Wheeler issues warning on contracts

Leicester Tigers chief executive Peter Wheeler is warning top-flight rugby union could regress into semi-professionalism if central contracts for England players are introduced.

The Rugby Football Union has produced proposals for the nation’s top players to be contracted to them, rather than to the players’ clubs as per the current Long Form Agreement which is not due to expire until 2009.

And the Guinness Premiership clubs are concerned centrally-held contracts would mean team selection for their domestic fixtures being taken out of their hands.

Wheeler said the Premiership clubs were unanimous in their opposition to Twickenham’s plans and would fight tooth and nail to retain their autonomy with legal challenges, even in the European courts, now being threatened.

He said: “The Guinness Premiership is a very good competition and all we want to do is make sure what we’ve worked to build up is protected and improved.”