1
Breakaway group led by England rugby stars agrees deal with RFU
By PA
A breakaway organisation led by England stars has agreed a wide-ranging four-year contract with the Rugby Football Union.
Team England Rugby (TER) is a first-of-its-kind player-led organisation which has England stars Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson on its board.
It has brokered a new Elite Playing Squad (EPS) agreement covering all aspects of playing for the national team, including commercial and welfare considerations.
The deal begins with immediate effect and runs through to 2028.
The England men’s team’s fees and commercial deals had previously been negotiated on their behalf by the Rugby Players Association (RPA) but it was announced in January that relationship was ending, with the last RPA-brokered deal ending in the summer.
TER was set up as a not-for-profit organisation in January to represent the team’s collective views on all playing and commercial matters, address welfare concerns, ensure more tailored management of elite players and to work collaboratively with the RFU and other stakeholders towards the growth of the overall game.
The agreement includes new financial terms for the players, and introduces an exemption process to manage player load, where an individual is getting close to the 30-game limit agreed in September as part of the Professional Game Partnership.
The parties have also agreed to a research project to be undertaken and reviewed at the end of the 2024-25 season, which will inform future welfare and rest provisions.
England captain and TER board member George said: “While we have reservations about some aspects of the current protocols, we’re encouraged by the progress made. Reducing games from 35 to 30 demonstrates a commitment to player welfare that we believe is crucial for the success of English rugby.
“However, the intensity of international rugby is greater than ever, and we believe that specific international rest protocols need to be explored. We hope that the results of the research project will support this.”
The new agreement provides increased commercial and profile-building opportunities for players, with TER and RFU to work together on some commercial projects.
Genge added: “As a group, we felt that there was an opportunity with the new agreement to look at the commercialisation of England players, both collectively and individually, and we wanted to be at the forefront of these changes.
“The RFU also recognised that enhancing players’ commercial potential is an area that has not yet been maximised across rugby union and we hope these new measures bring in new partners and new fans.”
The RFU’s executive director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea said: “We are pleased to have been able to reach agreement on new areas of focus including new commercial opportunities for players and an extension to the extensive work we have done on player welfare.”
The TER player board makes the majority of decisions on behalf of the wider squad, unless a squad-wide decision is required, then a democratic voting process is in place.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Israel Folau to make rugby return despite mid-week Lions disappointmen
3
Gregor Townsend: It’s the first time since 2000 that we’ve been to NZ
4
England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie's club future appears done
5
Latest Comments
When life gives you reasons to be sad, say No and Make the world know that you have more than a thousand reasons to smile. I almost gave up on my quest of finding a permanent cure to this nasty virus called HIV. I never thought i would be HIV negative again after been diagnosed in 2018, i have tried everything possible in life from one doctor to another, one hospital to another, series of tests, different kinds of medication, i had already lost hope until i melt Mara Clifton who kindly told me about DR ODIGIE who do cure difference virus by the preparation of herbs and roots. I searched about the DR online which leads me to different testimonies about the great herbal DR. I decided to make up my mind to give him a try, I contacted his email that was given in the post and I followed him with all seriousness and I did all he instructed me and he sent me a herbal medicine which i took for 14 days. After the 14th day dr ODIGIE told me to go for another test to confirm my new hiv status. To my greatest surprise, the disease that seemed incurable disappeared within 14 days of using his herbal remedy. I am writing this here in order to put you in the know that there is a cure for this virus. It is time to stop believing in the medical doctors who say to us there is no cure for Cancer, Herpes, Hiv and many more viruses. I just want you to know that if you are going through any health challenge, contact this man and follow his instructions diligently and have a disease free life. his email is (drodigiehealthcure@gmail.com) safe your life today because healthy health is wealth and a good health worth more than wealth famous, so please get back your health by getting in touch with DR ODIGIE kindly get him contacted by emailing him or call/Whatsapp on (+2347049458624
Go to commentsWhen life gives you reasons to be sad, say No and Make the world know that you have more than a thousand reasons to smile. I almost gave up on my quest of finding a permanent cure to this nasty virus called HIV. I never thought i would be HIV negative again after been diagnosed in 2018, i have tried everything possible in life from one doctor to another, one hospital to another, series of tests, different kinds of medication, i had already lost hope until i melt Mara Clifton who kindly told me about DR ODIGIE who do cure difference virus by the preparation of herbs and roots. I searched about the DR online which leads me to different testimonies about the great herbal DR. I decided to make up my mind to give him a try, I contacted his email that was given in the post and I followed him with all seriousness and I did all he instructed me and he sent me a herbal medicine which i took for 14 days. After the 14th day dr ODIGIE told me to go for another test to confirm my new hiv status. To my greatest surprise, the disease that seemed incurable disappeared within 14 days of using his herbal remedy. I am writing this here in order to put you in the know that there is a cure for this virus. It is time to stop believing in the medical doctors who say to us there is no cure for Cancer, Herpes, Hiv and many more viruses. I just want you to know that if you are going through any health challenge, contact this man and follow his instructions diligently and have a disease free life. his email is (drodigiehealthcure@gmail.com) safe your life today because healthy health is wealth and a good health worth more than wealth famous, so please get back your health by getting in touch with DR ODIGIE kindly get him contacted by emailing him or call/Whatsapp on (+2347049458624
Go to comments