England players can reportedly now move to France without curtailing their Test careers – provided they secure vital clauses when making a move.
The Evening Standard has reported that: "England players must secure full release for Test windows from French clubs, written into their contracts, in order to keep their international careers alive,
"This new development will not lead to the kind of mass exodus that the RFU feared when imposing impediments to Test stars heading overseas."
Clermont Auvergne are understood to retain an interest in recruiting Saracens’ England hooker Jamie George, and could look to use the Test window release clause as a way to tempt the 32-year-old into a move.
Joe Marchant will join Stade Francois while Sam Simmonds will trade Exeter for Montpellier at the end of the campaign, having already both secured their availability for England at the 2023 World Cup.
Jamie George facts:
- He has played all of his senior career for Saracens, making his debut in 2009
- He had a short loan spell at Southend Saxons in the lower tiers of English rugby in 2008-09
- George supports Aston Villa
- After 18 consecutive appearances for England from the bench, Jamie George made his first international start against Samoa at Twickenham Stadium in November 2017
Five England stars who could still swap nations before the 2023 World Cup
They could all swap nations ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
#1. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
- Age: 31
- Position: Number 8
- Current number of caps: 20
- Last cap: March, 2019
- Did you know? His uncle, Asaeli Hughes, is a former dual international having represented Fiji in both basketball and 15s rugby
Hughes, who grew up in the sugar cane town of Lautoka on the west coast of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu, has. revealed that he has full support from the RFU to swap nations after moving to Japan.
Gallagher Man of the Match Nathan Hughes of Bath Rugby on his Bath Rugby debut during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on 28 Jan. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#2. Alex Lozowski (England to Italy)
- Age: 28
- Position: Fly-half, Centre, Wing, Fullback
- Current number of caps: 5
- Last cap: November, 2018
- Did you know? Lozowski is the son of Rob Lozowski and was a sporting allrounder in his teenage years, playing not only rugby for the Wasps academy but also football for the Chelsea academy
'I feel an English bloke. At the moment that is where my loyalties lie, even if I'm not going to get picked," said Lozowski.
Akihito Yamada of Japan is tackled by Alex Lozowski of England during the Quilter International Match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on 17th November 2018. [Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK]
"That might not make sense to some people because they might think if I'm not getting picked for England, I may as well go and play for Italy. But I'm the type of player who needs to be all in to play for a team. At this stage of my career, I'm still passionately English.
'Eddie Jones said it's up to me which at the end of the day it is. If I hadn't played for England then maybe I wouldn't feel as English as I do. Because I have, I have that attachment.'
'I always thought when I was growing up that it was peculiar you could play for more than one country. If I'm honest about it, my grandmother was Italian, but I've never lived in Italy.
"Potentially that got me considered for the squad, but sometimes being on standby is worse than being completely forgotten about!'
#3. Denny Solomona (England to Fiji)
- Age: 28
- Position: Winger
- Current number of caps: 5
- Last cap: June, 2018
- Did you know? Solomona feels that meeting senior players can be important for the motivation and development of school age players.
After leaving Sale Sharks, Solomona has revealed that theRFU are in full support of him representing Fiji in the future.
#4. Danny Cipriani (England to Trinidad & Tobago)
- Age: 34
- Position: Fly-half
- Current number of caps: 16
- Last cap: June, 2018
- Did you know? A keen all-round sportsman, Cipriani played junior football for Queens Park Rangers and was offered youth terms by Reading
It’s been suggested that the switch could be funded by World Rugby, who are looking to encourage former elite rugby players to represent third tier nations to help raise the sports profile in that country.
Cipriani has been heavily linked with a move to Major League Rugby in the USA after the fly-half confirmed he will be heading 'to a new country' following his departure from Bath at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old’s father is Afro-Trinidadian with some Italian heritage while his mother is English. They’re currently ranked 53rd in the world.
Bath Rugby player Danny Cipriani during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Nov 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#5. George McGuigan (England Saxons to Ireland)
- Age: 29
- Position: Hooker
- Current number of caps: 2
- Last cap: June, 2016
- Did you know? McGuigan represented Ireland U18 and U20 before switching his allegiance to England
The 28-year-old, who is the second top try-scorer in the Gallagher Premiership with 14, continues to be overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones. Munster, who want to strengthen their hooking options, are now reportedly keeping tabs on the Newcastle Falcons’ ace according to The Rugby Paper.
