PREM bosses weigh in on England's overseas policy

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson says that it would be a disaster for the Gallagher PREM if England lifted its ban on selecting overseas-based players for national duty.

Jack Willis jokingly challenged reporters to find a way for him to play international rugby after retaining his crown as the best player in France’s Top 14 on Monday evening.

Toulouse flanker Willis, 29, last played for England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup after being granted dispensation to represent his country while playing his club rugby in France following Wasps’ collapse.

Willis, under contract to Toulouse until 2029, is also open to switching his international allegiance to Andy Farrell’s Ireland if he secures a one-year loan arrangement with any of Ireland’s four provinces.

But Sanderson believes that lifting the ban would be a disaster for PREM clubs and would leave them fighting to compete with one hand tied behind their backs.

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“I just think it would devalue our competition. The PREM is a really good product, with really competitive teams, but it would be too much if players were allowed to take the pay cheque and move to France.

“And then just get the Eurostar over for a bit of training with the international team. I think it’d devastate the Premiership because then players, you know, can literally have the cake and eat it, can’t they?

“They can take the pay cheque, and there’ll be no consequence for playing outside the country. I understand the views of those lads who feel otherwise, and we have some in our quarters. Courtney Lawes has mentioned it already.

“I don’t see why that should be the case. I’m looking at it from a different point of view. We wouldn’t be able to compete and to keep them on the books if we had to go against some of the juggernauts in the Top 14,” Sanderson told RugbyPass.

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter echoed the view, adding that other countries don’t have a problem banning overseas-based players from the national team.

“We’re not going to improve the financial picture of the PREM by saying that players can play for England and go abroad. We’re in danger of wanting everything.

“How do you improve the PREM? Well, you need your best players playing in it. So for me, I think it’s just exactly what we have to do. And I know people talk about other models, but some models have no problem with it.

“Ireland doesn’t have a problem with it. New Zealand don’t have a problem with it. You know, we shouldn’t have a problem with it either,” said Baxter.