England stars ditch the players' union to make future deals with RFU

ENGLAND'S Test stars will split from the Rugby Players Association at the end of the season to negotiate their own deals with the RFU.

- Nick Purewal

The RPA have brokered deals for England's players on fees and commercial rights with the RFU for the last 20 years.

But now the players will move to a newly-formed body to negotiate their deals with the RFU, which will include direct season-long pay for the first time.

England players have been craving more control over their financial arrangements with the RFU for some time and have now voted to break away from RPA representation.

Bristol prop Ellis Genge spoke in 2020 about looking into the players setting up their own agency, but that specific endeavour cooled amid the Covid pandemic.

Now, though, the players have opted to break new ground in a bid for more control and influence on their own affairs.