The RFU has agreed 16 days this season when the Premiership clubs will release players for England training.

The clubs have also agreed to support England's contentious Test with New Zealand on 5 November.

Premier Rugby will withdraw its appeal against a High Court ruling ordering them to release players for the game.

The clubs believed the ruling went against their interpretation of the 2001 Long Form Agreement they signed with the RFU.

But the Union has now revised the �1m compensation offer it made in the lead-up to the High Court hearing, which was not accepted by Premier Rugby (PRL).

This will now be paid in cash to PRL instead of a balance of cash and commercial rights, with the RFU retaining all commercial rights to the match.

The agreement on training days for the Elite Player Squad (EPS) was welcomed by England head coach Andy Robinson, who will now have access to his squad for four consecutive weeks in September and October.

He will also have them for three days in the week before the penultimate round of Premiership fixtures before the Six Nations starts, as well as two extra days following the second and third round of matches.

England training days:
Tuesday 19 September
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 25, 26, 27 September
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 2, 3, 4 October
Monday & Tuesday 9, 10 October
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 22, 23, 24 January
Monday & Tuesday 12, 13 February
Monday & Tuesday 26, 27 February

"The first three sessions in September and early October will be held at Loughborough University with Test-week venues to be announced in due course," Robinson said.

"The three-day sessions will help our preparation because the first day is often spent with the players in rehab and recovery owing to their club commitments over the weekend.

"I would like to thank the Premiership clubs for their support to extend some sessions to three days instead of two."

The latest developments follow a meeting last week between RFU chief executive Francis Baron, Management Board chairman Martyn Thomas and owners and senior representatives of the Premier Rugby clubs.

The RFU reiterated that it has no desire to play a fourth autumn Test on an annual basis, insisting the All Blacks fixture is a one-off to celebrate the opening of Twickenham's new South Stand.

It also advised PRL that it has not and will not organise a fourth international in the autumn of 2008.

"I'm pleased at the progress we made last week," said Baron.

"It was a productive meeting, which achieved a satisfactory conclusion on two key issues and a mutually expressed desire to work together in the long term on other matters, which both the RFU and PRL want to resolve for the benefit of England and Premiership clubs."

The two parties will hold further talks next week.

Premier Rugby Chairman Tom Walkinshaw said: "We are pleased that agreement on these issues has now been reached and look forward to future discussions on a balanced way forward."