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England's elite rugby players were warned yesterday to be careful that their French connections do not short-circuit their red-rose careers.
Rob Andrew, England's elite director of rugby, and team manager Martin Johnson, were speaking for the first time about the triple whammy which has seen three international players - James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Riki Flutey - all from cash-strapped Wasps, announce they are crossing the Channel at the end of the season to ply their trade with French clubs (England first five-eighths Andy Goode is already established at Brive).
While the England management have an agreement about player release with Premiership clubs, and have a say in the number of club matches each member of the Elite Player Squad turns out for, there is no such entente cordiale with the French clubs.
Andrew said: "These players will need to be available when Martin wants them available, because, by definition, if they are not, that will compromise their own situation."
It was as stark a warning as they could get and both Andrew and Johnson insisted it was up to the players and their agents to make sure there was a release clause in their contract with their French club about their availability for training or touring.
Andrew said the matter was to be discussed at next Wednesday's RFU management board meeting.
- INDEPENDENT
