The beneficiaries must be among the five highest-paid stars in each team.
League chief executive David Gallop confirmed a revision of the "licence to earn" rule, which allows two players at each club to be paid directly by sponsors, had been circulated to clubs.
The changes mean clubs will not be able to use the rule as a mechanism to keep lower-profile players, with the licences available only to those among the top five wage-earners.
