RUCK has made bold predictions regarding the 25 players poised to snag central contracts from the RFU for the forthcoming 2024/25 season.
Leading the pack are Maro Itoje and Jamie George, integral figures in Steve Borthwick’s England squad, who have clinched coveted “enhanced hybrid contracts” courtesy of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), ensuring their continued allegiance to their Premiership clubs.
In a strategic move, the RFU has reportedly sweetened the deal with an enticing £160,000 annual addition to their existing club contracts, effectively warding off potential temptations from lucrative offers abroad, particularly from clubs in France and Japan.
This preemptive action safeguards England’s chances by preventing Itoje and George from becoming casualties of the ongoing trend of top-tier players departing for foreign shores, thus preserving their eligibility for national team selection.
However, the contract allocation is poised to leave some notable figures out in the cold, as only two slots have been secured thus far, leaving 23 coveted contracts yet to be finalised. The suspense mounts as speculation swirls over which players will secure the remaining spots and who might miss out on this lucrative opportunity.
Front-row: 5
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Cole
3. Jamie George
4. Theo Dan
5. Will Stuart
6. Joe Marler
Second-row: 3
1. Maro Itoje
2. Ollie Chessum
3. George Martin