Q&A: What is 'Team England Rugby' and why is it important?

Team England Rugby, run by and for England players, has brokered a new four-year elite player squad (EPS) agreement with the Rugby Football Union.

Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the key questions.

What is Team England Rugby?
TER was set up in January by England players who were concerned over the direction the game was going in.

It has taken on responsibility – and received recognition – to negotiate on behalf of the England men’s team with the Rugby Football Union after the team ended its relationship with the Rugby Players Association (RPA).

Senior England stars Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson are on the TER board.

Why is this significant?
TER is believed to be the first such player-led organisation in the sport and gives players collective but direct influence over the issues that affect them the most – playing, rest and recovery time, pay and commercial considerations, and how their profiles can be best enhanced to help the growth of the wider game.

What has been agreed?
The deal covers new financial terms and provides scope for increased commercial opportunities for players, and also focuses on welfare. It introduces an exemption process to manage the load of England players getting close to the 30-game limit set under September’s Professional Game Partnership.

The agreement also includes the commissioning of a season-long research project, which once reviewed could feed into further changes within this deal.

What has been said?
Ellis Genge said: “As a group, we felt that there was an opportunity with the new agreement to look at the commercialisation of England players, both collectively and individually, and we wanted to be at the forefront of these changes.

“The RFU also recognised that enhancing players’ commercial potential is an area that has not yet been maximised across rugby union and we hope these new measures bring in new partners and new fans.”

What does this mean for the RPA?
The union still has the men’s international squad’s backing in supporting players across the English game. The RPA will continue to represent the England women’s team.