The argument between the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby over a rest period for England's Lions players is set to rumble on for two more weeks. The RFU says it agreed with the 12 Premiership clubs that England stars on the Lions tour must wait 11 weeks before they make a full return.
But the clubs deny this, and Sale and Leicester selected Lions tourists for the opening round of league action.
Now the RFU has said it will delay taking any action until 21 September.
"The RFU has assessed the games played at the weekend in the Premiership featuring the English players who toured with the Lions and an interim report has been submitted to the RFU's chief executive," said a statement.
 |  The clubs are carefully managing the reintroduction of all their Lions and will continue to review individual situations over the coming weeks |
"The RFU will continue to monitor the situation regarding adherence to the agreed 11-week elite player rest and recuperation period over the next two weekends.
"A final report will be submitted to the RFU management board at its regular monthly meeting on 21 September covering the first three weekends of the season."
There are 20 English players in the Premiership who were part of the Lions squad.
Sale fielded Mark Cueto, Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson and Andrew Sheridan for their match against Newcastle on Friday, while England skipper Martin Corry featured for Leicester against Northampton a day later.
Premier Rugby said in a statement: "For the opening round, five of those [20] players were prevented from playing due to injury.
"Of the remaining 15 players, three were rested entirely, five players played half a game or less and five played over 40 minutes.
"In addition, two players had already had an 11-week rest period.
"Clearly the clubs are carefully managing the reintroduction of all their Lions and will continue to review individual situations over the coming weeks."
MMIX
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