THE FIVE Nations Committee yesterday spelled out the consequences that could result from the declared intention of the English Rugby Union (RFU) if they persist in making their own deal for TV rights to the Five Nations Championship.

Implicit in a statement yesterday by the Five Nations Committee is a threat to England's future participation in the championship if they insist on breaking with the established practice that the rights for the televising of the annual series are joint negotiations between the four home countries, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

In the statement issued by the committee (of which Ireland's Tom Kiernan is chairman) it was made clear that not alone is England's future participation in the five nations series under threat but that relationship at all international levels will be considered.

The money from the television rights the last agreement, which expires at the end of next season's championship, brought in £27 million has always been shared equally between the four countries. Now England want to go it alone to get what they claim is their right to the largest share of the money.,

Their representatives at the five nations meeting in Dublin last Sunday informed the meeting that England would in future negotiate their own television deal and not be part of the long standing, agreement. _

England's attitude was deemed unacceptable by the Five Nations Committee who in the course of yesterday's statement said that at the meeting of the committee on Sunday "the RFU indicated that it wished to break the traditional and long standing arrangements for the sale of the rights related to the Five Nations Championship. This break by England was considered wholly unacceptable by the Five Nations Committee, who insist that the conduct and sale of rights, including broadcasting rights, is to be retained by the committee.

"The other member unions of the committee will now be requested to consider the future format of the Five Nations Championship and additionally the question of relationships at all international levels.

"The breakaway by England from the existing arrangements could have implications for British Lions tours. The other unions of the Five Nations Committee will now be obliged to reappraise their positions generally."

Such a statement is without precedent in the history of the game and underlines the gravity of the situation that has been brought about by

England's demands.

The argument and attitude of the RFU that, they have the largest population and the biggest television audience, they should have the major share of the money, has singularly fail to impress the other home unions.

A sum of over £130 million is being mentioned for the television rights to the championship for a five year period when the current arrangement with the BBC Sky television have subsidiary rights expires at the end of next season's championship. That sum of money itself has caused contentious argument as the Five Nations television sub committee has not conducted any negotiations as yet on the rights to the championship. It is apparent that the RFU or agents acting on their behalf, have been in negotiations on a deal that will give them around £60 million, with the other home Unions getting £20 million.

Prior to the negotiations two years ago the RFU was also insisting on getting, a major share of the television money but backed off after the other unions would not agree. The RFU did get around £7 million for the rights to the live transmission of domestic cup and league matches from Sky television, who also have the rights to transmit championship matches on Saturday nights.

The current situation is of much greater gravity and unless the RFU decide to soften their demands when the Five Nations Committee, meets in Dublin on April 27th, then it will leave he other nations with no alternative but to take action against the RFU.

Yesterday there were appeals to Twickenham to think again and consider the consequences and damage that will ensue if they persist with their demands. IRFU president Syd Millar described as "tragic what is happening in rugby. I have stated before and do so again that there seems to be a deliberate attempt to take over the game by powerful forces outside the game, aided and abetted by people within rugby who quite obviously are not stopping to consider the consequences of their actions.

"We have seen what has happened in the southern hemisphere. Rugby faces it biggest threat, bigger even than the break 100 years ago hen the Rugby League was formed. I am appealing, to England to reconsider their latest action and to dwell on the long term consequences that could ensue from short term financial gain.

Millar said that the IRFU will consider the whole matter at their meeting on Friday night. Tom Kiernan also appealed yesterday for unity.

Tony Hallett, secretary of the RFU, again attempted to justify England's actions. He spoke of the championship being "inviolate." Right now that is not the case. If England are not part of the series, it will indeed be a tragedy. They played in the first international against Scotland in 1871 and have been part of the championship since it began as a four nations series in the Victorian era and became a five nations event when France joined subsequently.

The RFU suggests that all countries negotiate their own television deals but even if that were to happen and there is no enthusiasm for it, it will not solve the situation that now exists. There has been talk of Italy coming into the five nations series. Right now the decision facing the unions is exactly how far they are prepared to go to make England step back into line.

The RFU must consider if they are prepared to sever links with their neighbours and home union colleagues or turn to the southern hemisphere. That is the stark choice.