England await fate

English rugby union officials will have to wait until next week before they learn their fate following their clash with the International Rugby Board.

Rugby Football Union officials were invited to respond to the board after being found guilty of "reneging on a pledge" to give the IRB its backing over the European Commission challenge made by English clubs against the world body. The deadline for that reply was yesterday but it will take a few days before the disciplinary panel will decide whether to activate a penalty, if there is to be a punishment.

The panel met in Dublin last month before finding England guilty of "failing to make good its pledge of absolute support" for the IRB's defence when the clubs went to the EC to try to break the IRB's monopoly control of the global game.

Suspension from world rugby union is not on the agenda, much to England's relief after they were excluded from the Five Nations for 24 hours earlier this week.

In a separate case last month, England had a £60,000 IRB grant withheld for failing to prevent the Anglo-Welsh friendlies.

That sum is bearable but if a massive fine is imposed, RFU chief executive Francis Baron's hopes of balancing the books will be jeopardised.

Meanwhile, the RFU are also hoping for the end of another prolonged argument about a future structure for the club game.

There is a board meeting of English First Division Rugby on Tuesday, which could go a long way to stabilising the domestic scene after four different set-ups in the four seasons since professionalism.

Baron set a deadline of January 31st for a resolution to an issue which has had every combination of British or Euro Leagues suggested.