Eddie Jones told Sam Underhill ineligible for England
Monday 25 July 2016 22:27, UK
Eddie Jones will not be able to select Sam Underhill for England's autumn Tests.
Jones confirmed earlier this month he was keen to get a closer look at the Ospreys flanker, who captained England at U18 level but moved to Wales to study at Cardiff University.
Current rules mean players based outside England can only be picked in exceptional circumstances, and Jones has been told Underhill does not meet the criteria.
The new agreement between the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Ltd makes it clear the 'exceptional circumstances' clause relates to injury only.
"We discussed it again with Eddie and we agreed with the exceptional circumstances clause and left it where it is," RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said.
"Everybody is clear what it means and Eddie is very good at communicating that to players. We think it is a good clause and the right clause. That is the situation that we will sustain during the agreement."
Premiership Rugby chief Mark McCafferty said: "It's injury related. When we wrote the first agreement it was always injury related, we just never wrote it in as specific as that.
"It has never really come under pressure, although I know it has been speculated about with one or two players. But if the system is working well and there is enough choice, then it doesn't come under pressure."
