England's captain Lawrence Dallaglio and several of his World Cup winning team-mates face a frustrating start to the domestic campaign following a directive which may banish them to the sidelines when the Zurich Premiership kicks off next week.
The new agreement governing England's elite players stipulates an 11-week off-season and the Rugby Football Union performance department insists the majority of England players who faced Australia in late June cannot appear for more than 40 minutes unless their clubs can plead exceptional circumstances.
The rules are especially tough on the defending champions Wasps, with Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw all set to play a limited part in their side's opening game against Saracens at Twickenham, barring a late change of heart by the RFU's performance director Chris Spice.
Spice indicated last night that only Test newcomers such as Wasps' Tom Voyce were likely to play and denied the 50,000 fans expected to watch the London double-header at Twickenham on September 4 with London Irish v Harlequins should feel cheated if their heroes depart early or start on the bench.
"Would they rather play next week than win the World Cup final?" asked Spice, whose job is to ensure England's squad members are in the best possible shape not just for this season's Tests but for the 2007 World Cup in France. "At some point we have to take the long-term view. For us it's not about next year but the next three years."
Among the clubs seeking clarification have been Bath, whose head coach John Connolly fears he will be unable to call on Mike Tindall and Steve Borthwick for his side's opening game at Northampton.
"If the England management enforces it to the letter, we will have a problem at Northampton," said Connolly. "We are talking to Twickenham but, if they stick to their guns, we will be without Tindall and Borthwick. We had three other players on the tour but they should be available to play as they were not involved in the Test against Australia.
"There is a grey area which needs sorting out because all five could play in our pre-season friendlies. The problem arises when the Premiership starts and it has a big effect on clubs with so much at stake."
England's two most experienced backline talents, Will Greenwood and Jason Robinson, have declared themselves fit to resume their Test careers having sat out the unsuccessful summer tour.
Greenwood insists he has recovered from the shoulder and wrist injuries which persuaded Sir Clive Woodward to leave him behind this summer and has dismissed any notion that he might be tempted to step aside permanently from the rigours of Test rugby.
"The break has reignited my enthusiasm to get out and play," he said. "I don't think I'll ever retire from international rugby. If, two years down the line, I've been put out to pasture and someone's injured I'd still come and play."
England's World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson, in contrast, has poured more cold water on speculation he might come out of Test retirement to represent the Lions in New Zealand next summer.
"I'm not playing international rugby and you've got to say the Lions is highly unlikely, both in terms of whether they'll want me to play or whether I'll be available," insisted Johnson, stressing his only priority was a successful season with Leicester. "If you're not playing for an international team it's very difficult to get picked for the Lions."
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