Mike Brown suggests England embrace central contract model

Mike Brown supports the idea of central contracts for England players as a way to ease the burden on clubs operating in a bleak financial climate. Brown's own career will continue into the 2023-24 season when he will be 38 years old after he agreed a contract extension with Leicester, who have seen enough during five appearances to extend his initial short-term deal.

Ollie Hassell-Collins has also agreed to join the Tigers next season but to underline the difficulty facing the Gallagher Premiership, Anthony Watson is considering leaving the east Midlands for the Top 14. The greater financial rewards available in France have already seen several current red rose internationals such as Sam Simmonds, Joe Marchant and David Ribbans agree to head across The English Channel after the World Cup and the fear is that more could follow.

Saracens boss Mark McCall is among a growing number of voices within the game to see central contracts as a way to make England players more affordable for clubs, as well as ensuring they remain in the Premiership. "Central contracts could be a good idea, taking the pressure off clubs financially," England's most capped full-back with 72 appearances said.

"If the RFU are paying for a decent amount of the top players' salaries then there's money there that can be used elsewhere in the salary cap. It takes the pressure off them, their load management and the alignment for players.

"Hopefully we won't in the future see players having to go abroad through lack of jobs, or financial pull. We need to stop that happening." A professional career that began in 2005 continues to thrive in its twilight years as Brown looks to contribute to Leicester's Premiership title defence and challenge for European