Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has backed England's policy of selecting only home-based players, rejecting calls from former England forward Courtney Lawes to make overseas-based players eligible. Baxter argues the rule protects the strength of the Premiership by giving England's best English players a clear incentive to stay in domestic rugby rather than move abroad for money, and warns that scrapping it could have serious knock-on effects for English clubs and the wider game.

Lawes, who has 105 caps and recently returned to Sale after two ineligible years at French club Brive, wants the door opened for overseas-based players. Current rules mean England cannot call up players such as Toulouse's Jack Willis, France's top player in 2024-25, along with Kyle Sinckler, Manu Tuilagi, Billy Vunipola, Lewis Ludlam and Sam Simmonds. Premiership clubs receive RFU central payments for contracted England players, giving the national side more control over their workload; England's approach mirrors Ireland and New Zealand, while Scotland, South Africa and Australia allow overseas selection.