Henry Arundell faces the club-country dilemma Photo: David Davis/PA
Henry Arundell will not play for England any time soon Six Nations, unless he decides to leave Racing 92 at the end of the season and sign a hybrid deal with Bath and the Rugby Football Union, Telegraph Sport understands.
In October, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said 21-year-old Arundell would remain eligible for England this season under the exceptional circumstances of the closure of his former club London Irish, but that he would not be available for the summer tour of New Zealand. unless he agrees to return to the Premier Leagueby the start of the 2024-25 season.
However, Telegraph Sport understands that the changing situation around professional playing partnership talks means Arundell's involvement next year's Six Nations is contingent on him signing an RFU hybrid contract in partnership with another club for next season.
Telegraph Sport reported on Wednesday that Bath is leading the race to return top-rated Arundell to the Premier League in partnership with English rugby's governing body.
Arundell now faces a 50/50 choice: accept the hybrid offer between the RFU and Bath, which will give him full eligibility for England this season and beyond, or remain with Racing 92. It is clear that the hybrid offer is financially superior Arundell offer financially. The top 14 team and the expected return of Utilian will decide on their future next week.
RFU wants Henry Arundell cut his stay in France short after one season. Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
His development in rugby appears to be at the center of the decision. Despite scoring five tries against Chile during the World Cup in France, he was a minor figure in Steve Borthwick's team and, despite scoring a bronze final win over Argentina, did not receive a pass and made little contribution. Whether he can break into England's starting line-up at the start of the new World Cup cycle remains a question mark.
By remaining in Paris, he will benefit from the tutelage of former England head coach Stuart Lancaster and will play alongside world-class talent including Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, which could accelerate his development ahead of his return to the international stage in time for the 2027 World Cup.
This will be the first major test of the implementation of “hybrid or central contacts” under the new long-term agreement, which was initially intended as a way to give Borthwick more hands-on control over conditioning. and developing the skills of your players.
But it has now become the latest incarnation of a method of keeping the best English talent playing in the Premier League while moving overseas could potentially be more lucrative than staying in England and playing international rugby.
< p>Understood that behind the scenes the RFU had already fast-tracked matters regarding players who had been identified as being at high risk of moving overseas and were firmly committed to Borthwick's plan before finalizing the details of a new professional playing partnership set to begin. next summer.
Arundell's situation was further complicated after Sweeney said in October that players like Arundell, who had to move overseas due to the collapse of their clubs, would be available for selection for this season's Six Nations Championship on an exclusive basis. circumstances rule.
“We said that any players who were stranded [overseas] as a result of their clubs going bankrupt and as a result had to find work abroad and could not get a contract in England they would be available to the Six Nations in 2024,” Sweeney said in October. “So it was with Henry Arundell; We will support Henry on this issue.”
“We support the Premier League because we want the best English players to play in England. As for Henry, he will be available for the 2024 Six Nations and then we will work very hard with him and the Premier League so hopefully he can get a contract to return to England for the 2024-25 season “.
However, the decision to remain in France after this season will jeopardize his availability.
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