Robson, Farrell, Nowell, Marchant, Joseph; midfield England Full of running and creativity, he would struggle to get better on many occasions in recent years.

However, due to the rules they set for themselves, this is a team. Steve Borthwick He couldn’t name names even if he wanted to because all five of them play in France.

The RFU has a ban on the selection of players playing rugby overseas for their clubs, first introduced in 2012; this was a policy to keep the best talent on this side of the Channel.

But as the English game came under increasing financial pressure while the French domestic product flourished, the prospect of giving up on an international future became increasingly attractive.

Read Next

Following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the culmination of a cycle in which three Premiership clubs have gone bankrupt and the salary cap has been cut by almost 25 per cent, there has been an exodus of English players to France, including record points scorers and former players. captain Owen Farrell.

Farrell’s move This was partly facilitated by him removing himself from international rugby for his own mental health and being allowed to move to France without consequences, but for most who did so it put international careers in the deep freeze at best. This ranged from: Henry ArundellThe winger, who turned 22 last week and had already made 10 appearances before joining Racing, has a seven-year international career with six-time British and Irish Lion Kyle Sinckler.

Sinckler isn’t the only backer making this leap; Kieran Brookes, Will Collier and Harry Williams are currently recovering in France and their absence is being particularly felt. With Marcus Smith keeping Farrell out of Steve Borthwick’s sight and mind, the chronic lack of depth in the front row must have caused him to cast an envious glance south.

Attacking has been a persistent area of ​​weakness for England: Sinckler squarely blames his own attack Lost to South Africa in World Cup semi-finalbut he would add much-needed depth to the fray, which crumbled against Australia and faced an Everest challenge to equalize against South Africa.

Relaxing the overseas player rule would give Borthwick more scrum options, but this is also an area where expanding his knowledge base could be valuable.

“The spirit of Scrum is very different,” says Sinckler. “In Toulon, the attack is a story of life and death, it is exciting. In England we are more analytical. Here (in France), we add emotions to the mayhem. An entire city and a vibrating region. You feel like a gladiator in Toulon. I love it.”

The tighthead Brookes, now at Perpignan, said: World of Rugby In 2022: “They love the herd. This is one of the clichés about France that come true. “The back row, the secondary, the coaches, they all love the offense.”

It’s no coincidence that Daan Human exists. Springboks attacking coach The player Schalk Brits said this week: “When someone drops the ball, he’s like a little kid in a sweet shop because he’s so excited for the next attack,” has spent most of his career at Toulouse.

Read Next

Sinckler still holds out hope of bringing what he learned in France back to English rugby and playing for his country at the next World Cup, but the current system does not encourage that approach.

Exceptions were made. When Wasps went bankrupt, Jack Willis was given short-term special leave to continue playing for England after joining Toulouse. That exemption expired but Willis remained abroad and is regularly mentioned as the Top 14’s best winger. He hopes to be the best in the Six Nations one day too.

“To play for England you have to play the best rugby and I felt (Toulouse) was the right place for me to develop as a rugby player and become the best player I can be,” Willis said last summer.

“I know those two things are at odds with each other right now, but I hope they eventually change and align a little better.”

If there is a softening towards foreign players, it is hidden very well.

“It is important for England and the Premiership that our English players play in the Premiership,” Premiership CEO Simon Massie-Taylor said last year. “From the RFUs’, our and even the players’ point of view, we all see the importance of England internationals playing domestically.”

But there could be trouble on the horizon for those hoping the rule will continue to safeguard the future of the Premiership.

“The RFU’s overseas player rule may be open to a legal challenge,” concludes Morgan Sports Law partner Ben Cisneros in a detailed analysis of arrangements that could be found to breach trade restrictions or competition law.

There are also new central England contracts to consider, designed to counter the threat of the French domestic game. A total of 50 contracts (25 advanced and 25 team) offer England’s most senior players the stability of a lucrative wage, while also giving the RFU greater control over whether and where and when these players play domestically. This could also help overcome a legal challenge, as players in France will no longer miss out on the England match fee of around £25,000 per match.

They may not be missing, but England is missing them.