THE Rugby Football Union (RFU) yesterday formally endorsed the last minute deal hammered out with the other home unions that ended England's isolation from the Five Nations Championship.
Cliff Brittle, chairman of the RFU executive committee, who brokered Thursday's deal, convinced the committee to ratify the agreement, which is still subject to debate by the Five Nations committee in Dublin on Monday.
England were expelled from the Five Nations in July in a dispute over their independently negotiated £87 million pound deal with Sky TV. But last minute compromises resulted in harmony being restored.
Earlier, England manager Jack Rowell said that with one battle out of the way, it was time for the RFU and the rebel English clubs to resolve their feud by following the example of the Five Nations.
Rowell wants a speedy resolution to the domestic dispute as his players prepare to boycott a second training session in support of their clubs who are demanding greater control of the sport.
Rowell said of the Five Nations truce: "It has been sorted out on a win win basis. Everybody benefits. Now we want a win win resolution of the crisis that involves the England squad.
"The indications are that we could have a repetition of Wednesday's no show by the players when we stage our next training session on Wednesday week".
Rowell was not able to attend Thursday's committee meeting at which details of the Five Nations compromise were due to be agreed.
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