England star's future up in air as RFU yet to rule on French deal
Henry Arundell's future in the England Test team has been thrown into uncertainty following the confirmation of his move to Racing 92. The winger is hopeful of remaining eligible for national selection, but the circumstances surrounding his departure from London Irish have raised doubts over his international future.
While Wasps players were allowed to be chosen by England during the season due to their club's mid-season collapse, the situation with London Irish is different. The Premiership side's demise occurred at the end of the season, and it's unclear whether Arundell's move to Racing will create a roadblock, not least if he had alternative options to stay in the Gallagher Premiership.
The break-out star has been named in England's Rugby World Cup training squad, indicating that he is still in the shake-up for a berth at the Rugby World Cup. However, his eligibility for the 2024 Six Nations remains a question mark.
According to The Telegraph, the young winger is actively seeking a dispensation that would allow him to represent England in the tournament. The outcome of these discussions will ultimately determine Arundell's ability to don the England jersey in the immediate future.
Toulouse flanker Jack Willis is also named in England training squad but will not be elligible to play for England in next year's Guinness Six Nations after he signed on for a second stint at the Top 14 giants. He penned as short term deal with the French side when Wasps went under, but extended his contract which effectively put a stop to his Test careeer post Rugby World Cup 2023.
“Steve Borthwick coming out and supporting that shows there are lots of people behind the scenes working to try to find the right solution for English rugby moving forwards,” Willis told the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast back in March, when still hopeful of future England selection.
“There are lots of avenues to explore. The positive thing for me is that it seems that hopefully that is on the table and at least being discussed. We will see."
Willis also said that the current financial climate of the Premiership offers a compelling case for the RFU to change its position, even though figureheads such as Exeter boss Rob Baxter are vehemently against lifting the restriction.
Whether the RFU make an exception from the current policy for Arundell remains to be seen.
additional reporting PA
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
Go to comments