Aviva Premiership
Calls for rules on 'tapping up' to be enforced
ESPN Staff
December 30, 2013
Freddie Burns impressed for England on their summer tour of Argentina © Getty Images
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Gloucester's director of rugby Nigel Davies has called for the authorities to clamp down on the increasing practice of clubs tapping up players whose contracts are coming to an end.

Davies was speaking in the light of the seemingly inevitable move by Freddie Burns from Gloucester to Leicester. It has been widely reported the switch in the summer is a done deal even though Leicester are not allowed to make a direct approach to the player himself until Wednesday. Regulations prevent direct contact between clubs and players until January 1 in the year they come out of contract.

While not singling out Leicester, Davies said that while there were rules "there is reality [and] I think we all understand what actually happens. It's not just Freddie, it is across the board and I think it needs to be looked at. If these things are going on they have to be stopped, if that is what the rules are.'

Leicester admit having had talks with Burns' agents, which is allowed, and asked if deals could be done between clubs and agents without any involvement on the part of a player, Davies said: "I suppose it is possible behind closed doors."

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