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#Post#: 141183--------------------------------------------------
England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: August 11, 2025, 8:54 am
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Just announced
HTML https://www.englandrugby.com/follow/news-media/england-rugby-mens-enhanced-elite-player-squad-contracts-announced
England Rugby Men's Enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts
announced
England Men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has announced the 25
players awarded with enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts
for the 2025/26 season.
The contracts form part of the Men's Professional Game
Partnership (MPGP) helping to ensure optimal preparation for the
England Men’s team. The 25 contracted players are drawn from the
wider 50-player EPS squad.
“I am pleased to name the players who will receive an enhanced
EPS contract this season,” said Borthwick. “These contracts,
together with our strong relationship with the Premiership
clubs, will continue to play an important role in the ongoing
development of England Rugby.”
England Men’s enhanced EPS contracts
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Tom Willis (Saracens)
#Post#: 141184--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: August 11, 2025, 10:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
You could argue about who should have a contract till the cows
come home, but it is odd that the only two centres are both
outside centres, and both are injured.
After the Argentina tour even if fit are they automatic
selections, they are doubly lucky that Marchant is staying in
France.
That there are three fly half’s and only one scrum half, which
seems to confirm that Marcus is a utility player along with
Daley.
#Post#: 141188--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: poorfour
Date: August 11, 2025, 12:19 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
These are the Enhanced EPS contracts - the ones where England
effectively pay to have more direct control over the player.
It’s basically the players they expect to be involved with
England over the full year.
I suspect the reason that no ICs have been named is that neither
Atkinson nor Dingwall is fully established in the role - they
will likely get included in the regular EPS, and we can hope
that one of them does well enough to earn an enhanced place next
season. I’d hope the same goes for the OC options and that
someone can eventually displace Slade, who just doesn’t look
like the best option any more.
#Post#: 141189--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: August 11, 2025, 12:38 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> These are the Enhanced EPS contracts - the ones where England
effectively pay to have more direct control over the player.
It’s basically the players they expect to be involved with
England over the full year.
>
> I suspect the reason that no ICs have been named is that
neither Atkinson nor Dingwall is fully established in the role -
they will likely get included in the regular EPS, and we can
hope that one of them does well enough to earn an enhanced place
next season. I’d hope the same goes for the OC options and that
someone can eventually displace Slade, who just doesn’t look
like the best option any more.
>
--- End Quote ---
I understand the enhanced bit, these are the people the RFU are
paying not to go to France, I would still expect it to be a bit
more balanced position wise.
I fear we are going to play Lawrence at 12 which he is not, and
that is if he is the same player after a serious injury.
I would pay money for Slade to go to France, when a player is
playing with a broken hand for 40 minutes and you can't tell the
difference and you think he is playing well for him alarm bells
ring.
#Post#: 141190--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: August 11, 2025, 12:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Be interesting to see around the AIs which if them are in form.
I wonder if a January 1st till December 31st model would be
better so you could make changes to squads ahead of 6N and
account better form.
As it's only Lions one year in four, you pretty much get
exclusive access for the other 3 anyway.
Just a thought.
#Post#: 141192--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: August 12, 2025, 2:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Rugbycat link ---
>
> You could argue about who should have a contract till the cows
come home, but it is odd that the only two centres are both
outside centres, and both are injured.
>
> After the Argentina tour even if fit are they automatic
selections, they are doubly lucky that Marchant is staying in
France.
>
> That there are three fly half’s and only one scrum half, which
seems to confirm that Marcus is a utility player along with
Daley.
>
--- End Quote ---
I thought Marchant was going to Sale?
#Post#: 141193--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Yareet
Date: August 12, 2025, 2:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: dr_miles link ---
>
> I thought Marchant was going to Sale?
>
--- End Quote ---
Apparently he's staying put for now 😞
#Post#: 141196--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: August 12, 2025, 3:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: dr_miles link ---
>
> I thought Marchant was going to Sale?
>
--- End Quote ---
Had a year left on his Stade contract, and they want a lot of
money to buy it out, was never going to Sale is my
understanding, Sale asked about him, Stade gave a figure and
that was that.
The rest was about certain people trying to lower the release
figure.
#Post#: 141197--------------------------------------------------
Re: England Mens EPS contracts announced
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: August 12, 2025, 4:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Then I look forward to seeing him back in the quarters in autumn
2026.
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