England players agree new pay deal with RFU bosses
England's rugby players have reached agreement on a new four-year deal with the country's governing bodies, ensuring there will be no repeat of the pay dispute that disrupted the buildup to the 2011 World Cup.
The revised agreement, which runs through June 2016, contains increased payments for squad selection, match fees, bonuses and commercial arrangements, as well as special provisions for the 2015 World Cup in England.
Members of the England squad disputed their pay levels ahead of the 2011 tournament, establishing a divide between players and the Rugby Football Union.
RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie says, "to get this level of certainty up to and including the World Cup is a good thing ... we have done the finances and now we can purely concentrate on the rugby."
