Berliner Tageblatt - England's Care backs central contracts to stop players going abroad

The Times reported on Monday that 20 England internationals will be offered deals with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby, who run the English top flight, in an agreement worth £128 million ($154 million)

English clubs currently pay the contracts but they are facing growing financial instability and competition from abroad with Jack Willis and Henry Arundell among England players to have signed to play for French clubs after the World Cup.

RFU policy is that players who sign for foreign clubs cannot represent England.

"I haven't seen the story but is there one available for me?" 36-year-old Care jokingly told reporters.

"I've said it a few times, England needs to have the best players in England.

"If there are ways that we can do that which might help the club game as well, and help clubs be more sustainable, then the players would be on-board.

"Hopefully they can sort that out," he added.

Nations such as Ireland and New Zealand have similar systems in place, allowing their national teams to control the amount of game time Test players have with their domestic sides.

Last week second-tier Jersey became the fourth professional club in England to cease trading due to financial issues.

"Fans, clubs, everyone wants to see the best players playing, clubs want to have the best players available," Harlequins' Care said.

"It helps everything, like TV revenues and fans coming into stadiums.

"They want to see Owen Farrell play for Saracens as many times as he can.

"If there’s ways and structures to do that then I'm all for it.

"Hopefully they get it right and the game, especially in England, can flourish," he added.

An additional element to the agreement would see England head coach Steve Borthwick work closer with club bosses on subjects such as conditioning.

"Steve and the coaches have been doing that behind the scenes," Care said.

"I'm sure it might help everyone but the one thing about Steve is that he's working hard to make sure all the clubs are aligned.

"Whatever's the best thing for the players, Steve's looking to do that," he added.

The report comes days before England's final World Cup Pool D fixture against Samoa in Lille.

Borthwick's side have already reached the quarter-finals before Saturday's fixture after wins over Argentina, Japan and Chile.

"It's not a game for the faint-hearted," Care said.

"It's another chance for us to try and keep improving. We’ve been doing that throughout the tournament.

"We're not taking them lightly at all," he added.

P.Anderson--BTB