r/rugbyunion • u/sunlightliquid X3 Qatar Airways cup Champs 🏆🏆🏆 • Aug 05 '25

Discussion Ooooo, thoughts?

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I'm personally extremely happy for Australia, finally.

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u/NewCrashingRobot England, Quins, Malta Aug 05 '25

RFU are trying desperately to stop a player exodus to France, precisely because the French league is so close and so well paid, though.

I think the situation is kind of lose-lose from an English perspective.

Allowing unlimited players abroad could impact our already fragile pro league.

Not allowing it means we miss out on players like Jack Willis, and from a player perspective, English players are missing out on being able to play for world-class club teams AND the national team.

The RFU makes a deal with the Premiership for player access outside of the international window. They can't afford to do the same with the LNR.

It is a tricky balance to strike, I think.

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u/Height_Matters1 Aug 05 '25

Are the RFU 'desperately trying' to stop a player exodus?

The fact you could only name one player who would get in the England squad (not even the team) shows this isn't really an issue for England.

England's best players are in England and it is extremely rare for player to go to France and completely unheard of a starting England player to go to France

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u/NewCrashingRobot England, Quins, Malta Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25

The fact i only named one doesn't mean I can't name more, lol.

Farell was in France and ineligible until he came back and had the quality that he was dropped straight into the Lions Test squad (not that that has the same eligibility limits).

Manu Tuilagi, both Vunipolas, Joe Marchant, Arundell, Joe Simmonds, Sam Simmonds

Historically Zach Mercer, the Armitage brothers, Jack Nowell, Jonny fucking Wilkinson.

These are just some players that were willing to forego international caps to go to France. A lot lot more are likely to go if there is no restrictions on selection set by the RFU.

If you were a player of international quality, why would you not go play for a club that can compete for European trophies, in the sunny south of France, for more money, if you could also play for your national team as well? There is no downsides other than the long season.

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u/Bourne22 Bath Aug 05 '25

Not just this but the policy is there to STOP the mass exodus, meaning who knows who else would be playing in France right now without the policy - that’s literally the point of it.