Jeremy Guscott: Playing in France should not be end of England career

Steffon ArmitageIt was interesting to hear Stuart Lancaster on Radio Five Live this week talk about how difficult it would be to select English qualified rugby players on contract to French clubs. It’s a straightforward topic, and it always intrigues me how much debate and coverage it gets. If an English qualifying player still has any ambition to continue playing for his country when he signs a contract, why isn’t it written into his contract with the French club that he can be released outside the IRB international window for training and internationals when the coach calls for a camp outside those stipulated release periods?
I understand, and agree, with a French club preventing an English international having time away from the club if they have an important game near the end of the season which is the difference between winning the league, or a European Cup, or a qualifying place. That’s what the player has been hired for.
Lancaster gave an example of the clashes that arise when he pointed out that England played in the during the summer tour on the same Saturday that were playing in the final of the Top 14.
But I don’t believe that should be a big reason not to select a player – say, Steffon Armitage – if he is in outstanding form.
I also don’t believe that selecting a few players from the Top 14, if they were in outstanding form, would deliver a message to other players in clubs that they were being treated in a special way.
However, it would involve the RFU having to make a statement stipulating that it does not make a difference where English players play as long as they have the right contract agreement for release.
Most players leave England to play in the French league for the much larger wages on offer. The older former internationals go for the lifestyle, overall experience, and the increased salaries, while some other players leave because they don’t get on in an English system.
All players go knowing that they risk not being selected for England, but as long as you have an agreement with your French club I don’t believe you are any worse off than any other England
international, current or hopeful, playing in the Premiership.
The  simple fact is that most English-qualified players in are prepared to sacrifice their immediate English ambitions for the increase in money – and who can blame them during such a short career?
We should recognise also that of all the English-qualified players at Top 14 clubs in France none are really first choice internationals any more, hence they went over. Jonny Wilkinson was the exception, but they shouldn’t have to make exceptions. I don’t believe it is right that if you make a choice to play in France, you will probably not play for your country again.
I also think there would be exemptions. For instance, if decided today to leave and sign for Toulon, and had all the release clauses in place outside the business end of the season games, he would still be selected for England.
The current situation doesn’t affect England as dramatically as it does . Although the in England isn’t anywhere near that of France it’s approximately another 30 per cent more than it is in Wales. The Welsh are in all sorts of bother and cannot really hope to retain a lot of their talent without more support from the WRU.
I believe the RFU and the England coaches should be braver and more positive about players educating their rugby minds and developing by experiencing a different culture and rugby environment. It would be beneficial.
What the non-release of players for national training camps highlights is the need to speed up talks about having a global season, because it would put an end to all the in-fighting between clubs and countries.

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