England should pick English-based players – Baxter
England should pick English-based players – Baxter. England should pick English-based players – BaxterPublished8 hours agoFigure caption, Will we see Courtney Lawes in an England shirt again?
What happened
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says England's rules on selecting only home-based players are the right thing for the domestic game. Former England forward Courtney Lawes has called for overseas-based players to be eligible to be picked for the England side. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sale have recruited heavily this summer with Joe Marchant, Alex Lozowski, Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis among those joining Courtney Lawes at the clubByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporterPublished7 September 2026England selection should no longer be restricted to players based at domestic clubs, according to cap centurion Courtney Lawes.
Other nations, such as New Zealand, France and Ireland, have a policy of picking home-based players, but some of England's other rivals, such as South Africa, Australia and Scotland, lean heavily on players based abroad. "If it just comes down to purely finance, then it's a tough, competitive situation for us, and when people just throw it out there that players should be allowed to play anywhere they like, I think you've got to look down at the deeper repercussions of what may actually happen in the English game overall.
England's policy is similar to that of Ireland and New Zealand, while nations such as Scotland, South Africa and Australia do pick players from overseas.
The wider picture
Under England's selection policy, players can only be called up from overseas clubs in exceptional circumstances. Allow overseas stars to play for England – LawesPublished22 hours ago"There's two arguments here, do you just want to make all the best players available to play for England or do you want to build Premiership Rugby as part of how you build the England team? "If the two go together then you have to have some kind of rules and regulations around where the English players play.
"I always caveat any argument and say selfishly I'm talking about what's good for Exeter Chiefs as well – because what's good for Exeter, and every other Premiership side, is knowing there's a real reason for your best English players to stay in this country. Under the rules as they stand, England are unable to call on players such as Toulouse back row Jack Willis – who was voted the best player in France in 2024-25 – as well as Kyle Sinckler, Manu Tuilagi, Billy Vunipola, Lewis Ludlam and former Exeter star Sam Simmonds.
Prem clubs benefit from central payments from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for their England players, with the national side having a greater say on their management as a result. "You can't pick and choose a model just to decide this is what will be good or bad for a country," added Baxter. A clutch of English talent – notably Toulouse star Jack Willis – remain across the Channel and out of reach for England head coach Steve Borthwick.
What has been reported
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jack Willis has been at Toulouse since the collapse of Wasps in 2022England have better access and control over players who are at Prem clubs. Skip to content Analysis England vs Pakistan: Should hosts rotate bowling attack by resting likes of Jofra Archer in third Test at Edgbaston? England could rotate their bowling attack at Edgbaston having already sealed a series victory over Pakistan; watch the third Test between England and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports from Wednesday, September 9 Tuesday 8 September 2026 06:34, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Nasser Hussain and Dinesh Karthik assess how England's new-look bowling attack could fare against tougher opposition As a Test summer during which English cricket appeared to be in crisis nears its end, Joe Root's side go into their final fixture against Pakistan with the only major talking point being whether the bowling attack will be rotated.
England romp to Test series victory over PakistanStream England cricket and more without a contractListen to episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket PodcastWith a series victory sealed, England could choose to give some of their cross-format players a rest ahead of upcoming white-ball contests with Sri Lanka. Ahead of England revealing their final Test XI of the summer, Sky Sports assess whether the incumbents should be rested, and the merits of those who could replace them.
"While it's good to hear him say such things, there is no doubt that a fit Archer walks straight into any England XI, so the focus should be on ensuring that's the condition he remains in ahead of next summer's home Ashes. Given the 32-year-old won't be playing white-ball cricket, he should embrace the opportunity to lead England's attack at Edgbaston and prove he's got the durability to complete a series, albeit one where the bowling attack have had things all their own way.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Harry Kane scored 73 goals last season for club and countryByAlastair TelferBBC Sport journalistPublished2 hours agoBayern Munich striker Harry Kane is one of three England players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
What happens next
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Alessia Russo (left) and Alex Greenwood (right) are both regulars for EnglandPublished1 hour agoEngland stars Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood are among 30 players nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or. The 37-year-old, who has won 105 England caps, returned to the Prem this summer with Sale, having spent two years at French side Brive where he was ineligible to represent his country. Baxter feels it is important the rules are not changed.
"I just don't think, for the good of the English game, you can do it," he told BBC Sport. "Figure caption, Will we see Courtney Lawes in an England shirt again? "Related topicsExeter ChiefsRugby UnionEngland Rugby UnionMore on this storySmaller ball for women makes it 'harder to do my job'Published1 day agoRyan Jones: UnbreakableLawes, Morgan & Quirke: The New Signings The 37-year-old is back in contention to add to his 105 England appearances, having signed a one-year deal with Sale after two seasons at Brive in the French second tier.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk, skysports.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.