The Rugby Football Union have reached a new four-year England Elite Player Squad agreement with the Rugby Players' Association and Premiership Rugby.
The EPS agreement covers England senior, Saxons and Under 20 squads until June 30, 2016 and includes confirmation of squad and match fees and performance bonuses.
Together with the existing eight-year Heads of Agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby, it ensures a stable future for club and country beyond the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
"This agreement is another major step forward for the RFU, players and the clubs, and I would like to thank the RPA and Premiership Rugby for their cooperation and for reinforcing the partnership we enjoy," said RFU Chief Executive, Ian Ritchie.
"One of the strengths of the English game is that we have enshrined in contract the release of players from their clubs which gives Stuart Lancaster and his coaches confidence in their availability.
"Now this new agreement has been reached, we have stability and everyone pulling in the right direction through to the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and beyond.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the clubs for allowing us to add an additional player to the senior EPS for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations."
RPA Chief Executive Damian Hopley added: "In agreeing this new four-year deal on behalf of the EPS, all parties wanted to ensure that we built on the foundations and progress made by Stuart Lancaster and the squad in the last 12 months.
"The new contract duly recognises the efforts made by all 33 of the Senior EPS as well as the increasing overall value of the players to the RFU and their partners.
"We look forward to working collaboratively with the England squad and the RFU to deliver these rights, and I would like to thank the England Players Committee for their invaluable and professional input throughout these good natured negotiations."
Comments
APV1 says...
@ ABlack - "Elite Player Squad" is a title (a bit like New Zealand, or All Blacks, or Planet Rugby...) and, as such, needs a capital letter.
lawynd's right - back to Troll School for you, my friend.
Posted 11:42 17th January 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
and presumably makes PRL contracts more attractive to those players still with international aspiration. Its a good way of stopping your elite players going to France and, with the contracts merry go round already in full swing, may well make some of the more mercenary overseas players less attractive.
Posted 11:03 17th January 2013
lawynd says...
@ABlack - actually, it's the name given to the pool of Aviva Premiership players selected each year to potentially play for England or the Saxons; you may see it as a subtle distinction but it's a distinction nonetheless.
Now, stop trying to troll, you aren't very good at it.
Posted 10:10 17th January 2013
ABlack says...
England are the only rugby country that use the word 'elite" in capitals to name their national rugby squad.Why is this?
Posted 21:18 16th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Guess PRL are too busy arguing with the Celts to pick a fight with the RFU this time round.
Posted 13:49 16th January 2013
APV1 says...
Great news. Stability to 2015 and beyond, which is what we need.
Posted 12:17 16th January 2013