England Rugby Introduces Enhanced Player Contracts

England rugby coach Steve Borthwick has awarded the first enhanced 'Elite Player Squad' (EPS) contracts to 17 players, granting him greater control over their sports science and medical protocols. Among the notable recipients are captain Jamie George, Maro Itoje, and flyhalves George Ford and Marcus Smith, while key omissions include Sam Underhill and Chandler Cunningham-South. This initiative is part of the newly formed Professional Game Partnership (PGP) which aims to improve player welfare by limiting participation to a maximum of 30 games per season. The contracts allow for direct input from players regarding their playing conditions, recovery, and pay, as the Rugby Players Association's previous negotiating role has been replaced by the player-led Team England Rugby (TER). Borthwick expressed confidence that these changes will enhance the development of English rugby, with the contracts effective through 2028. The RFU will also financially support the Premiership clubs to uphold this new structure.