England Rugby selection rules and regs

[francoisfou]

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/11/05/inf ... 032498.php

This is an article that I've just read on Midi Olympique/Rugbyrama about the composition (where the players play their club rugby) of the South Africa team in the 2023 World Cup, and their current squad that are in Europe (for matches against France 8 Nov, Italy 15 Nov, Ireland 22 Nov and Wales 29 Nov).

2023 World Cup - 15 players based in South Africa, 4 Ireland, 8 Japan, 3 England and 4 France. More than half out of SA!

2025 European tour - 22 SA, 2 Ireland, 10 Japan, 1 England, 1 Scotland

I still feel disappointed that the RFU won't permit players from abroad (France, mainly. Are there any eligible players playing in Japan?) to be considered for national selection. Ok, this topic has been circulating for years now but it still grates!

The Boks have won two consecutive World Cups with this selection policy, and my question is, "Would England's chances of winning the World Cup again increase if the selection policy were to change?".

[twitchy]

Can we quarantine all the french shite in one thread.

[Which Tyler]

my question is, "Would England's chances of winning the World Cup again increase if the selection policy were to change?".

The answer is "no", because those left behind would be playing in an asset-stripped league, and not regularly playing rugby of the same quality. On top of that, they wouldn't get the communication with club coaches, training time with the players, R&R time for the platers, or the influence over player positions and medical decisions that they do for domestically based players.

I'd also point out that South Africa aren't the only team who have won a RWC; but they are the country with the most wide-spread diaspora of players (possibly Scotland aside - but a lot of that is players who don't know that they're Scottish yet).


Ultimately, RFU want a good relationship with the clubs, and the above advantages; whilst the clubs want all the money they can extract from the RFU, and to have some sort of chance of being able to keep their best home-grown players. Whilst that remains the case, it is very much in the interests of the (professional) game in England to keep the eligibility rule.
Ditch it, and the quality of player's early careers goes down, RFU don't get anything for all the money they throw at the clubs, and the clubs go bust; meaning that we no longer produce international quality players to export elsewhere. Alternatively, 2-4 wealthy owners fill the gap left by RFU money, but either only have each other to play, or have to beg to join someone else's league; either way, professional rugby in England is hanging on by the skin of its teeth, or lost entirely (let's face it, PRL haven't historically been the best at playing well with others).


Not even 2x Willis + Marchant is worth that.
Not even an entire first XV ruling themselves out of contention is worth that.

[Puja]

Can we quarantine all the french shite in one thread.

It is now this thread. Anyone who has an opinion about "Well, why **can't** we select a Willis?" can put it in here and, if it starts anywhere else, I'll move it here.

Mod

As for my own opinion, Which has it down fairly solidly and I don't think there's much more to add.

Puja

[Oakboy]

One question might be, 'Why haven't France won the RWC?' Is the French game simply more wrapped up in the club scene?

The other question is whether it is true that droves of England players would cross the Channel if they were eligible for international selection. Arundell and Farrell are back having failed to impress.

[SixAndAHalf]

You can’t look at the selection policy in isolation. It has to be considered alongside EEPS funding, the salary cap and promotion / relegation as well as the CVC deal.

There is ultimately a tension between protecting club rugby and the success of the national team.

I would personally advocate for a loosening of the selection criteria because I think playing in France is also a good experience for England players. It’s then down to the players to agree international releases which will impact whether they are selected.

Alongside this I would loosen the salary cap (and particularly the restrictions around marquee players). We want the likes of Bath and Bristol spending the same as the French clubs to compete in Europe and make the league attractive. More generally I’m sceptical that there would be the drain of talent to France especially if EEPS funding was able to be used more as a general pot to match offers tactically.

The other interesting factor to chuck into this is the growth of BUCS and how this can be used as a development league with its own revenue stream reducing reliance on the premiership clubs for pathways.

[francoisfou]

One question might be, 'Why haven't France won the RWC?' Is the French game simply more wrapped up in the club scene?

The other question is whether it is true that droves of England players would cross the Channel if they were eligible for international selection. Arundell and Farrell are back having failed to impress.

The first question is a good'un.
Over the years in some previous World Cups, France have undoubtedly had the talent but temperamentally fell short. In particular I'm thinking of the 1999 final in Cardiff against Australia, which really should've been theirs after their magnificent semi victory over NZ, and semi-final defeats against England. In the quarter final defeat in 2023 in Paris against the Boks and Ben O'Keefe was such a bitter disappointment after a genuine expectation of victory.

With regard to players crossing the Channel, some did/are doing rather well, Jonny Wilkinson in Toulon was exceptional, Nick Abendanon in Clermont was revered by local fans, and more recently Dave Ribbans in Toulon, Tom Willis in his short stay in Bordeaux and brother Jack in Toulouse, Zach Mercer in Montpellier.
And then there are, of course, Farrell and Arundell who fell well short of expectations.
I'd love to see Willis x 2 and Ribbans in the England camp to see if their club form could be replicated in an England jersey, but I'm resigned that it's highly unlikely to happen.

[Mikey Brown]

You can’t look at the selection policy in isolation. It has to be considered alongside EEPS funding, the salary cap and promotion / relegation as well as the CVC deal.

There is ultimately a tension between protecting club rugby and the success of the national team.

I would personally advocate for a loosening of the selection criteria because I think playing in France is also a good experience for England players. It’s then down to the players to agree international releases which will impact whether they are selected.

Alongside this I would loosen the salary cap (and particularly the restrictions around marquee players). We want the likes of Bath and Bristol spending the same as the French clubs to compete in Europe and make the league attractive. More generally I’m sceptical that there would be the drain of talent to France especially if EEPS funding was able to be used more as a general pot to match offers tactically.

The other interesting factor to chuck into this is the growth of BUCS and how this can be used as a development league with its own revenue stream reducing reliance on the premiership clubs for pathways.

But… have you considered ignoring all of that for the sake of picking Jack Willis?

[Danno]

I can never get on board with this idea. The Premiership is already on its arse, with too many clubs propped up by passionate (and misguided) benefactors.

If a talent drain starts it will snowball and basically kill the game here outside of the 6N and WCs.

As much as I love watching the French T14, my grasp of the language is not sufficient for me to switch to it full time. And I'd lose my beloved Quins.

.....maybe if Sarries died as well my head might be turned. But then I'd have to find something else to despise.

[pjm1]

One question might be, 'Why haven't France won the RWC?' Is the French game simply more wrapped up in the club scene?

You have to win 7/8 games on the bounce… have France ever done this in their entire history?!

[Which Tyler]

One question might be, 'Why haven't France won the RWC?' Is the French game simply more wrapped up in the club scene?

You have to win 7/8 games on the bounce… have France ever done this in their entire history?!

Well, they went an entire calendar year undefeated in the lead-up to RWC23 - which wasn't all that long ago.
IIRC only New Zealand and England have also managed that feat.