The competitive programme for each player in an England Rugby Academy will be personally planned. A player's programme will be that deemed by the England Rugby Academy Manager/club Director of Rugby, working closely with the relevant England coaching staff, to be in the best interest of his individual rugby development. Academy players will only be required to play for teams/squads that provide levels of competitive exposure appropriate for this development.

Players will have the opportunity to play a minimum of twenty-seven and a maximum of thirty-three games per annum that will include:

• Club first XV games
• Academy (age group based) matches - against sides from other England Rugby Academies
• Representative matches for England or regional representative sides
• Competitive matches for local clubs, universities or schools

Clubs must commit (as per the club/RFU agreement operative at that time) to release World Class Performance (WCP) players at all levels for the following:

• International matches
• Preparation for international matches
• Trials for selection of squads for international matches
• RFU age group development squads/courses.
• Specialist skills development and personal development sessions.

These will, where possible, be agreed in advance with the club. The total number of games which WCP players play (as outlined above) includes international games and preparation and trial matches in lieu of those games.

All parties must recognise that the prime objective of the WCP and the academy process/programme is to ensure that the training, education, and competition provided for young players is geared to maximising their ability and ultimate performance level - thus optimising their value to England.