Courtney Lawes, the England legend, has called on the Rugby Football Union to modify their policy regarding overseas players and permit the best players to play abroad. Currently, only Premiership-based players are eligible for international duty under the RFU's rules. However, due to financial difficulties in the Premiership, several Red Rose players have opted to join the Top 14 league in France where they can earn more money. Lawes, who recently signed with Brive in the ProD2 league after retiring from England duty, believes that the RFU should reconsider their strict policy as it may be detrimental to English rugby in the long run.

Lawes suggested that the RFU could learn from countries like South Africa, which have no restrictions on player selection, or from Wales, where certain conditions are in place for players who wish to play abroad. Besides the overseas player policy, Lawes also raised concerns about player welfare in English rugby, highlighting the need for better management of players' game time to prevent injuries and improve longevity in their careers.