Henry Arundell, an England wing star, has signed a long-term deal with Racing 92, a Top 14 powerhouse, eliminating him from consideration for international play.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the French side were allegedly engaged in a tug-of-war over the 21-year-old flyer as they attempted to acquire the player’s services.
According to reports, Arundell was expected to be offered a hybrid contract at Bath, a Premiership side, in an attempt to tie him down because of his promising future as an international player.
England’s loss
The RFU considered that arrangement, which would have been the first of its sort, to be a very positive step, but it seems that Racing 92’s allure has been too strong to pass up.
On their social media platforms, Racing 92 revealed the deal alongside a video of the speedster, who is known for his ability to beat opponents and score tries.
Winger Arundell concluded the video on X, formerly Twitter, by stating that the contract is valid until 2026, meaning he will not be playing for England until then at the latest.
Arundell had a mixed 2023 Rugby World Cup experience for England; in a pool match, he scored five tries against Chile, but in the Bronze Final victory over Argentina, he struggled.
He is now playing at the Paris La Defense Arena with box office sensations Siya Kolisi of South Africa, Cameron Woki and Gael Fickou of France, and a few others.
Stuart Lancaster, the former England manager, coaches Arundell at Racing 92. Arundell recently played against Harlequins in their Champions Cup pool match, starting at full-back.
Racing maintains their guy.
The young player’s danger in the backfield will undoubtedly be missed by England, but it’s unclear if head coach Steve Borthwick considered him to be an important player going ahead.
At the most recent tournament in France, Borthwick favored players like Freddie Steward, Elliot Daly, and Jonny May. However, with May retiring following the Rugby World Cup, Arundell would have had to work hard to get regular minutes, so the RFU is concerned about his decision to stay with the Top 14 squad. They are also worried about Maro Itoje’s future.
