Alex Coles and Asher Opoku‑Fordjour have been named among a select group of twenty‑five England rugby union players to receive the newly introduced enhanced contracts from the Rugby Football Union (RFU). This marks the first occasion that the RFU has awarded such contracts, signalling a shift in how the national team manages player welfare and remuneration.
The list of twenty‑five players for the 2026/27 season includes a mixture of seasoned internationals and promising newcomers. In addition to Coles and Opoku‑Fordjour, the forwards’ cohort features debut‑contract recipients George Martin, Guy Pepper and scrum‑half Jack van Poortvliet.
These five players join a broader squad that now benefits from a more structured financial arrangement and centralized oversight of training, medical care and conditioning. Alex Coles, a lock who plies his club trade with Northampton Saints, has become a fixture in England’s test side over the past twelve months.
During that period he has accumulated twenty‑two caps, demonstrating both line‑out prowess and a high work‑rate in the tight exchanges. His consistency at the international level, combined with his strong performances for the Saints, made him a natural candidate for the elite contract scheme. Asher Opoku‑Fordjour, a prop currently attached to Sale Sharks, is only twenty‑two but has already earned eight test caps.
Despite his youth, he has shown the physicality and technical skill required of a front‑row player at the highest level. His rapid rise through the ranks and his ability to hold his own against seasoned opposition have impressed the RFU selectors, earning him a place in the enhanced contract group. The introduction of these contracts also means that several previously contracted players—Ben Curry, Elliot Daly, Ollie Lawrence, Tom Roebuck and Tom Willis—will no longer hold the elite player squad (EPS) status. Their contracts will revert to the standard terms used for the broader England training group, reflecting the competitive nature of the selection process and the RFU’s desire to reward those who have demonstrated recent impact.
Under the new system, the RFU retains final authority over each contracted player’s medical care, conditioning programmes and overall welfare. Instead of receiving a match‑by‑match fee, each player now benefits from a guaranteed annual salary.
This arrangement provides greater financial stability for the athletes and allows the union to implement a unified approach to injury prevention, rehabilitation and performance monitoring. The move aligns England with other major rugby nations that have adopted centralized contracts, where the national governing body assumes responsibility for the holistic development of its top players. By doing so, the RFU hopes to reduce the risk of burnout, ensure consistent training standards across clubs, and ultimately improve the performance of the national side on the world stage. The enhanced contract list also highlights the depth of talent spread across the Premiership clubs.
Players such as Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan‑Dickie (Sale Sharks), Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Harlequins), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) and many others continue to be monitored for potential inclusion in future elite contracts. The RFU’s decision to roll out these contracts comes at a time when the sport is increasingly focused on player welfare, mental health and long‑term career sustainability. By providing a fixed salary, the union aims to alleviate the pressure on players who might otherwise be dependent on variable match fees, allowing them to focus more fully on preparation and recovery.
Fans are encouraged to stay informed about the latest developments through the Sky Sports app, where they can customize sports notifications to receive real‑time updates on squad announcements, injury reports and match results. The app also offers in‑depth analysis, interviews and behind‑the‑scenes content that gives supporters a closer look at how the England team is shaping its future. In summary, Alex Coles and Asher Opoku‑Fordjour’s inclusion in the inaugural batch of enhanced contracts underscores the RFU’s commitment to rewarding performance, fostering player health, and creating a more stable financial environment for its elite athletes.
As the 2026/27 season approaches, the impact of these contracts will be closely watched by coaches, players and supporters alike, with the ultimate goal of strengthening England’s competitiveness on the global stage.