England stars: We will not jeopardise caps to join breakaway league
Telegraph Sport revealed on Monday how Mike Tindall, the Rugby World Cup winner and member of the Royal family, was one of the driving forces behind rugby's new breakaway global league, branded as 'R360, driving generational change in rugby'.
Tindall and the organisers have stressed that their proposed league will fit in around the current international schedule but, at present, Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, cannot select any players outside the domestic structure.
All of Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock and Ellis Genge – winners at the Premiership Rugby Awards in central London on Tuesday night and Lions on the summer tour to Australia – believe that the conflict between financial stability and international representation would be a consideration, but that the draw of wearing an England shirt is virtually irresistible.
'The money would have to be off the charts,' said Freeman. 'Running out at Twickenham, there is no feeling like it. You want to leave your place in a good spot and hopefully pass that on to the next England player coming up.
'You never want to jeopardise [being selected for England]. If you were ever out of the loop then you ask the question because it is a short career – a third of your life. There is your health, your medical, and you've got to provide for your family – your kids and their kids. At some point money probably does talk but playing for England is my main concern. If I'm out the loop of the England set-up for a number of years then maybe it's different.'
Genge admitted that for certain players there would be a financial allure, but that England remained the priority for him.
'I'd never want to leave England behind but I would say 90 per cent of rugby players would have to work for the rest of their lives after rugby,' said Genge. 'If they reached the echelons they have in this sport in other sports, I'd say they probably wouldn't. I think if the money is that lucrative, then people have decisions to make, don't they? I wouldn't hold it against them.
'I don't know if it's actually got legs to get off the ground but I think anything that stirs the pot and makes people start asking questions and think of new ideas is positive for the game. Whether it will get off the ground I don't know but I think anything like that is positive. I'm glad something is happening in rugby rather than it just be stagnating and everyone moaning.'
Pollock, who made his England debut off the bench in the Six Nations against Wales, said it would '100 per cent' take a lot to give up playing for his country.
'I've not experienced playing multiple times for my country, so that's something I'm working towards,' said Pollock. 'There can be talks around this league and what's going to come, but currently I'm focused on myself, Northampton Saints and England.
'It depends where you are in your career. I wouldn't say I've kicked on enough to take that next step I guess. I'm very focused on Northampton Saints.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
ALEX BRUMMER: Bank fears Farage turmoil in No 10
As a public figure, the governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey receives most attention from consumers and businesses alike for his role in setting interest rates. Critical as that is to national wellbeing, it has long been my belief that Bailey is more comfortable with the Bank's other, less discussed role of maintaining financial stability. Bailey was first to the battlements in his early days in office in March 2020 as the pandemic shut down Britain and much of the world. Bond markets in New York were in panic, and the Bank, led first by Mark Carney and then Bailey, moved to calm events. A currency swap deal with the US was activated, interest rates were cut to the bone and more money printing, through quantitative easing, was authorised. Bailey passionately urged government to take steps to prevent scarring to the economy. He was also at the tiller in the autumn of 2022 when Liz Truss's tax-cutting mini Budget sparked a run on the pound and a sudden retreat from British government bonds. The scale and suddenness of the move caused ructions for pension funds which had used derivative products to gamble on returns. The episode had threatened, without Bailey's intervention, to cause a cascade of financial collapses among banks who had provided credit for the trades. The Bank of England became a butt of criticism, not least on these pages. Its twice-yearly Financial Stability Report had in the past warned of the potential danger of liability driven-investment products (LDIs) but neither the Bank nor the Pensions Regulator addressed the matter. It is one thing for the Financial Stability Committee to identify and warn of dangers to the financial system, but quite another to tackle a weakness and close it down. Bailey was in the Bank's engine room in the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, so has vast experience of dealing with fractures in the financial system and knows how rapidly contagion takes place. All this experience tells him that Chancellor Rachel Reeves' efforts to encourage growth, by deregulating the City, could be a huge error. It is a reminder of the light touch regulation in the run-up to the collapse of Northern Rock in 2007 and the crisis which followed. Readers of this month's Financial Stability document would find few clues to what Bailey believes is the most acute concern at present. It is not Trump tariffs or the present Government's borrowing needs, as serious as they may be. The governor's biggest worry is political uncertainty. It may seem mad to think that this should be the case given Labour's vast Commons majority and four more years in office. The significant statistic is that Nigel Farage's Reform UK has led the other parties in 65 consecutive polls. And the present kerfuffles in Epping and the record small boat arrivals in a long hot summer make the potential for a Farage journey to Downing Street ever more credible. Bailey and the independent Bank never indulge in party politics. But for the governor, pound sterling, the bond markets and the whole stability of the financial system, the number one threat is a big-spending populist released into Downing Street. Reach for the safety straps.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lucy Bronze played through pain of fractured tibia to secure Euro 2025 glory
Lucy Bronze revealed she had played the whole of England's victorious Women's European Championship campaign with a fractured tibia. The 33-year-old full-back had played every minute of the tournament until she succumbed to a separate knee injury at half-time of extra time during Sunday's final in Basel. Speaking after their quarter-final penalty shootout triumph over Sweden, when Bronze scored a crucial spot-kick, England boss Sarina Wiegman said of the defender: 'I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in the wheelchair.' Bronze, now a two-time European champion with the Lionesses, opened up about her injuries following their 3-1 penalty shootout win over Spain. 'We never lost belief in ourselves. There was a lot of noise on the outside, but we just stuck together and dug deep,' she told BBC One. 'We showed that in the all the knockout games, to go 120 minutes and go back to back to back, is incredible. To win on penalties, in two games… this team is so inspiring to be part of. 'We give each other energy and what we have achieved today is incredible. 'Today we have just showed resilience, like we have through all the tournament. The want to believe in ourselves and believe in the people who give you support. 'I've actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no one knew. And now I've hurt my knee on the other leg. 'I think that is why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game because I'm in a lot of pain, but that's what it takes to play for England and that's what I will do. They know that and we inspire each other by playing through things like that, and it got us to the end in the end.' Chloe Kelly insisted she was never in doubt when stepping up to take the match-winning penalty. 'I'm so proud of this team, so grateful to wear this badge and so proud to be English,' Kelly said. 'I was cool, I was composed, I knew I going to hit the back of the net. I don't miss penalties twice. 'It's unbelievable, it's not just this team it's the staff behind us. Twenty-three players and all the staff behind us. Sarina Wiegman has done it again. It's unbelievable. 'It's going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and show the love to all these girls because they deserve it.' Hannah Hampton admitted she 'lost track' of the scoreline during final's penalty shootout. 'This team is just unbelievable, incredible,' the England goalkeeper said. 'We've shown throughout the tournament we can come back when we go a goal back. We've got that grit, that English blood in us. We never say die, we keep going and we did that today. 'When Chloe stepped up I turned around to the fans, miming a kick and trying to ask if we score do we win, I'd completely lost track. 'They were just cheering at me so I didn't know what the answer was, but then I saw that run up and that was it, we've won. I can't believe it.'
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
England seize Euro 2025 glory over Spain after Chloe Kelly settles dramatic penalty shootout
Substitute Chloe Kelly slammed home the winning spot kick for England in a dramatic shootout to complete a remarkable comeback to down world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Euro 2025 final. The Lionesses stormed back in Basel after going behind in the first half through Mariona Caldentey's opener, with Alessia Russo's towering header levelling the match and forcing extra-time. And despite a scare in extra-time after Salma Paralluelo's miss from close range, Sarina Wiegman's side, playing their third successive major final, gained revenge on Spain after World Cup heartache in 2023 in Sydney. Hannah Hampton emerged as the player of the match after two spectacular saves in the shootout before Kelly, who had clinched glory at Wembley three years ago in extra time, held her nerve to blast past Cata Coll at St Jakob Park. "I am so proud of this team. So grateful to wear this badge. So proud to be English,' said the Arsenal star, who was only on the pitch after Lauren James hobbled off before half-time with an ankle issue. "I was cool, I was composed. I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don't miss penalties twice. "Unbelievable. All the staff behind us and Sarina Wiegman - she has done it again! Unbelievable. It is going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and shows their love to these girls as they deserve it." England have started slowly throughout the tournament, but hit Spain hard early on and could have lead through Russo, whose shot from a narrow angle down the right forced Coll into a save, with James unable to connect with the rebound. Hampton was also in top form, denying Esther Gonzalez, before Laia Aleixandri's mistake allowed Lauren Hemp to intercept inside the penalty area, only for Coll to miraculously deny the Lionesses once again. After Kelly replaced James before the break, Hampton was forced into action to deny the reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati and Caldentey, before Russo left her mark on goal to equalise. Both sides navigated a tense period of extra-time before Beth Mead missed first in the shootout with a retaken spot kick, only for Hampton to haul England back into the contest by denying Caldentey and Bonmati. Captain Leah Williamson missed immediately afterwards, with England only leading 2-1, but Salma Paralluelo missed the target, guiding her shot wide of the post to set up Kelly for a shot at glory once again. And her penalty landed in the roof of the net to spark wild scenes of celebration with Wiegman left stunned at a personal third successive European title after a spell with Netherlands before taking over England. She said: "No, I can't believe it! We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible. "I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch - all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. "From the first game it was chaos. Losing your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos."
