In a stunning twist, England's 21-year-old sensation, Henry Arundell, has dealt a massive blow to national hopes by sealing a deal with Racing 92, ruling him out of the 2024 Six Nations.
Arundell, who dazzled with his extraordinary performances in the Top 14, was hotly pursued by Bath, with England bosses eager to lure him back to the Premiership.
Despite their efforts, Arundell's allegiance lies with the French giants.
The RFU's initial assurance of Arundell's availability for the Six Nations has crumbled, with Premiership clubs advocating for stricter enforcement of the rule prohibiting overseas-based players unless under exceptional circumstances.
Arundell's World Cup appearance was facilitated by the unique circumstances surrounding his transfer from London Irish, which fell into administration.
When quizzed about the wisdom of this potential move, ex-England wing Chris Ashton shared his perspective on whether staying in France is a beneficial decision.
“No way. How is that a good thing for a 21-year old player?, said Ashton.
“Henry’s gone from playing on the bench at Irish, Irish going under, gone to a World Cup, gone to Paris where he’s got to learn a new language, playing at a club with a lot of superstars.
“I just can’t see how that is the right thing to be doing right now,” Ashton added, speaking on the BBC’s podcast. “There are times in your career to be doing that stuff.
“I needed somebody at that age to like properly mentor, spend a lot of time, put a lot of effort into me.
“You need someone who is willing to put a ridiculous amount of time into kids that age.
“I’d like to know how many players there is that are 20-21 who have left their country and become a success?”
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2024 Six Nations fixtures
