LONDON (AP) — England coach Steve Borthwick awarded 17 players the first elite player squad contracts in English rugby on Friday.
The list included three flyhalves but only one prop in loosehead Ellis Genge, and one scrumhalf, Alex Mitchell.
Among players to miss out were back-rowers Sam Underhill, who has started all eight England tests this year, and Chandler Cunningham-South, who started all three summer tests in July.
Borthwick can select up to 25 players who will be paid as much as 160,000 pounds ($207,000) annually instead of match fees of about 23,000 pounds ($30,000).
In return, Borthwick has the final say on all sports science and medical matters relating to the players, and greater control of how they are managed on club duty.
The players awarded contracts were Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ollie Lawrence, George Martin, Mitchell, Henry Slade, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith.
“I am confident that these contracts, and our strong relationship with the Premiership clubs, will play a significant role in England rugby’s continued development,” Bothwick said.
A breakaway organisation led by England players, called Team England Rugby, negotiated the four-year deal with the Rugby Football Union.
The deal begins with immediate effect and runs to 2028.
The England men’s team’s fees and commercial deals were previously negotiated on their behalf by the Rugby Players Association but it was announced in January that relationship was ending, with the last RPA-brokered deal ending in the summer.
TER was set up to give players collective but direct influence over the issues that affect them the most such as playing, rest and recovery time, pay and commercial matters, and how their profiles can be best enhanced to help the growth of the wider game.
The agreement includes an exemption process to manage player load when they are getting close to the 30-game limit per season.
The parties have also agreed on a season-long research project which will inform future welfare and rest provisions.
“While we have reservations about some aspects of the current protocols, we’re encouraged by the progress made,” England captain and TER board member George said.
“Reducing games from 35 to 30 demonstrates a commitment to player welfare that we believe is crucial for the success of English rugby.
“However, the intensity of international rugby is greater than ever, and we believe that specific international rest protocols need to be explored. We hope that the results of the research project will support this.”
England next plays next week against New Zealand at Twickenham.
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