The Rugby Football Union has just published details of its new eight-year strategic plan, Chris Hewett reports in The Independent.
"The Rugby Football Union has just published details of its new eight-year strategic plan, which sets out minimum targets for the Test team of semi-final appearances in each of the next two World Cups, together with four Six Nations titles between 2010 and 2017, including a couple of Grand Slams. The sound of laughter from Cardiff, Dublin and Paris was almost deafening, but the great and good of Twickenham were more immediately concerned with the difficulties of managing their France-based players.
"Rob Andrew, the director of elite rugby, admitted yesterday that precious few of those who crossed the Channel at the end of last season – Riki Flutey, James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Jamie Noon were among them – negotiated contracts with their new clubs that satisfied RFU demands in respect of player release for England duty and medical protocols. Indeed, the only name he volunteered was Jonny Wilkinson, currently winning games single-handedly for Toulon."
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