RFU And Clubs Still At Loggerheads

The RFU and the Guinness Premiership clubs are still no nearer to a resolution
over compensation for use of England players with the June deadline for the
conclusion of the talks creeping ever closer.

The two parties held another meeting at the weekend as they work towards a
June resolution as laid out by the RFU’s ‘Way Forward’ document detailing the
future direction of the sport’s governance.

However, RFU chief executive Francis Baron stated that there was still some
distance to go before an agreement can be reached.

‘The two side are a bit apart – you’re talking about £2-3 million, which is a
lot of money but it pales into insignificance if England are not successful.
When England do badly the games £4-5 million a year and there isn’t the money to
invest in Premier Rugby or the academy system.’

The clubs are open to change on the issue of promotion and relegation will
have refused to move their stance on central contracts or a franchise
system.