• Six Nations

RFU could alter selection policy on French-based players

Scrum.com
March 6, 2010
Rob Andrew and Martin Johnson have been given a headache over the James Haskell saga © Getty Images
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Rob Andrew has revealed that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) could opt to review their policy of picking England players based on France in light of the ongoing argument over the release of James Haskell for club duty this weekend.

Stade Francais are furious that Haskell has not been allowed to leave England's Six Nations camp to return to Paris for this weekend's Top 14 clash with Toulouse. The RFU is adamant, though, that Haskell has a contractual agreement with the French side that he be made available for all international commitments.

That difference in opinion has led to an ugly stand off and one which Andrew has now hinted the RFU could rectify by refusing to select players based in France.

"When we made all these calls last July about whether we should involve the French players we knew that at some stage this might happen," the RFU's Director of Elite Rugby said. "We took the decision as the RFU not to have a policy which said we would not pick players who went to France. That is under review at any stage.

"We have to be absolutely clear about the circumstances under which players will be considered for England. We have to make sure that going into next season and World Cup year that this is all covered off. We can't have a situation where we have all sorts of fights and compromises. We had plenty of those with the English clubs and do not want them again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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