Outrage over England deal

BRITISH rugby union stood on the brink of civil war yesterday after England's decision to sign an exclusive television deal with Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB.

Murdoch secured live rights for international matches at Twickenham, international rugby's headquarters until 2002 in a £87.5 million sterling contract announced yesterday.

Scotland and Ireland officials were outraged, declaring that the annual Five Nations' championship, showpiece of the game in the Northern Hemisphere, was now finished.

Wales took a more cautious view, expressing disappointment but saying they would further consider their position. France already have their own television deal.

The announcement also exposed divisions in the England Rugby Football Union (RFU).

RFU executive committee chairman, Cliff Brittle, was incensed at the decision, saying he had been excluded from the negotiations.

"My job description is that I am responsible for the day-to-day running of RFU affairs," he said.

"But I have been excluded from the talks because I have contrasting views from the television negotiators.

"Also, I did not know that the agreement was being signed and had not received a copy of the agreement. I believe democracy no longer prevails within the RFU.

"We have made a quick fix and not taken the long-term view."

The official RFU view, as outlined by secretary Tony Hallett, is of continued commitment to the Five Nations' championship.

"We're desperately keen to stay in the Five Nations," Hallett said. "It's up to them to throw us out if that is what they want."

The power of the television dollar has been made brutally apparent in the turbulent 12 months following last June's World Cup in South Africa.

During the tournament South Africa, New Zealand and Australia signed a 10-year deal with Murdoch worth $550 million, effectively forcing the International Rugby Board to scrap the game's amateur regulations at an historic meeting in Paris.