England’s young talent, Henry Arundell, will remain available to play in next year’s Six Nations championship, despite his recent move to French club Racing 92. The decision is made under the “special circumstances” rule, which was introduced following the financial difficulties faced by his former club, London Irish. RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has confirmed this exception.
However, Jack Willis, who extended his contract with Toulouse, will not be eligible for the Six Nations. This is because he has exceeded the 12-month window provided by the RFU, which was introduced to accommodate players who needed to find new clubs quickly after London Irish, Wasps, and Worcester all encountered financial troubles last season.
Arundell, aged 20, joined Racing in July on a one-year contract. Despite his impressive performance, including scoring a record-equalling five tries in a recent match against Chile, he was left out of the England squad that faced Samoa.
Willis, who left the England squad due to a neck injury that ended his World Cup journey, signed for Toulouse last November after Wasps faced financial challenges. Although he was allowed to play for England in this year’s Six Nations, his contract extension with Toulouse has affected his eligibility for the next Six Nations championship.
Sweeney explained the RFU’s stance at a media briefing, saying, “What we said was that any players who were abroad as a result of their clubs going out of business and needed to find employment overseas as a result and couldn’t get a contract in England—they would be available for the Six Nations in 2024. We believe that will be the case with Henry. We will work very hard with him and with the Premiership so hopefully he can get a contract to come back to England in 2024-25.”
England’s performance director, Conor O’Shea, expressed hope that Arundell’s situation would be officially confirmed in the coming weeks. O’Shea clarified that players like Joe Marchant and Dave Ribbans, who have gone abroad for reasons other than club financial issues, would not be eligible.
The RFU and the Premiership are nearing an agreement that includes hybrid contracts for 25 players. These contracts will grant the national team greater control over training and preparation but will not affect club selection. The goal is to enhance player welfare, both financially and in terms of their career longevity.
Sweeney emphasized the importance of having the best English players competing in England. Details of the new arrangement and its timeline are still being finalized, but O’Shea stressed that it was developed in collaboration with the clubs. Players will represent England only while in camp, ensuring that their welfare, on and off the pitch, is prioritized.
O’Shea concluded by emphasizing the benefits of having a consistent core group of players for both club and country, stating, “The great teams have consistency of the best people on the pitch, and that is the driver behind this.”
