RFU to face grilling

ENGLISH Rugby Football Union officials hope to have all the answers to what is expected to be a hostile series of questions over their Pounds 87 million satellite television deal at today's annual meeting.

But even if the majority of member clubs disagree with selling the live television rights to Twickenham internationals to Sky, they remain powerless. The deal will still go ahead and RFU secretary Tony Hallett said. "There will be no vote. Club representatives at the agm should ask the RFU to explain our rationale and reasons. Still, there will be many people who will find difficulty with our stance.

"There is not an obvious agenda item under which to discuss it, so we will take the matter when the accounts and finances are discussed. That seems relevant because the Sky deal gives us the way forward as the game has become so much more expensive to run.

"When we have explained it properly I hope we will satisfy the armchair spectator and members of clubs that the new income makes us masters of our own destiny in the professional era."

Bill Bishop steps down from the position of president after the most turbulent year in rugby history. He took office last year and must feel as though he is getting out of jail.

The new president will be John Richardson, who must supervise the continuation of the uneasy truce between the major clubs and the RFU that Bishop fought for in his final weeks. He must also ensure that England's international future is not jeopardised.

Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France repeat weekly their threat to eject England from the Five Nations tournament because of their independent stance over television negotiations.

Richardson and Cliff Brittle, chairman of the executive committee, will need to mollify the other nations or find a compromise. England's European partners are planning a meeting to discuss the future participation or otherwise of the English in the Five Nations championship, so the matter is urgent even though England would not be thrown out until 1998.

Meanwhile, South African rugby's governing body said yesterday they will ban players infected with the HIV virus. However, the South African Rugby Football Union said they would not role players they represent.

"HIV is one of the most rapidly spreading diseases in all of Africa and South Africa is no exception," said Dr Ismail Jakoet, SARFU's medical advisor. "We would be absolutely stupid if we did not pre-empt what could happen in rugby."