Eddie Jones hits out at RFU over Elite Squad rule

Eddie Jones today called on English rugby chiefs to scrap the Elite Player Squad regulation.

The EPS regulation dictates that the top 32 players must be rested for one game between the ninth and eleventh rounds of the Premiership - from 20 December to 4 January.

It means Saracens chief Jones will have to do without England captain Steve Borthwick for Saturday's Guinness Premiership clash with Gloucester.

Jones had argued that expanding the window to include the round of European Challenge Cup matches on 18 January was more sensible than keeping players out of key Premiership clashes.

He said: "Steve's welfare is not being helped by sitting out this match but it would be by sitting out a European Challenge Cup game.

"Why do England have a rule that takes their best players out of the main domestic competition?"