While trio’s vision appeals to national side and the Premiership there is still work to be done in building trust with Championship sides
It is not long before Christmas and the Rugby Football Union’s three wise men are promising gifts. Up to 25 shiny new “enhanced” contracts for Steve Borthwick to offer to a core group of England players over whom the head coach can exert greater control from next season. A revamped Championship of up to 14 teams – to allow for the fast-track return of Wasps, London Irish and Worcester, whose commercial brands are seen as too valuable to let go of – and a player pathway system that will put an end to the stagnation of young talent.
Not before time, Bill Sweeney as chief executive, Conor O’Shea as performance director and Steve Diamond – recruited in an advisory capacity – are outlining their vision for English rugby. A “whole game solution” to a system that is broken, one under which four clubs have gone bust in the last 15 months and one that England reached the World Cup semi-finals in spite of, not because of. There is apparently a “generational” England team coming together and the aim is to be “world leading” across all departments of professional rugby. Optimism abounds.