England Rugby: Legal Consequences May Come Of Foreign Player Blockade

London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – A legal challenge may ensue after the Rugby Football Union indicated last week that only those competing for domestic clubs would be able to play for England after the 2011 World Cup.

According to Rugby Players’ Association chief executive Damian Hopley, a legal challenge to RFU’s England plans not to select foreign-based could be resorted to by the parties affected.

The RFU has reportedly written to players indicating that England intends to only select players who play for domestic clubs following the 2011 Cup.

Hopley, who is also concerned about the plan’s impact on the player’s earning capacity, indicated that England’s stance could be against European law.

Hopley told the BBC: “We will be taking legal advice once we see the letter [sent to players by RFU chief executive John Steele] but I have no doubt if there was an appetite by an agent or a player to consider challenging this they would be on strong ground.

Currently, three members of the England squad – -Jonny Wilkinson, Tom Palmer and James Haskell- – play overseas.

The move, according to the RFU, is expected to provide England the best chance of capturing the 2015 World Cup.

However, it left an option to select an overseas-based player but under undefined “exceptional circumstances.”

---