By Simon Austin

Gaffney and Robinson met on Thursday

Rugby Football Union chairman Martyn Thomas says agreement will be reached about where best to play Andy Farrell.

England coach Andy Robinson and his Saracens counterpart Alan Gaffney met on Thursday to discuss which position the former league star should fill.

Thomas told BBC Sport: "I'm very confident they will resolve this.

"The England coaching team has a very good relationship with Saracens. We manage Andy jointly and there are no problems between us at all."

Saracens issued a statement on Thursday rebuking Robinson for a "change of mind" about where Farrell should play.

When the player switched codes 18 months ago, both parties envisaged him playing in the back row.

Andy Farrell is a very talented player and I just hope he's left to get on with his rugby and prove himself Martyn Thomas RFU chairman

And he has turned out at blindside flanker in reserve and first-team games for his club this season.

But England now want Farrell to play at inside centre, in order to fully utilise the player's passing and kicking skills, and because they are short of cover in midfield.

But Thomas insisted: "We have never had a problem with Saracens and I don't believe they have with us.

"All this hype about a dispute is media-generated. Alan Gaffney is very positive about the progress Andy's making and so too are Andy Robinson and his coaching team.

"Andy Farrell is a very talented player and I just hope he's left to get on with his rugby and prove himself."

Farrell, 31, spent two days with England's elite squad at the start of the week before returning to Saracens on Wednesday to prepare for Sunday's EDF Energy Cup match with Cardiff Blues.

It led to reports that the disagreement over where Farrell should play had come to a head.

But Thomas said: "It wasn't an issue about positions. Alan Gaffney called and asked if Andy could come back to train with Saracens ahead of Sunday's match against Cardiff Blues.

I have a firm belief he's far too talented to play in the back row Lawrence Dallaglio

"It was a good idea and Andy Robinson was completely happy for him to go back."

Former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, who has played in all the back-row positions, has no doubt about where Farrell should play.

"I've watched him play for most of his career and have a firm belief he's far too talented to play in the back row," Dallaglio told Five Live Sport.

"He's a very good ball player and England need ball players."

The RFU and Saracens jointly funded Farrell's move to union 18 months ago.

But he has been blighted by injuries and played only 85 minutes of first-team rugby union since joining Saracens.