Club before country.

England boss Eddie Jones fears some Saracens players could skip the 2020 Six Nations to help their club avoid relegation from the Premiership after they were hit with a 35-point deduction for breaching the salary cap.

No fewer than six Saracens players started for England in the Rugby World Cup final this month, with the likes of captain Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, Maro Itoje, Jamie George and Elliot Daly all part of their squad this season.

“It could have a significant impact,” Jones told BBC Sport.

“It’s something we need to weigh up and look at very carefully.”

Jones feels there might be some “dislocation” between Saracens players and some of the other Premiership clubs. The reigning Premiership and European champions now sit bottom of the league on -22 points following their points deduction, leaving them in a very precarious position.

“Obviously there may be some dislocation between Saracens players and the rest of the clubs,” said Jones.

“That’s a reality.

“So we may have to work to mend those relationships a bit harder, and there might be some Saracens players who feel like they’ve got to play for their club instead of their country, to make sure they don’t go down. So we’ll weigh all those up as they come about.”

Despite their success at the Rugby World Cup, without their Saracens contingent England would no doubt find it very hard to compete the Six Nations. It’s going to be a very interesting Rugby World Cup.

England’s Saracens Contingent

– Owen Farrell
– Elliot Daly
– George Kruis
– Maro Itoje
– Billy Vunipola
– Mako Vunipola
– Jamie George
– Jack Singleton