sport news England players and clubs fear the RFU's new hybrid contract scheme could be ... trends now

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England players and their clubs are growing increasingly concerned by delays and doubts about the RFU’s much-trumpeted hybrid contract scheme, amid fears that it may be scaled back or even abandoned.

The union are supposed to be rolling out new ‘enhanced EPS’ deals in the summer, as part of a wide-ranging Professional Game Partnership with the clubs, but a lack of evident progress is causing alarm within the domestic game and among members of the Red Rose squad. To date, only England captain Jamie George and Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje have signed up for hybrid deals and it is understood that the agreement letter merely outlines the financial terms if the scheme goes ahead.

In theory, national coach Steve Borthwick should be able to nominate up to 25 players who he wants to be included within a core group who will come under greater England management control in return for a fixed sum of £150,000 which will top up their club salary. 

But sources have indicated to Mail Sport that other recent starters in the Test XV who are in contract talks with their clubs have not received any clarity from the RFU about the hybrid scheme.

With no official updates forthcoming from Twickenham, as the PGP negotiations drag on, suspicions have grown in some quarters about the RFU’s true objectives. Both George and Itoje were wanted by clubs in France and Henry Arundell was also offered a hybrid deal before the wing agreed to extend his stay at Racing 92 in Paris, leading to a nagging sense that only those threatening to leave the country are being prioritised.