RFU to reveal player sharing plan

Earlier Premier Rugby (PRL), the umbrella organisation for the 12 Premiership clubs, indicated they would release England players for 19 days.

But the RFU believes the amount of 'in-season' sessions will be reduced.

"In real terms PRL are proposing four fewer days than the 16 in-season days agreed last season," the RFU said.

Tensions between the two organisations are already running high over the issue of payments for Lions players.

In making the offer, PRL and their clubs believe it represents strong support for the ambitions of the international team Premier Rugby

The RFU last week decided to withhold �120,000 compensation to three clubs - Sale, Wasps and Leicester - on the grounds they had played their English Lions ahead of schedule.

English rugby's governing body claims an agreed 11-week rest period was not adhered to, while the clubs insist the agreement did not cover Lions tours - which has since prompted Premier Rugby to call in the lawyers in a bid to recover the lost money.

Central contracts are another thorny issue with the RFU putting control of England's players at the top of their wish-list, but the idea is a non-starter as far as the clubs are concerned.

Premier Rugby's voiced their opposition in a statement on Wednesday: "In view of recent speculation, PRL and the clubs have confirmed unanimously their opposition to any form of central contracting and reiterated that any RFU ownership in a club is prohibited under the Long Form Agreement."

But the organisation indicated they were prepared to concede ground in the negotiations over the amount of time England head coach Andy Robinson is given with the nation's top players.

"PRL have today proposed to the RFU that a basis should be agreed for an improvement in the total number of training days for the senior Elite Player Squad players to 19 per year.

"This represents an increase from the 16 days available last year and an increase over the 18 days made available in the year of Rugby World Cup 2003.

The actual in season figure being offered by PRL is 12 days RFU statement

"In making the offer, PRL and their clubs believe it represents strong support for the ambitions of the international team as well as recognising the needs of the clubs and the strength of their competitions."

But the RFU maintain that the way Premier Rugby intend structuring the days would in fact lead to a drop in the number of sessions ahead of their 2007 World Cup defence.

An RFU statement read: "The RFU can confirm we met representatives of PRL and that copies of the respective proposals were exchanged.

"It was agreed at the meeting that the content of the proposals would remain confidential and no public statements would be made.

"The RFU wish to put into context the PRL proposal of their stated offer of 19 days per year for England release training days.

"The actual in season figure being offered by PRL is 12 days, of which six days are subject to further agreement with clubs, the other seven being during the 11-week rest and recuperation period."