Deadline given to resolve dispute

European Cup:Mark McCafferty, the chief executive of Premier Rugby Ltd (representing the 12 Premiership sides in England) has said the dispute between the Premiership clubs and the English RFU needs to be resolved before the Heineken European Cup final in Twickenham on May 20th.  Johnny Wattersonreports

If the warring parties cannot come up with a solution by that deadline then it is highly unlikely there will be any agreement in time for next season and whatever agreement is made, they won't be part of it.

"It has to be resolved before the final on the 20th. No one wants to draw a line in the sand but that is a natural point to give final clarity on it. Once that date is over, the international summer window opens and everyone goes their own way," said McCafferty.

While a meeting has been arranged to take place in Dublin next Tuesday with all of the current European Cup stakeholders represented, the mood in the 12 Premiership clubs is said to have hardened since they and the Serge Blanco-led French clubs decided to walk away from the competition.

According to an official at one Premiership club, a meeting took place last Friday during which a board representative along with the chief executive of each of the 12 clubs briefed players about what was happening and gave them an update on Premier Rugby's stance.

When a private vote was taken by the players there was total support and at least four of the clubs - Wasps, Saracens, Leicester and London Irish - were unanimous in support of what the clubs were trying to do.

While that suggests that little movement has been made, Premier Rugby say IRB chairman Syd Millar is now working towards a resolution.

Millar was scathing in his comments concerning the French and English clubs when they walked out and appeared initially to have an entrenched view but he has since come around to talking to all sides.

"After he spoke out against them, I wrote to him and asked him to have a meeting with the French and English clubs with the view of finding a resolution," says McCafferty. "He has met the French League and us. If he can find ways that balance the interests of everyone, then good."

Much has been said about the nature of the actual dispute and according to the McCafferty, the central contracting of English players by the RFU is not a talking point, breakaway leagues are not either and there is broad agreement in pushing up the value of the European Cup and improving the season structure.

"Central contracts are not an issue. The clubs unanimously oppose them and the RFU are on record as saying they don't want central contracts," says McCafferty. "No one wants that and anyway the RFU couldn't afford it.

"We've asked, with the French clubs, to improve the season structure for clubs, provinces and internationals to one that reduces overlap time between club rugby and internationals. The IRB have indicated they are willing for that to happen," he says.

"We have no issues with RFU governance and speculations about breakaways . . . that just won't happen. It has never been discussed and breakaway leagues won't happen. What's clear is that the RFU have stated they want more time with English players. Things such as Europe have been swept up in that.

"What we want to be recognised for is the role that clubs play in world rugby and we want to contribute to the major decisions on that and be part of the solution in expanding it.

"We want to be recognised as partners. It is only reasonable for clubs here to have equal status and to have a reasonable say in how that competition is run."

For now at least, McCafferty is wearing the diplomat's hat as he faces into Tuesday's meeting.

But many of those clubs he represents are fuming and some of the chairmen, who provide the funding, have not kept their opinions private.

"The letters RFU chairman Martyn Thomas sent to the clubs went down like a lead balloon," said one Premiership official. "The letter was naive and greatly underestimated the strength and feeling on the underlying issues. The view in the clubs now is that if we don't face those issues now, they will never be faced.

"No," added the official. "Positions have not softened in the clubs."