THE rugby world gave a" collective sigh of relief yesterday, as the bitter dispute that threatened the future of the Five Nations Championship was resolved. An accord was reached at a meeting of representatives of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in Bristol on Wednesday night.

The announcement that the dispute has been settled was made yesterday. It represents a significant change of heart by the English RFU on the issue of TV broadcast rights.

England were threatened with expulsion from the championship, which has graced the rugby calendar since 1909, because of the RFU's unilateral £87.5 million deal with Sky Television for exclusive broadcasting rights of international games played at Twickenham.

Details of the agreement worked out at Bristol will not be announced until a press conference in Dublin on Monday. However, central to the settlement was an equitable distribution of the money from television rights and the issue of live transmission of matches on terrestrial television.

Bearing in mind the money Sky had offered England, over £60 million of which was for the transmission of internationals, and the offers to Wales (£40 million), and Ireland and Scotland (£28 million each) and the additional sums that will come in from terrestrial TV, the four countries could get over £8 million per annum.

The money for the championship part of England's deal would, in effect, be put into the communal pot and split four ways.

The compromise reached on the live transmission issue could well be that England's home matches will go out live on Sky and those of the other nations live on terrestrial television.

The rights of the terrestrial channel were an important factor in the other countries objection to England's deal and they would not have backed off on that issue. It could also mean that championship matches will be played on Sundays as well as Saturdays.

That would mean that England can keep much of their deal with Sky in place. But it would ensure that Sky will not have an exclusive grip on the championship.

"The problem was about much more than money," said Syd Millar, Ireland's representative on the TV sub-committee of the Five Nations committee. "I hope now that the unions will accept the proposals and that a great championship will be preserved."

The meeting in Bristol came about on the initiative of Vernon Pugh, chairman of the International Board, and Cliff Brittle, chairman of the executive committee of the English Rugby Union.

"I said earlier in the week that we were continuing to contact with the RFU", said Tom Kiernan, chairman of the Five Nations committee, "but it was not until Tuesday that arrangements were put in place for the meeting in Bristol."

A statement was issued yesterday afternoon from the unions of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales signalling that a breakthrough had been achieved.

The text of the statement is as follows:

The senior officers of the unions of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland met at the offices of the International Rugby Football Board in Bristol in a last attempt to resolve the issues between them as they relate to the Five Nations Championship. The meeting took place with the knowledge and concurrence of the FFR (French Rugby Federation).

"The meeting resulted in an accord which has saved the Five Nations Championship for the coming season and for the foreseeable future. The full details of this most welcome news will now be reported back by the officers to their respective unions and committees for approval and confirmation."

Afterwards, Kiernan added: "I am delighted that the accord has been reached after so many talks. The decision is now up to the individual unions."

All the indications last night were that the unions will accept the agreement and that peace will be restored.

Officials, players, past and present, all received the news of the accord with immense enthusiasm. Bobby Deacy, president of the IRFU, said: "We are very pleased about what has happened, we all hope now that the championship will go on as it has always done. I think there is immense credit due to Syd Millar and Tom Kiernan for the work they have done and indeed to officials of the other unions."

IRFU secretary Philip Browne reiterated those sentiments and Pat Whelan, manager of the Ireland team, said: "It is great news. It would have been tragic if the championship had been disrupted. It is news that will be welcomed by everyone, especially the players. It preserves over a century of tradition and great rivalry."

Former Ireland captain Donal Lenihan spoke for the past players when he said: "Playing England was always special and always will be. When we talk our great victories in the championship, one invariably refers to wins over England like 1993 and 1994."

Paul Burke and Nick Popplewell, two current players, were equally enthusiastic. "I am delighted that the championship will be saved," said Burke. "Bearing in mind that so many of us are now playing club rugby in England, the match against the English will be even more special."

"I always hoped the issue would be resolved," said Popplewell, "and all players everywhere will be very pleased that it has."