Jones booster

ENGLAND’S aim of supplanting New Zealand as world champions in 2019 has moved a step closer after a new agreement was finalised between the RFU and the Aviva Premiership clubs.

The RFU believes the eight-year deal, which is worth in excess of £200million, has offered head coach Eddie Jones the best possible chance of masterminding success at the next World Cup.

The deal will see the size of England’s Elite Player Squad go from 33 to 45 players, with up to 36 able to be selected for training camps. Two additional camps will be staged, in early October ahead of the autumn internationals and in the first week of January as part of the build-up to the Six Nations. JONES RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said: “Eddie was heavily involved in all the situations around the deal and is very supportive of it.” .