England’s leading clubs are determined to challenge the financial rewards on offer in French rugby in a bid to prevent a post-2015 World Cup player drain.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie has highlighted the importance of making it commercially feasible for members of the England squad to reject an approach from the Top 14 in France.
It is current RFU policy to only select those playing at non-English clubs in exceptional circumstances, a position Ritchie views as “fundamental” to retain control of England internationals.
So far the stance has succeeded but with the financial rewards in French club rugby at an unprecedented high due to the increased revenue from a new TV rights deal, it is feared there may be an exodus after next year’s World Cup, to be held in England.
French rugby has at times also proven irresistible for rugby league players, with National Rugby League premiership winners Mark Gasnier, Craig Gower and Willie Mason all having stints there.
But Ritchie believes playing for a Premiership club and England should be financially competitive, if not superior to the prize for competing elsewhere.
“We should not be behind in making it economically right for people to continue to play in this country,” he said.
“I don’t like a scenario where someone says ‘I can get blank when I go overseas’. We should be able to match all of that over here.
“We should be absolutely at the top of the pile here. We should help to try and achieve that and we should be unashamed of that.”
Premiership clubs operate under a salary cap that increases to STG5 million ($A8.94 million) next season, while England players benefit from a match fee of STG15,000 ($A26,807.26).
The current agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby, who represent the 12 top flight clubs, over player release is due to expire in June 2016.
Negotiations are to begin soon with Ritchie hinting at a collaborative approach to convincing England players to remain at home.
“The Premiership salary cap is not a matter for me, it is a matter for Premiership Rugby,” he said.
“Players get what they get from the club, from England, which is not an insignificant contribution, and then there’s the commercial stuff that he generates off the back of that.
“What we have to do is make that as attractive as possible.”
Suzy Poison
Guest
The split in the current Bok 22 is. OS Fourie Du Preez Jacques Fourie Morne Steyn Brian Habana Fran's Louw Bakkies Botha Guthrio Steenkamp In South Africa Willie Le Roux JP Pitersen ( was in Japan) Jan serfontien Jj Elebretch Pat Lambie ( now injured) Hougard Duane Vermeulen William Alberts Eben Etzebeth ( now injured) Beast Bismark Jannie du Plessis Fran's Steyn Schalk Burger All those guys aren't playing Super 15, Oz posters forget. Has crap Super results.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Rugby is a business like any other sport. You can't fight economics, it's a losing battle. In business I exploit the currency exchange to make a profit. This is why I deal with Asian countries mostly as opposed to get stuff done here in Oz. It's about numbers. The same with rugby. It's official, for the first time, there are more Boks ( former and current) playing overseas. Is it any wonder, that this year, sees the worse Super performance ever by the South Africans. 49Boks Os. It's economics. Funny to hear the English complaining. http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/boks-can-t-resist-euro-yen-1.1678218
Colin N
Guest
I thought you were talking about the number of foreigners, no? As technically, if they're English-qualified, they don't count as foreigners, hence my confusion over the 'numbers' comment, which very much do add up. Re: stricter limitations of foreigners, England don't have a rule as such, but they get a financial reward at the end of the season for fielding X amount of English-qualified players in a matchday squad. I believe that they also get a financial reward when a player is selected for England.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ biltongbek : The Japanese game is funded by the rich corporates, Honda Yamaha Toyota Toshiba NTT Docomo SAnyo Richo Nec ..... Not sure if the same kind of money comes to SANZAR teams. FIFA or to be more accurate UEFA will be introducing Financial Fair Play Rules (FFPR) at least for Champions & Europa league footy. Their aim is to stop clubs from spending money on leveraged terms. Hopefully some of the residue may come to rugger :)
GeoffBrisbane
Guest
So from a commercial aspect which teams attract the most media or income and promote the game? Familiarity breeds discontent and i reckon too many internationals are played on a yearly basis and should be played every 2nd year. Super rugby needs a total revamp imo with consideration for less teams then an increase with the possibility of a tiered comp.
fredstone
Guest
Schoolboys are being recruited at Cruyven week by European clubs... We couldn't hold on to Brussouw or Fourie Du Preez who's not even close to his sell by date. So it's not only old fellas, its open season on everyone.
By playing against them keeps us on our toes, more so than playing against a team that plays similar styles to us. In other words we get to defend at a faster required pace. As for our core values, that will never change, however depending on the national coach we may be lucky every now and then and have one not too conservative. But I am going to leave this now, as you are obviously unhappy about my opinion and nothing I say will satisfy you.
fredstone
Guest
Well that holds true for NZ but the Sharks are exactly yhe same team in a currie cup final as the sharks in a super rugby final bar injuries.
Colin N
Guest
I know what you said. The point is, Super Rugby has been going how long? What, 17 years? And the core values of South African rugby has changed how much?
Ah, more bait, Chris, whether you call me conceited, anachronistic, misinformed, lazy or any other adjective you could think of, I watch enough European rugby to form an opinion on what I think. In my view New Zealand can teach South African rugby a lot about playing heads up and attacking rugby from our base of forward strength, I cannot see us learning anywhere close as much from any other nation. That is a simple fact. If we don't play them at Super Rugby level we will have no other measure of opposing the pace at which they clear rucks and attack with pace and agility. That is my opinion, and hence I believe it is to our benefit to play them, if not, then we might as well go on our own. If you take exception to my opinion, then my apologies, but it won't change my opinion.
ChrisT
Guest
Biltongbek, your observation re the benefits of playing The Blacks on a regular basis is an obvious truism. Your characterisation of current European rugby however, is just a nonsense. Not quite as myopic, conceited, anachronistic, misinformed and lazy as commentators such as Spiro - but it's knocking on the door.
Not sure what got you in a knot, I specifically said NEW ZEALAND plays total rugby, and we benefit from that, what did you read into that?
Numbers, count the number of South Africans in the squad, whether they have now become England qualified is not relevant here, I am talking about the number of South Africans.
Scrumpoacher
Guest
Even if delayed they would be breaking certain international laws. Yes it's politicking, but its a threat and we can do without that hanging around our collective necks.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Because it isnt true.
Colin N
Guest
Yes, because South Africa plays/played 'total rugby.' Right...
Colin N
Guest
"Rob, from what I have read the England clubs do have stricter limitations on foreign players, however when you look at Saracens the numbers don ‘t add up." 'Number don't add up' in what sense? Salary cap or the number of foreigners in the Saracens squad? Because most of the Saracens side is English-qualified. Nine of the starting XV against Northampton was EQ, as was six of the eight players on the bench. Despite their South African link, Saracens have actually got an excellent academy.
It might be the Lions, Force and Highlanders, eh? ;)
Jorji Costava
Guest
It's a wonder the RFU in England does not go and convince the likes of Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, Bradford, Hull, and Huddersfield to "return to the fold". RL is a dead man walking in UK sport, why don't they just face the facts and move on? That would certainly juice up the interest in a proper English rugby football competition.
Crazy Horse
Guest
The Force and Sharks will get very tired of playing each other.