RFU issue protocols for English stars abroad

THE Rugby Football Union have stopped short of introducing any cast-iron measures to prevent England players from signing lucrative contracts with French clubs.

The issue was top of the agenda at yesterday’s management board meeting after England trio James Haskell, Riki Flutey and Tom Palmer last week announced they were swapping Wasps for the French Top 14.

The RFU are concerned about the impact a potential exodus of England’s elite players would have on the national team and the strength of the Guinness Premiership.

In a bid to minimise the damage, the RFU issued nine protocols they would “expect” any England player heading abroad to write into his new club contract.

The directives effectively mirror international release and player welfare clauses contained in the current elite player (EPS) agreement between the RFU and the Premiership clubs.

But the RFU have not officially made inclusion of the provisions a condition of selection for England — nor have they gone a step further and barred overseas-based players from international duty altogether, as currently occurs in New Zealand and Australia.

However, Johnson has made it very clear that any player who heads to France without EPS clauses in their contract will placing their England career at risk.

He said: “I am pleased the RFU has drawn up a policy on these matters so that players know where they stand.”

Elsewhere, Benoit Baby is confident he can rise to the challenge of playing at fly-half after being thrown in at the deep end by France head coach Marc Lievremont for tomorrow night’s RBS 6 Nations match against Wales in Paris.

Lievremont has taken a major gamble by selecting Baby, a centre by trade, at number 10 and partnering him with the inexperienced Morgan Parra at half-back for the Stade de France showdown.

“They asked me to take on the challenge and I said ‘yes’,” Baby said.

“I took the news calmly — I’m very happy to be playing number 10. It shows the confidence the coaches have in me. And I think I’ve the ability to play in both positions.”

Tom Shanklin, meanwhile, is determined to remain in the spotlight for Wales despite Gavin Henson’s reappearance in the matchday squad.

Shanklin will win his 61st cap when Wales tomorrow but for the first time since last season’s Grand Slam-clinching victory over France at the Millennium Stadium, Henson is back on matchday duty.

“It is out of my hands in terms of selection,” said Shanklin, “but it is in my hands that if I keep playing well, the team keeps playing well and we keep winning. Hopefully, it will keep going.”

Elsewhere, Italy coach Nick Mallett hopes his players have learned their lesson and show more discipline in their game against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The Azzurri are desperate to spark their tournament into life after defeats at England and against Ireland in their opening two encounters.

“The individual mistakes have cost us a lot,” said Mallett. “We have given away seven tries in our opening two games due to our mistakes and this cannot be.

“Against Ireland, we made 75 tackles forward and we only recovered three balls and this is a problem for us.”