Jack Willis has been tipped to keep representing England after the World Cup as rugby administrators eye a Premiership fightback against the lure of moves to France.
Christian Day believes Willis will be able to extend his England career beyond the autumn’s World Cup despite signing a new three-year contract to stay with Toulouse.
Rugby Players Association (RPA) general secretary Day expects the RFU to continue to use the “exceptional circumstances” clause in the rule on not selecting overseas-based players to allow England to keep picking Willis.
Flanker Willis only moved to France after losing his job in Wasps’ administration. His special dispensation to play for both Toulouse and England could have ended after the World Cup, but Day sees an extension on the cards.
Day anticipates the Premiership’s planned salary cap rise in 2024-25 will diminish France’s financial advantages over English clubs that has seen a glut of home-grown Test stars agree Top 14 moves for next season.
The former Sale and Northampton lock took the RPA’s new role in January, and has been lobbying ever since for a raft of reforms to set new minimum standards for rugby’s professional framework.
“I think the exceptional circumstances rule will still be used for the likes of Jack Willis,” Day said. “He did not want Wasps to fold, so the exceptional circumstances rule absolutely exists for Jack, and that will take him past the World Cup.
“If players can’t find contracts in England for their market value, they should be allowed to move and still represent England in the short-term. In the long-term, my job is to make England a really attractive place to play. We need to develop the system to make sure our best players can be afforded in our league.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to keep those top players in this country. When the salary cap goes back up to £6.4million in 2024-25, the real-world spend would be more like £7.5m.
“The year after that, the French cap reduces, so all of a sudden that disparity is going to reduce markedly. So, in the long term, players leaving for France should not be such an issue if we make the right changes.”
Premiership Rugby and RFU chiefs are already thrashing out the new Professional Game Agreement that must come into force in 2024-25, covering regulations on everything from Test player release to academy structures.
Day is lobbying for the RPA to become a signatory of the PGA for the first time, amid a hectic to-do list, including seeking a new players’ benevolent fund and a minimum wage agreement.
“I can’t see why the players wouldn’t be an important add to that agreement,” said Day. “They are one of the most important stakeholders. You’ve got no players, you’ve got no game.
We need to develop the system to make sure our best players can be afforded in our league
“Bringing them to the table as partners and involving them heavily is a win for everyone. We’ve always been consulted and involved, but to be signatories to the agreement itself would be a massive leap forward. This is a chance to establish a set of rules and regulations for the professional game in this country.”
Celebrating the present also sits alongside shaping the future for Day, with the RPA Awards fast approaching on May 17. “The fact that these are voted for by the players themselves means these awards are respected and taken very seriously,” said Day. “It’s a real chance to mark the very best of our sport, so it’s very welcome and important to have the evening back.”
