Clubs row set for settlement

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The discussions between the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby Ltd at Twickenham are aimed at resolving the bitter dispute which has led to Guinness Premiership clubs threatening to boycott the tournament next season.

A deadline of May 18 has been set to resolve the issues which led to Premier Rugby Ltd - the clubs' organisation - threatening to boycott both the Heineken Cup and the second tier European Challenge Cup.

European Rugby Cup want the matter settled before the all-English Heineken Cup final between Leicester and Wasps on Sunday, May 20 and RFU top brass are hopeful that a deal can be agreed in that time.

The issues which the RFU and PRL have been disputing for a year will need to be settled within 10 days but Francis Baron, the RFU chief executive, said: "Hopefully we can come to an agreement with all stakeholders."

European Rugby Cup voting rights and shareholding and differences between club and country over the control of England players have been the major stumbling blocks which caused talks to break down in February.

Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, believes he has virtually achieved agreement with the clubs over England's management of their players.

But Baron warned: "The biggest issue is going to be money - what it's going to cost the Union and can the Union afford it."

He put the cost of compensating the clubs for sacrificing their England players for longer periods at "anywhere from £12million to a possible high of £17million".

Baron added: "These are very big numbers and we don't have the resources to meet the demands. That will be the crux of the discussions."