RFU/PRL Joint Press Release

RFU and PRL sign new eight year agreement

The RFU and Premier Rugby Ltd ("PRL") are pleased to announce they have signed a new Agreement (the "Agreement") which will govern the professional game in England from 1 July 2008 until 30 June 2016.

The Agreement follows a long period of negotiation between the RFU and PRL covering all aspects of Professional Rugby in England with the aim of building on England's position as one of the leaders of the game at both club and country level while creating a long term structure for continued success.

The Agreement covers the following core areas:

Ø      Season Structure

Ø      Elite Player Squads and the Player Management Programme

Ø      Academies

Ø      An England Qualified Players compensation scheme

Ø      Player Welfare & the PRA

Ø      EPS Player Agreement, Match Fees & IP Rights

Ø      First Division Rugby

Ø      Governance

Ø      Commercial

Ø      The European Rugby Cup

Ø      Finance and Funding matters

The Agreement will come into full force and effect from July 2008 and will replace the current "Long Form Agreement" (LFA), which governs the game until the end of the 2007-8 season.

The Agreement provides for the creation of 3 Elite Player Squads (EPS); Senior, Saxons and U20 each of 32 players. An Elite Player Management Programme will be set at the beginning of each season for each Senior EPS player by the Elite Rugby Director and the England Head Coach following discussion and consultation with the club Director of Rugby. The Annual Player Programme for each Saxons EPS player will be discussed and agreed between the RFU Elite Rugby Director and each club Director of Rugby. The Annual Player Programme for each U20 EPS player will be drawn up by the club Academy Manager for the approval of the RFU Director of the National Academy. PRL and each of its clubs will be responsible for ensuring full implementation of the Elite Player Management Programmes. The England team coaches and RFU National Academy coaches will have access to and regular contact with all Senior EPS players to provide and deliver programme support in respect of the individual Elite Player Management Programmes.

A Medical Protocol has been agreed for the Senior EPS to ensure that each player is in optimal physical condition and health at all times.

To improve the preparation for England matches, all Senior EPS players will be released 13 or 14 days before the start of the autumn internationals and RBS 6 Nations and for the duration of both international windows. There will also be a minimum 2 weeks preparation for the Senior EPS players prior to each summer tour on which England will take their strongest available squad.

The agreement has detailed provisions for the Saxons EPS, U20 EPS and the operation of the Regional Academies.

In return, the RFU has agreed to pay PRL clubs £102 million over the course of the agreement plus a share of the net revenues from a fourth Autumn International every other year which should take the total RFU payment for PRL Clubs to around £110m over the period of the agreement. Clubs will only receive payment under the Agreement by having players in one or more of the 3 EPS squads and/or through compensation payments under the EQP scheme and/or by running an RFU licensed Academy.

As part of the Agreement, PRL shall be solely responsible for negotiating the sale of their own TV, media & Sponsorship rights and giving directions to ERC in respect of England's position on the sale of the TV, media and sponsorship rights related to the European Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup.

The deal sees the creation of a Professional Game Board (PGB) to oversee the new Agreement. The PGB has detailed terms of reference and decision-making powers. These are contained in the Notes at the end of the press release.

Francis Baron OBE, Chief Executive of the RFU commented:

"I am very pleased to have negotiated this agreement with PRL. It has taken a considerable amount of time, but it was vital to get it right and seek to resolve once and for all the issues that have caused ‘club v country' conflict through a long term agreement that is right for the game as a whole. Our aim has been to produce the most comprehensive and detailed agreement covering the professional game that has been drawn up anywhere in the world.

"We believe we have done that: we have secured an agreement which both gives the national side the strongest platform it has ever had to maintain and build on its success, while maintaining the integrity of our excellent club game. This agreement is in the interests of everyone involved in the game.

"The agreement meets the RFU's key objectives for the future of the professional game: it protects the safety and welfare of players; it secures the financial viability of the game and will increase participation at all levels. This is a truly exciting period for English rugby."

Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive of PRL commented:

"The agreement provides a good balance between what England needs to build on its success and what the clubs need to continue the rapid growth of the professional club game. It protects and develops the Guinness Premiership, the most competitive league in the world and supports the continuing success of our clubs in Europe. Both are the foundations for international success.

"In addition to the monies being paid by the RFU, it was essential for Premier Rugby and its clubs to secure the full financial potential of their commercial rights in their leading competitions.

"The real work now lies ahead of us to translate this agreement into sporting success and inspiration for those involved in the Game at every level."

"A lot of people in the RFU, PRL and the PRA have worked very hard on this deal. It's the first time we have reached an agreement, which is a sustainable English solution for the English game, since the game went professional in 1995 and everyone should be congratulated on that. I think it's the first time that all the parties have fully understood the issues and this is one of the most significant agreements that has been reached in the last ten to twelve years. It provides a great platform for the English club and the national game and will strengthen the excellent work that has already taken place in the Guinness Premiership, the clubs participation in the Heineken Cup and with England, after successive appearances in the final of the RWC."

PROFESSIONAL GAME BOARD: Terms of Reference

1 To monitor the progress in implementing the terms of the Heads of Agreement. To ensure that all terms are implemented in full by all parties.

2 To draw up and approve the principle objectives for professional rugby in England each season no later than the 31 July for the following season. To monitor progress against these objectives throughout the year.

3 To review and monitor the performance of the England teams (Senior, Saxons, U20, Sevens) and the Premiership clubs in European competitions. To make appropriate recommendations to the RFU & PRL respectively.

4 To be responsible for drawing up the domestic professional season structure including England's position on the European Rugby Cup competitions.

5 To make recommendations to the RFU Management Board on the international match and tours schedule to maximise benefits for the England team.

6 To make recommendations to the RFU Management Board on England's policy with respect to the British & Irish Lions tours.

7 To make recommendations to the RFU & PRL on the IRB's ‘Global Season' project if that project is still running.

8 To make recommendations to the RFU & PRL with respect to any replacement competition to the Domestic Cup and the Premiership ‘A' team competition.

9 To review and approve the Premiership fixture list each season on the recommendation of PRL.

10 To review and recommend changes in the Criteria for membership of the Premiership to the RFU and PRL.

11 To review and monitor the operation of the Salary Cap. To make recommendations to PRL on any proposed changes.

12 To be responsible for developing and agreeing policy for all player welfare matters. To implement such policy when agreed.

13 To monitor all decisions taken by the Elite Rugby Director and club Directors of Rugby under the terms of the Medical Protocol.

14 To review and amend the List of Specialists and Experts from time to time.

15 To receive the report of the Independent Review Panel under the terms of the Medical Protocol. To make any decisions required on the recommendations in that report.

16 To be responsible for managing the Rugby Care joint venture. To ensure the smooth running of that venture.

17 To monitor all EPS playing statistics. To ensure compliance with the agreed match limits for all EPS players.

18 To monitor the EQP scheme results on a club by club basis.

19 To review the Premiership Regulations on an annual basis. To make recommendations to the RFU regarding any changes.

20 To receive and review the Elite Rugby Director's quarterly report covering progress being made against the season's objectives for the National Teams, Elite Coach Development, Elite Referee Development, Sports Science/Medicine and the National and Regional Academies.

21 To receive and review a quarterly report from the FDR Executive Director on the performance of FDR generally, the operation of the dual registration and loan scheme with Premiership clubs and the operation of the ‘twinning' scheme with Premiership clubs.

22 To receive and review a quarterly report from the PRL CEO covering progress being made against the season's objectives on the performance of the Premiership and our clubs in the European competitions.

23 To receive and review a quarterly report from the PRA CEO on the performance of the PRA covering progress being made against the season's objectives in particular player welfare matters and concerns.

24 To receive an annual report from the RFU Disciplinary Officer. To make appropriate recommendations to the Disciplinary Officer on the application of IRB or RFU policy on discipline.

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