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England have revealed the first 17 beneficiaries of ‘enhanced EPS’ contracts which will give Steve Borthwick greater control over a core of key players.
The new Professional Gaming Partnership (PGP) between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby has seen the England head coach hand out up to 25 of the new contracts.
Among the 17 are three fly-halves, George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, as well as young wingers Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Senior leaders including captain Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Henry Slade are receiving contracts after renewing their club deals last season.
There is, however, no improved PE for Sam Underhill, despite the Bath flanker having started every test for the Borthwick side so far in 2024, and there is only one prop under contract to Ellis Genge, illustrating an uncertain future at the front row.
“I am delighted to be able to name the 17 players who will be the first to receive the enhanced EPS contracts,” Borthwick said.
“I am confident that these contracts and our strong relationships with Premiership clubs will play an important role in the continued development of England Rugby.”
All 17 players will now receive an RFU salary of around £160,000 per year, instead of a match fee of £23,000 per game.
The duration of the transactions, which are expected to vary, was not disclosed. Earlier this year, a group of senior players chose to break away from the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) to complete contracts themselves.
Team England Rugby (TER) is a player-led organization, the first of its kind, which counts England stars Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson on its board.
She negotiated the new Elite Playing Squad (EPS) agreement covering all aspects of the game for the national team, including commercial and social considerations. The agreement takes effect immediately and will continue until 2028.
The enhanced contracts give Borthwick the “final say on all scientific and medical matters of the sport” and sit alongside a wider 50-man EPS. The composition of this group has not been revealed.
This comes from England’s desire to get their campaign off to a quicker start. Borthwick was angry when Ollie Lawrence turned up at camp ahead of the Six Nations with an injury that England’s medical staff were unaware of.
Perhaps the most instructive contract award is that of Ford, who is out of contract with Sale at the end of the season but looks likely to remain in English rugby.
Improved EPS contracts for England men:
1. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
2. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
3. Théo Dan (Saracens)
4. Ben Earl (Saracens)
5. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
6. George Ford (Sale Sharks)
7. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
8. George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
9. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bear)
10. Jamie George (Saracens)
11. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
13. George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
14. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
15. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
16. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
17. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Additional reporting by PA
