England head coach Steve Borthwick will be allowed to allocate up 25 central contracts as RFU bids to stem the exodus of Test players to France

England head coach Steve Borthwick will have the freedom to award 25 central – 'Enhanced EPS' – contracts when the system is launched, or to hand them out gradually to allow selection flexibility.

The RFU is in discussions with England's leading clubs about a revamp of the domestic game as part of a new Professional Game Partnership and the so-called hybrid deals are part of that overall strategy.

Up to 25 test players and contenders will move into the Enhanced EPS category for maximum support and co-management of club nations, while a further 25 players will receive an EPS (England Player Squad) deal.

Contracts lasting between one and three years will be worth around £150,000 per year and will replace the existing match fee of £23,000 for each Test appearance.

The aim is to create stability and prevent a further exodus of players to France and elsewhere. While Maro Itoje and Jamie George are believed to have already agreed terms, Henry Arundell has rejected an Enhanced EPS offer to extend his stay at Racing 92.

Conor O'Shea said the RFU could have up to 25 players on Enhanced EPS deals

Borthwick will be licensed to manage the new system as it sees fit, in the best interests of the national team and its own planning.

“If we say 25 (on Enhanced EPS deals), it could actually be 25,” says Conor O'Shea, the RFU's director of performance rugby. “This could start at eight or nine o'clock – it's entirely up to Steve. Does he immediately fill it with 25, do we grow it to 25, or do we build up more money to make it 26?'

In terms of contract length, O'Shea indicated how certain foreign blueprints are being used as guidance, adding: 'If you look at the Irish or New Zealand systems; one year, two years, three years – that's enough to say where he thinks that player might fit.

“You want players to really want to get into this, but that doesn't mean they run out for him. That will be Steve making a selection of, for example, who would be best to play for England on that day.

“There may be one or two who aren't ready at the time for various reasons, but generally a core group of players. We have to make sure we take a lot of care around them.”

Some of the intended care and support will be aimed at dealing with the pressure and scrutiny that comes with playing at Test level.

England propagandist Kyle Sinckler has urged officials to do more to care for the players

Sinckler praised Owen Farrell for taking a break from rugby for mental health reasons

'It is a timely issue in light of Owen Farrell's decision to leave his England career behind to 'protect his and his family's mental well-being' in the wake of fierce and sustained criticism before and during the recent WK.

Red Rose supporter Kyle Sinckler has urged officials to do more to look after the players and O'Shea said of Farrell: 'I hope he comes back fresh. He has signed a long-term contract with Saracens, so we just want to support him and we want to improve the overall care for players.

“It's becoming increasingly difficult and feverish to operate in some of these environments, so it's something we have to look at very carefully to make sure we're best in class in that regard.”

When the new hybrid contract system is rolled out next season – subject to agreement on the entire PGP package of reforms – the RFU will aim to provide greater control for Borthwick over medical and conditioning aspects of player management.

'There will also be coordination between clubs and countries in terms of workload for leading players, and greater flexibility to move newcomers to other clubs to secure valuable playing time.

The vision includes having 35 young players on England A EPS deals; 20 seniors and 15 under 20 years old.

Efforts will be made to stage four 'A' team matches per season – with provisional arrangements already taking shape to face New Zealand's second-tier side and Ireland 'A' next season.

For now, the priority is to gain clarity on the hybrid contract model, to prevent players from defecting across the Channel due to the ongoing uncertainty. O'Shea said 'discussions are ongoing with players out of contract' and added: 'Hopefully there will be decent news.'

Former London Irish wing Henry Arundell – a sensational player who scored a try with his first touch in Test rugby and touched down five times in his World Cup debut – is the one who got away.

'Borthwick and the RFU tried to convince him to return to the Premier League but for the next two years he has decided that Paris is the best place for him.

Jamie George and Maro Itoje (above) are said to have already made arrangements with the RFU

Former London-Irish wing Henry Arundell now ineligible for England after joining Racing 92

The 21-year-old rejected an Enhanced EPS deal to stay with the Top 14 giants

“Both myself and Steve (Borthwick) were in Racing and chatting to Henry,” said O'Shea.

“We have known Henry as a child for a long time and we look forward to him coming back in 2026. We had a very open conversation.

'He's a great lad who has fallen on hard times when he tore a hamstring off the bone and Mark Mapletoft (now the England Under 20s head coach) took him for 1-on-1 sessions in Covid.

“He hasn't played much rugby because of those circumstances, but he's a player with a huge profile so he thinks a few years there, out of the spotlight, so to speak, will be good for him. (he will) come back in 2026. But we want the best players here, period.”