In a statement about the deal, Mark McCafferty, CEO of PRL said: “The significantly increased monies to the Premiership clubs, alongside their own increased TV and commercial revenues, will ensure that Aviva Premiership Rugby continues to go from strength-to- strength based on world-class England Qualified Players and a very strong academy pipeline of talent”.
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The funding will compensate Premiership clubs as they lose players to two additional Red Rose training camps, with Jones granted an increased 45-man Elite Player Squad.
Jones can now name his EPS squad in the first week of October when previously the deadline was late August before the Premiership season had even begun, denying the opportunity to use form to guide decisions.
Coming hot on the heels of a Grand Slam and a series triumph over Australia, Jones will see the pact as providing him with the springboard for England to strengthen their position in world rugby.
His plans have already hit a major stumbling block, however, after RFU chief executive Ritchie hinted Twickenham would oppose any changes to the bulwarks of the global season in Europe.
Ian Ritchie, the RFU chief executive, “We discussed it again with Eddie and we agreed with the exceptional circumstances clause and left it where it is”.
The additional training camps will take place in early October ahead of the autumn internationals and in January during the build-up to the Six Nations.
England players who pass a minimum threshold of minutes played in the November tests and the Six Nations will have a mandatory rest period following the competitions.
“One of the things he explained very clearly having worked all over the world was that we have the best set-up in the world in terms of facilities, back-up and support”.
“As administrators we have to sit down within the next six to nine months and crack out how it should look in 2019 onwards, and I think that’s a big, big debate for the game, and it will determine whether rugby realises its potential”.
Ritchie said: “It’s been a fairly intensive deal with a few gaps because we felt we had to get it right – it’s a hugely important and very significant financial deal”.
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Leading clubs, meantime, will have £112 million guaranteed to them over the first four years of the agreement, with the possibility that figure will grow over the second half.
