What England’s hybrid contracts mean for head coach Steve Borthwick

Steve Borthwick says that England’s proposed hybrid contract system will not give him the ability to control players’ workload and positions when they are on club duty.

The idea behind the new idea, which is expected to be approved in the spring, is to encourage players to stay in the Premiership rather than going abroad by offering a guaranteed sum of money instead of match fees.

Up to 25 of the contacts will be given to players of Borthwick’s choosing, offering them £150,000 per year ranging from one to three years.

Balancing act

Borthwick insists the integrity of the league is key but a balance must be struck between that and the Red Rose’s interests.

“The details are still being worked out but there will be no control of player game time,” said Borthwick.

“Clearly there is the integrity of the league and we need to make sure the players are available for that. But there is also the understanding that England have the best players available when they are needed.

“We have got to make sure we find a system that works and we all want to see the best players playing for both club and country.

“We have outlined positions where we don’t have huge depth and we want to see the best players for club and country in those positions.

“The clubs want the best players playing and if you look at the minutes and compare them to teams such as Ireland, who have a different system, then since the World Cup the England players have played a lot of minutes.

“How we get this system right is still being worked out but this is definitely a step in the right direction as we find the right solution.”

Seeking improvement

The Six Nations begins next month and Borthwick is desperate to improve on the team’s recent fortunes in the tournament.

“This is a special tournament. Now we’ve got some way to go. England in the last six years in the Six Nations have won 50 per cent of the games,” Borthwick said.

“In four of those six years, England only won two games in the Six Nations. What England have done in recent Six Nations hasn’t been good enough so we’ve got work to do.

“I love this tournament and I want England competing again at the end of it for being at the top of the table.”

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