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Junior Kpoku snubs England approach to extend Top 14 deal - report
By Liam Heagney
French media have quickly shot down reports in England that Junior Kpoku could be available next year to Steve Borthwick’s Test squad, reporting that he has instead signed a contract extension at Racing 92.
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The 19-year-old originally joined the Parisians in November last year from Exeter but was able to continue to play at age-grade level with England U20s. He went on to help Mark Mapletoft’s side to complete a Six Nations/World Rugby Championship title double, a success he spoke to RugbyPass about last July in South Africa.
Kpoku debuted last season in Stuart Lancaster’s Top 14 first-team, playing twice off the bench, but his status at the French club has since rocketed as he has been a starter at lock and blindside in all six of his appearances this season.
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It was claimed on Monday that England head coach Borthwick and Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s executive director of high performance, had visited Kpoku in Paris with a view to luring him away from the Top 14 and back into the English system.
Under current regulations, Borthwick can only select Gallagher Premiership-based players for England but it was written that the offer of an enhanced elite player squad deal might convince Kpoku that his future would be best served in the Premiership when his Racing contract expired in the summer of 2025.
INTERVIEW Q&A: Getting to know England U20s lock Junior Kpoku, from Liam Heagney ??? in Cape Town. #WorldRugbyU20s #EnglandRugby #RSAvENG #rugby
Tap below for more ??https://t.co/hjDO2eSHPY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2024
However, hopes that Kpoku could be one of a number of French-based players tempted back to England by the new enhanced EPS deals – Borthwick still has eight of the allotted 25 contracts to give out – were quashed on Tuesday by a report on rugbyrama.fr claiming that the youngster has signed a two-year extension to stay on at Racing until 2027.
It read: “Junior Kpoku and Ibrahim Diallo have each signed a new deal with Racing. An U20 world champion with England last summer, Kpoku has confirmed his phenomenal potential this season as he has already started six matches this season.
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“At 19, the former Exeter player was forced to make a difficult choice as the RFU wanted to repatriate him across the Channel so that he could be eligible for England. According to The Telegraph, the RFU was even ready to offer him a hybrid contract, an additional salary that is supposed to encourage the repatriation of young talents or the retention of internationals in that country.
“According to our information, Junior Kpoku has signed a new lease until 2027 with an option for 2028. This is a nice move for Racing, which had made it one of its priorities. At the same time, Kpoku will be able to enjoy JIFF status from 2026.
“Courted by several Top 14 teams, including Bayonne, Diallo has also chosen continuity. The French international has extended his contract by four years.”
Note the reference to "JIFF" status from 2026. Does that mean that Junior will no longer count against the foreign player quota, or that he becomes eligible for France via residency at that point? I think France have a policy of only picking players who have or are in the process to obtain French passports, but again, if he's lived and worked there for the required period, presumably that's doable?
Massive test match potential from that England U20 squad. Be a damn shame if we don't get to see it in the white shirt at test level because they can make a better living playing rugby somewhere else, or worse still, playing for someone else!
Since 2016, France only select players who are French citizens unless selected on residency earlier. Only Atonio is left of that group. JIFF just means they're not counted as foreign players. Meafou became eligible after he obtained his citizenship.
Until England change their policy this will just keep happening
if england change their policy it will happen much more
By far the very best english player in Racing. For all the others , it's a very tough season....
Heard Arundel's going okay. Did I hear wrong?
He's gonna end up playing for France isn't he? :(