Gloucester top table despite Springbok influx
FEARS that an influx of foreign stars could stymie English player development have been allayed by official figures which show the number of Englandqualified players (EQP) operating in the Premiership has risen significantly over the last two years.
Over the first half of the current campaign, no fewer than 71.7per cent of players competing in Premiership and European matches were Englandqualified. That compares to 67.9% for season 2015/16, equating to one additional EQP per squad over the campaign.
Top-flight clubs are incentivised by the RFU to field a minimum of 15 EQPs per matchday squad and in this season to date only Sale have fallen slightly short but are expected to meet their target over the course of the season.
Gloucester, who have been accused of filling their squad with too many South Africans, currently top the EQP charts after fielding an average of 18.24 players who are eligible to represent England in their Premiership and Champions Cup squads.
Gloucester CEO Stephen Vaughan told The Rugby
Paper: “It’s an absolute fallacy to suggest we’re becoming a non-English club. We signed a few South Africans, but they replaced non-EQP players like Ross Moriarty, John Afoa, Richard Hibbard and Mariano Galarza, and at the same time we promoted a lot of young players from our academy.”
Vaughan added: “You’ll see some overseas players joining Premiership clubs after the World Cup but there won’t be massive changes to these figures.”
Seven clubs average 16 EQP players or more this season compared to five clubs two years ago, with Saracens the biggest movers.
In 2015-16 Mark McCall’s side averaged 13.96 EQPs per matchday squad compared to over 17 in the current campaign,
A Premiership spokesman said: “We’re delighted with the overall figure of 71.7% of EQPs in each of the Gallagher Premiership or European matchday squads
“These figures demonstrate the partnership between Premiership Rugby and the RFU and means that on each weekend of Gallagher Premiership or European rugby our clubs are fielding around 200 players qualified to play for England.”