PRL TERMS IN PRINCIPLE FOR A NEW AGREEMENT

Transcription

1 MARCH 2007 PRL TERMS IN PRINCIPLE FOR A NEW AGREEMENT Term 1. The new Agreement should be for a period of at least 8 seasons, commencing in full at the beginning of the 2008/09 season and going through until the end of the 2015/16 season. This gives planning certainty to all parties and, in particular, takes England through 2 Rugby World Cups. 2. Transitional arrangements should be put in place from January 2008 to cover the remainder of the season after RWC 2007 and to ensure that improvements for all parties begin as soon as possible. Elite Player Squads (EPS) 1. The intention of the new EPS system is to create a strong and successful England team. 2. The maximum number of matches per season for any senior EPS player will be 32, of which a maximum of 10 internationals and a minimum of 22 Club matches (see Schedule 1, Paragraph 10). 3. The Agreement should include an improved system for EPS management, as detailed in Schedule The approach to Medical Protocol is that any disagreement between England and the Club is resolved by independent medical decision. Academies 1. The current Academy licensing agreements, with the associated funding concludes in It is inconceivable that the Professional Game should not have a high quality and well-funded Academy system to which both the RFU and PRL contribute. 2. There is now significant work underway to review and improve the current Academy setup. Until such time as this work is completed, both the RFU and PRL will commit to a minimum funding of 2m p.a. each for the duration of this Agreement. 1

2 Payment 1. The current Long Form Agreement (LFA) payment by the RFU to PRL of 4m p.a. ( 5m p.a. in World Cup years), an Upside dividend, and 1m p.a. for the current EPS Programme will be replaced by a payment by the RFU of 12.4m p.a. This payment is for significantly increased player release and to enable Clubs to strengthen their squads. It is intended primarily for the Clubs providing the players and, therefore, supports the development of English-qualifying (EQ) players. 2. The payments will be made to PRL who will distribute to the Clubs. 3. It is agreed that there might be an end of season game involving England versus a Premiership representative or international side to generate incremental revenue. PRL is prepared to assume the financial risk on these matches. Professional Board 1. There is a need for coordinated, professional management of the playing aspects of the elite game if we are to make further improvements to the success of England and its Clubs. The professional game England, the players, PRL and FDR Clubs needs a professional Board. 2. This Board should only focus on playing-related matters and should cover; a. the competitive success, playing standards and development of England International teams b. the competitive success, playing standards and development of Premiership and First Division Clubs c. the successful implementation of the EPS Agreement d. improved professional player welfare (injury and burnout risk) e. a rolling, 5 year Fixture Schedule and Competition structure f. EQP development g. coach and referee development h. Premiership and First Division regulations 3. Representatives of the Board should be included in the appointment of any England Head Coach. 4. The Board should comprise 4 RFU members, 4 PRL, 2 PRA and 1 FDR. The Chairmanship can be with the RFU. No single party would carry a majority. Other key stakeholders e.g. players, shareholders, directors of rugby would be regularly invited. 2

3 Fixture Schedule 1. There will be an agreed rolling, 5 year international / club fixture schedule. This will be within the remit of the Professional Board. Any changes have to be approved by the Professional Board who should also give policy direction for the English position at ERC and IRB. 2. There will be a maximum of 8 senior international matches per Season and 11 in the calendar year. There will be a maximum of 2 England A (Saxons) fixtures in Season, which will take place during the Six Nations tournament when the Premiership will not play. U20s fixtures will be limited to the Six Nations period and the World Cup. Premiership match day squad selection will take precedence over U20s and / or Sevens selection. 3. There will be a maximum of 22 regular season Premiership rounds, plus 2 semi-finals and a final. 4. Both parties will support a policy at ERC of moving to 2 blocks of 3 ERC Group-stage rounds. 5. The EDF Energy Cup semi-finals will always be located outside the Six Nations weeks. 6. There will be a formal assessment of the preferred structure of the British & Irish Lions tours as part of the current RFU Way Forward review and before any long-term obligations are entered into. Player Welfare 1. PRA, PRL and RFU should continue, through the Professional Board, to address specific issues; a. Medium-term fixture schedules b. Agreed structure of close season c. Common understanding of Injury Audit findings, and definition of required Management Plan and follow up d. Common understanding of Burnout Risk studies and definition of appropriate actions and follow up e. Regular Player feedback mechanisms 3

4 European Rugby Cup (ERC) 1. The shareholding and votes shall be divided equally between PRL and the RFU. Under the draft ERC Shareholders Agreement, the following matters currently require unanimity of votes (all 18) and, therefore, the RFU should be able to block anything which risks negatively impacting the International game; a. Structure of the Tournament b. Structure of the season c. Financial distributions to each country This approach will help bring the French Clubs back into the tournaments and underpin the financial position for all participants. Both parties should support a change in the European fixture format in the Group stages to 2 blocks of 3 rounds (compared to the current format of 3 blocks of 2 rounds) which represents a better playing / coaching approach for both England and the Clubs. EDF Energy Cup 1. For the remainder of its current term (2008/09), the RFU s guaranteed 1.9m p.a., which is ring-fenced for the Community game, and the contracted sums to WRU should continue to be paid. The other sums should be for the account of PRL, including the previous and current 500k p.a. retention. The PRL Clubs commercial rights under the agreement need to be recognised, including the in-stadia rights. Competitions / Commercial 1. Guinness Premiership it is agreed that the regulations for the Premiership are the responsibility of the Professional Board. 2. PRL will enter separate TV / broadcasting / media contracts following the expiry of the current contract after the 2009/10 season. All PRL sponsor and partner contracts will continue to be separate. Conversely, PRL Clubs will no longer receive grant funding from the RFU, only monies directly associated with player release, match fees and / or EQP development. 3. Club competitions to be led by the Clubs under the continued governance of the RFU and IRB. 4

5 Conclusion The above represents PRL Clubs position on the essential elements of a New Agreement and it is requested that we put all of this to the Council and as appropriate, the Management Board. 5

6 Schedule 1 As discussed by PW / RA SENIOR ELITE PLAYER SQUADS PLAYER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME Senior Squad 1. There will be an announced Senior EPS squad of 32 each season during the term of the agreement. Provisional indications of the squad for each forthcoming season will be provided to the Clubs as early as possible post Six Nations. The squad for the upcoming Season will be finally announced by latest 1 July in each year, post summer tour. If the England Head Coach selects a player in the elite 32 player squad in a particular position, it will be understood if due to injury or other forced circumstances he does not play in that position for every game for his Club. However, if the England Head Coach feels that the player is not playing enough in the selected position, he has the right to withdraw that player from the elite 32 and reduce the agreed payment. 2. Players in the Senior EPS squad may be temporarily replaced due to injury, subject to the normal provisions for release back to the Club and provided that any squad number remains at a maximum of 32. This is subject to payment of 60,000 per Club, plus an additional payment of 10,000 per match to the Club if such a player is subsequently selected in the international match day 22 or 24 (away fixture). Pre-season 3. EPS players will have an 11-week off-season from playing competition rugby, subject to their returning from any International tour commitments no later than 11 weeks prior to the first Guinness Premiership match of the next season. Specific provisions need to be agreed in Lions years. There will be five training days in each summer (excluding World Cup Year) to take place around the date of the Middlesex Sevens which must be at least three weeks before the start of the Club Season. The RFU Elite Rugby Director/England Head Coach will discuss and define a playing programme for each EPS player with the relevant Club Director of Rugby which allows for 6

7 one week off in approximately weeks 4, 5 or 6 of the Beginning and Middle of the season Club Blocks (as defined below). Beginning of the Season Club Block 4. This will be from the first weekend of the Guinness Premiership season until completion of Club weekend 2 weeks before the first (of maximum 3, as per the agreed fixture schedule) autumn international. During this period there will be no EPS Training Days and all EPS players are available for all Club matches, subject to one rest weekend in one of weeks 4, 5 and 6 and subject to injury, as per the medical protocol. Autumn International Block 5. This will be for 4 weeks only, unless separately agreed otherwise, commencing on the Sunday evening two weeks prior to the first Test and finishing on the evening of the third Test. The selected match day squad of 22 will not play the weekend before the first Test but can be included in a club match day 22 at the discretion of the England Head Coach and subject to notification to the Club Director of Rugby on the Sunday evening prior to the match. The non test match squad (10 players) will all be released on Tuesday evening, 11 days before the first Test. The full squad of 32 will re-assemble after each Test, with the non-match squad of 8-10 players released each Tuesday evening until the end of the three-match series. Middle Season Club Block 6. This will be from the evening of the third autumn Test until the Sunday evening two weeks prior to the first Six Nations Test. During this period, there will be no EPS training days and all EPS players will be available for their Club matches, subject to one rest weekend in approximately weeks 4, 5 or 6 subject to injury, as per the medical protocol. Six Nations Championship 7. This will be for a maximum of 8 weeks only, commencing on the Sunday evening two weeks prior to the first Test and finishing on the Sunday evening of England s fifth Test. 7

8 The selected match day squad of 22 players will not play the weekend before the first Six Nations Test, or on the weekends during the Six Nations on which Six Nations matches are not played unless the England Head Coach at his discretion requires any of the players be included in his Club s match day squad, subject to notification to the Club Director of Rugby on the Sunday evening prior to the match. The non-test match squad (10 players) will all be released on Tuesday evening, 11 days before the first Six Nations Test. The full squad of 32 (or less if directed by the England Head Coach) will re-assemble after each Six Nations match and the non-match day 10 will all be released each Tuesday evening until the Sunday evening of the fifth Six Nations Test. At the discretion of the England Head Coach, the match day squad will increase to 24 players for away Tests. End of Season Club Block 8. This will last from the Sunday evening of the last Test in the Six Nations until the Sunday evening of the last match of the season. During this period, there will be no EPS training days and all EPS players will be available for all Club matches subject to the 32 game limit and injury, as per the medical protocol. Summer Tours 9. This will be for a period in June which ensures that the players return to England no later than 11 weeks prior to the first Guinness Premiership match of the following season. The England Senior Squad, less any players still involved in Club competitions, will meet on the Sunday evening 2 weeks prior to the first Test on tour. The match day squad will not play on the weekend before the first Test match (subject to no Club commitments which will have precedence). All 32 squad players will travel on tour. 10. The maximum game limit (defined as 40+ minutes) per player per season will be 32, of which the International element will be a maximum of 10 (starting from the summer tour) and the Club element will be a minimum of 22. If a senior EPS player is not selected for 10 Internationals, any shortfall can be used by his Club. Any Club semi-final or final will count as one game in total. British Lions Tests are counted as International matches. 8

9 11. Release for RWC 2011 and RWC 2015 will be as per RWC Medical Management of the player will be governed by a new Medical Management Protocol. England Saxons 13. There will be an announced England Saxons squad of 32 each season during the term of the Agreement. The squad for the coming season will be confirmed by latest 1 July in each year, post Summer Tour. There will be a meeting before the start of the season, between the RFU Elite Rugby Director and/or his coaching teams to discuss the player s development and playing programme. The principal intention of the Saxons is to provide a development pathway through to the senior team. 14. The 32 players will be released from their Club commitments immediately following the Club match on the weekend before the first (of a maximum of two) Saxons matches during the Six Nations weeks and will be released back to their Clubs immediately after the second match, which will be scheduled on the immediately following weekend. 15. Non-match day players outside of the 22 will be released back to their Clubs on Tuesday evening. However any player involved in any way in a Saxons match day 22 will be unavailable for his Club on the same weekend. 16. England Saxons squad members will be released from their Clubs one week before the Churchill Cup, provided that they have completed their Club commitments, which will have precedence. 17. Apart from the five EPS days training around the Middlesex Seven weekend in August and the temporary involvement in the senior EPS squad due to injury, there will be no other match or training release of the player from his Club in the season. 18. All summer International Tour commitments must be completed to allow a Saxons squad player to return in time to enable him to complete 11 weeks off-season prior to the first game of the following season. 19. The maximum game limit (defined as 40+ minutes) per player per season will be 32, of which the International element will be a maximum of 10 (starting from the summer tour) and the Club element will be a minimum of 22. If a senior EPS player is not selected for 10 Internationals, any shortfall can be used by his Club. Any Club semi-final or final will count as one game in total. British Lions Tests are counted as International matches. 9