Henry Arundell joined Racing 92 in October following the bankruptcy of Premier League side London Irish. Photo: David Winter/Shutterstock
If, as Telegraph Sport has reported, Henry Arundell continues to ply his trade in France with Racing 92, he will be breaking a Rugby Football Union rule against selecting players who play outside England. For some, the rule against selecting players from abroad is unfair, but it is necessary to protect domestic competition in England, and Arundell knows this.
What then do you make of the young man's ambitions, given that the international game is several notches higher than any domestic rugby competition? Doesn't he really want to test himself at the highest level? Is not being selected for England a disastrous move that could ruin an international career that can never be revived, even if he returns at some point in the future?
The first thing to note is that as an individual he has the right to make his own decisions. He knows the current limitations and the choice is his. In a way, his choices show an independent mind. The fact that he was going to study history with a rugby scholarship to Yale shows an atypical upbringing. It may also reflect the bad experiences he had with London Irish when his club declined and he was left unemployed early in his career.
At the age of 21, he has time to rebuild his international career if he makes the necessary progress at Racing 92. This is where the influence of newly appointed head coach Stuart Lancaster could prove fruitful. The positive work Lancaster did at Leinster was widely noted by many of the team's players during his seven years as senior coach under Leo Cullen.
There is no doubt that Lancaster was influential in persuading Arundell to extend his stay at Racing. It is common knowledge that Arundell was visited by representatives of the RFU even before the contract was extended, but Racing managed to find their man.
Stuart Lancaster has been at the helm of Racing 92 since the summer. Photo: Frank Fyfe/Getty Images
The question remains, can Lancaster do for Arundell's career what he did for the likes of Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien and Jordan Larmour? If Arundell can achieve the same level of success as these players, he will qualify for international selection should he decide to return to the English Premier League.
The likelihood of such an improvement for Arundell depends on several factors. factors, some of which are uncertain. Can Racing replicate the conditions that Lancaster helped create at Leinster and which contributed to the dramatic improvement of almost every player they came into contact with?
Lancaster have always been keen to distance themselves from any arguments such as those made by Ulster coach Dan McFarland, who said: “I can't change the demographics, they just have a lot more rugby players, a lot more earning potential in terms of money. Nothing changes that.”
Lancaster focused on the quality of coaching at Leinster. He stressed that Leinster has a development system that is virtually unparalleled. A close link between their development program, their academy and the senior team, ensuring that players receive the same good coaching at every stage of their career.
Lancaster should be well positioned to exercise the same control over the racing coaching environment as Cullen. What could prove decisive is whether his overall responsibilities at Racing move him away from coaching and towards more executive roles. Racing's business management must be efficient enough for Lancaster to concentrate on coaching.
Arundell has been selected by Racing to play at full-back and going forward he and his advisers must take a close look at the position he is asked to play in. If he feels his best and favorite position is 15th, he should make it clear that he doesn't want to be pushed into a back three just because he has the ability to play on the wing or even elsewhere.
Arundell (right) has made a great start to his tenure with Racing 92, scoring four tries in two starts for his new club. Photo: Christophe Simon/Getty Images
It is true that playing in other positions gives the understanding that it is necessary to play there. However, the lack of opportunity to specialize can lead to the “jack of all trades” conundrum. There's nothing wrong with returning to the field when a team is struggling, but it's not the same as being repeatedly selected to start at a different position.
We have seen players like Elliot Daly fail to settle into any one position for long because they were asked to play everywhere.
The final consideration is style of play. . There is no doubt that Racing play a wide game that should suit Arundell's skills. Steve Borthwick, the England manager, is said to have yet to convince Arundell. Conversely, Arundell supporters might have noticed that England's style under Borthwick did give Arundell plenty of chances to hone his attacking skills.
On reflection, perhaps Arundell should visit France.
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