mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson says it would be a disaster for Gallagher PREM if England lifted its ban on selecting overseas-based players for national duty.
Jack Willis jokingly challenged the press to find a way for him to play international rugby after retaining the crown of France’s best player Top 14 on Monday night.
Toulouse flanker Willis (29) last played for England in 2023 Rugby World Cup after being cleared to represent his country while playing in his club rugby France after the collapse of the Axis.
Willis, under contract with Toulouse until 2029, is also open to switching international allegiances to Andy Farrell Ireland if he secures a one-year credit arrangement with any of the four Irish provinces.
But Sanderson believes lifting the ban would be a disaster for PREM clubs and would leave them struggling to compete with one hand tied behind their backs.
“I just think it would devalue our competition. PREM is a really good product, with really competitive teams, but it would be too much if the players were allowed to take the check and move to France.”
“And then just bring Eurostar in for a bit of training with the international team. I think that would destroy the Premiership because then the players, you know, can literally have their cake and eat it, can’t they?”
“They can take a check and there will be no consequences for playing abroad. I understand the views of those guys who think differently and we have them in our quarters. Courtney Lawes has already mentioned that.”
“I don’t see why that would be the case. I look at it from a different point of view. We wouldn’t be able to compete and keep them on the books if we had to go against some of the big players in the Top 14,” Sanderson said. RugbyPass.
Exeter Chiefs Boss Rob Baxter echoed the view, adding that other countries have no problem banning foreign players from the national team.
“We will not improve the financial picture of PREM by saying that players can play for England and go abroad. We are in danger of wanting everything.
“How do you improve PREM? Well, you need your best players playing in it. So for me, I think that’s exactly what we have to do. And I know people talk about other models, but some models don’t have a problem with it.”
“Ireland has no problem with that. New Zealand I have no problem with that. You know, we shouldn’t have a problem with that either,” Baxter said.