Proposal to grant elite England players central contracts

The Rugby Football Union want to bring England’s elite players under central contracts to help head coach Andy Robinson develop a team capable of retaining the World Cup in 2007.

The World Cup trophy will leave Twickenham’s museum in November and be returned to the International Rugby Board headquarters in Dublin.

The RFU are working on a two-year plan to give England the best chance of bringing it back - and central to that is reaching agreement on the thorny issue of player management.

The RFU have watched on enviously at the way central contracts helped England win the Ashes. Duncan Fletcher takes sole charge of when his England cricketers are available to play for their counties, which reduces the threat of burn-out.

RFU performance director Chris Spice said: “Central contracts are top of our wish list.”