Class players, English (5)
I believe the answer is:
caste
'class' is the definition.
(caste is a kind of class)
'players english' is the wordplay.
'players' becomes 'cast' (I've seen this before).
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'cast'+'e'='CASTE'
(Other definitions for caste that I've seen before include "Hereditary class (in India)" , "Group within society" , "Large, long-necked, wading bird" , "Social order" , "Hereditary social class among Hindus" .)