Fears that the Zurich Premiership is being overloaded with non-English players were heightened yesterday when the bottom club Harlequins signed the New Zealand second row Simon Maling, prompting renewed calls for an end to automatic relegation.
Quins, who have lost their opening six matches, are likely to further add to their squad, following the path trodden by Newcastle a couple of years ago, who recruited from South Africa and New Zealand when they found themselves at the foot of the table, and Rotherham last season who hired five South Africans.
"Because clubs only have a 12-month lease in the Premiership, they will do whatever it takes to stay up, even if it works to the detriment of the England national side," said Howard Thomas, the chief executive of Premier Rugby. "Up and coming English players take a back seat when things go wrong."
The former England captain Martin Johnson and the Wasps head coach Warren Gatland this month voiced their concerns about the increasing number of overseas players in the Premiership, and Thomas said the solution lay in ending automatic relegation, which is due to last until 2009. "It is damaging the English game," he said. "It frightens investors and makes clubs look abroad. Harlequins are going down a well-trodden route and the issues of relegation and overseas players are undoubtedly linked. Everything has to be about the short-term and that cannot be right."
Maling, who is moving to Japan next year, will arrive at the Stoop next month on a season-long contract. "I have every confidence he will help get our season back on track," said the Quins head coach Mark Evans. Maling will be available for all the league fixtures next month, unlike the current England internationals who have three Test matches at Twickenham. Thomas confirmed that the Premiership clubs had been advised not to release their Scottish internationals for the match against Australia on November 6, but Wales players would be made available for the game against South Africa on the same day.
"Though both games have been approved by the International Rugby Board, the Scotland one was arranged so late that the rule governing the automatic release of players does not apply," said Thomas. It means Newcastle, who play Sale that weekend, will be able to call on their Scotland second row Stuart Grimes, but not the Wales flanker Colin Charvis.
"As players, you do not get involved in disputes between club and country," said Charvis, who joined the Falcons in the summer. Charvis's captain at club level, Jonny Wilkinson, did not take part in England's contact training session yesterday because of a bruised arm, but will be fit for Sunday's match against Saracens.
The former Sale director of rugby Jim Mallinder is to coach England's Under-21 side, assisted by the ex-Bath and England forward Nigel Redman.
