Rugby-England award EPS "hybrid" contracts to 17 players

LONDON (Reuters) – The Rugby Football Union has finally announced the 17 players who have been awarded enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts, which will provide a guaranteed annual payment in place of game-by-game match fees.

The introduction of the contracts, discussed for almost a year and which form part of the newly created Men’s Professional Game Partnership (MPGP) announced in September, allows coach Steve Borthwick to have the final say on all sports science and medical matters relating to the players. The coach is able to contract 25 players, but said last month he did not expect to use up his full allocation initially.

The RFU did not release any financial or length details of what were originally described as “hybrid contracts, as players will continue to also be paid by their clubs. Media reports have suggested they are worth around 160,000 pounds ($207,664).

Players currently get around 23,000 pounds per match, and though anyone playing in the 10-15 matches they play most seasons would have earned more under the old system, the new deals are guaranteed even if they don’t play.

The deals were finalised after negotiations involving a new, breakaway players’ group called Team England Rugby, formed by a group of senior players after previous deals on commercial and player welfare issues were brokered by the players’ union.

The remaining 33 players of Borthwick’s 50-player EPS squad will still qualify for match fees.

“I am confident that these contracts, and our strong relationship with the Premiership clubs, will play a significant role in England Rugby’s continued development,” Borthwick said.

Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s Director of Performance Rugby, said: “Enhanced EPS contracts will enable Steve and his coaching team to work in partnership with the players and their clubs, on their individual development plans, medical, and strength and conditioning programmes to ensure optimum preparation for England’s fixtures.

“We believe this new collaborative approach between club, country and the players can bring greater stability to English rugby, as well as supporting the growth and performance of the England Men’s team.”

($1 = 0.7705 pounds)

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Toby Davis)