However, it is understood that the clubs are likely to demand that the player at least gives an indication that his long-term future will be back in England, having joined the Ospreys last year after making two appearances for Gloucester.
The concern for the RFU is that if Underhill sees out his three-year contract with the Ospreys in conjunction with the Welsh region’s feeder club Bridgend Ravens, he would also become eligible for Wales under World Rugby’s three-year residency rule, as well as the United States, the country of his birth.
Ian Ritchie, the RFU’s chief *executive, said in January that *Underhill was “certainly on the *radarâ€, when asked if the player’s performances had convinced the governing body to attempt to *invoke the “exceptional circumstances†clause for the first time.
It is understood that the matter has not yet been raised with the clubs by the RFU but there is an expectancy that an agreement would need to be in place by May should Jones indicate that he wished to select Underhill for the tour of Australia in June.
The position could have become clearer by then if a Premiership club are able to sign the player from the Ospreys for the start of next *season.
