England’s Carlisle-born coach Steve Borthwick is to press the RFU to change it’s policy on international selection.
As things stand Borthwick can’t select anyone who plays outside the Premiership – and that could present bigger problems for him going forward.
Several top English players are heading abroad to play -Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds who are going to Montpellier; Joe Marchant bound for Stade Francais along with David Ribbans who is off to Toulouse.
Current financial problems in the English Premiership with clubs admitting they are in trouble are causing an exodus to France.
Borthwick said: “What we are faced with here are extreme circumstances. Discussions are on-going about what the implications are going forward.
“It’s about players’ livelihoods and careers. From my point of view I want to make sure we are able to select from the greatest number of players possible – and the best players possible..
“Those discussions are only at the starting point and clearly my focus is on the Six Nations. But do I want to make sure we have an England team where we have the best players available to us? Yes.”
