England’s new dawn, the phoenix from the ashes of the 2003 World Cup victory to the promising results and performances of the Autumn Internationals has been compromised from within – and put’s the future of the golden boy of that World Cup victory in doubt.
Jonny Wilkinson’s signing of a new two year extension to his contract with French club Toulon puts the fly-half at odds with the RFU’s newly adopted policy of only selecting domestic based players, meaning he is unlikely to be wearing a Rugby World Cup Shirt next year.
James Haskell and Tom Palmer are also squarely in the sights of the RFU’s new selection policy, but it’s Jonny Wilkinson who will prove to be the acid test of the RFU’s Chief Executive John Steele new and controversial approach.
Steele’s letter to players and their representatives proposes that from the 2011 World Cup onwards, any England player would be jeopardising their future careers by playing abroad. The divisive move has already prompted questions over legality from the Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Damian Hopley, but also leaves Martin Johnson and his team under serious scrutiny. The central contract system, and the elite player program muddies the water further, and the RFU’s action has now threatened the future careers of several English players.
The national side’s domestic-only policy has been an issue since releasing players from their French clubs coincided with England Training sessions – James Haskell’s club Stade Francais refused to allow him to play in the the crucial 6 Nations game against France in March before a compromise was reached. Wilkinson’s move to Toulon in 2009 revitalised the former Newcastle star, and after recovering from a spate of well publicised injuries following the 2003 World Cup, has forced himself back into contention with Martin Johnson’s resurgent England team.
Other forays abroad from fellow internationals such as Andy Goode have proved relatively unsuccessful, and although the age of Haskell and Palmer all but rule them out of selection for the 2015 World Cup, it is Wilkinson’s form and past record which could prove to be the undoing of the RFU’s self-imposed rule. The French leagues offer an attractive proposal of higher wages without a cap and sunnier climes to England’s young stars, and with the likes of prop Andrew Sheridan already being courted by French Top-14 clubs the problem could soon reach boiling point. The caveat of “exceptional circumstances “ is included in the statement, but any selection of an overseas player after the 2011 World Cup would seriously undermine the authority of the RFU and compromise their position.
The RFU have laid their cards on the table, and squared up to some of England’s top players. Although Steele is trying to protect the national side, the damage it may be doing could do the exact opposite. With the potential of more of England’s top stars moving abroad to join the French rugby revolution, Wilkinson’s decision to sign a new contract has called Steele and the RFU to back up their words with actions, and who blinks first is anyone’s guess.
