the RFU the only way we get it is to give up more control of our players.
“That to me feels like someone taking advantage of a situation, personally I think that’s wrong.
