ITV have requested 48 hours for internal discussion before committing themselves to broadcasting the European Cup which is due to start on October 12th. Significantly, the kick-off is one day after the threatened breakaway by the English Professional Rugby Union Clubs (EPRUC).
However, after emergency talks between European rugby chiefs and ITV officials, there is hope that the 43-match tournament will be shown on ITV with rugby benefiting by £5 million in each of the next two years.
Roger Pickering, chief executive of the Five Nations and tournament director of European Rugby Cup (ERC), said: "Tom Kiernan and Vernon Pugh had very constructive talks with ITV. They have asked for a short time to review the discussions, but our mood is optimistic."
Kiernan is chairman of the Five Nations Committee and Pugh is chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union. both men being ERC directors. ITV's concern is that there are too few fixtures and they are anxious about England's commitment.
England's four top teams from last season - Bath, Leicester, Harlequins and Wasps - have cast doubt about their two-year participation.
Wales have resisted the temptation to draft former rugby league stars into their side for next Wednesday's international against France at Cardiff Arms Park. Instead, Derwyn Jones, the 6ft 10in Cardiff lock, has been dropped in favour of Llanelli's Mike Voyle and Hem Taylor, the Cardiff back-row, preferred to Kingsley Jones of Ebbw Vale.
The ex-league quartet David Young, Stuart Evans, Scott Gibbs and Richard Webster require more time to readjust to the complexities of union, according to the Wales coach Kevin Bowring, who had included them in his 35-man national squad.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)