England rugby union: Steve Borthwick gains more control over stars in £264m deal

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says a meeting with Borthwick has “put his mind at rest a little bit” but has voiced his unease about relinquishing full control of his international stars.

“I have to admit I am less concerned having had a very, very positive meeting with Steve [Borthwick] and with our EPS [Elite Player Squad] players. So that’s put my mind at rest a little bit,” Baxter told BBC 5 Live.

“That said I will still stand by it – and I actually said the same to Steve – I do think the RFU has been wrong with what it has done, because we were going through Covid as Premiership Rugby clubs, we needed financial help, and there was none on offer.

“We end up now negotiating this new agreement and to get the finance from the RFU the only way we get it is to give up more control of our players.

“That to me feels like someone taking advantage of a situation, personally I think that’s wrong.

“Having said that, it is what it is, that happens in a lot of businesses. That’s what you do I suppose and we’re going to have to get along with it and going to have to try and make it work.”

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall added: “If there’s proper collaboration between club and country this can be used very effectively and very positively.

“I guess in the wrong hands potentially [there is a concern], but the proof will be in the pudding to begin with.

“A player feeling that both parties are aligned, both parties are on the same page as to how they can get better and how they can develop and how they can be looked during over the course of a year can only be a good thing.”