Dallaglio: Deal may save our futures

'There are implications for England, but none of us would get selected without being able to perform in a strong club competition.

'Credit must go to the RFU for the way they have financed the England team and to Clive Woodward's management for using that money to create a structure second to none.

'But the clubs made us good enough to get there in the first place. They have given us the opportunity to make rugby our career and our livelihood.

'The clubs now feel they are entitled to some reward and a proper structure with regular home matches. Look at my club, Wasps. We haven't had a home Premiership match since last year and that doesn't make any sense at all.'

Newcastle manager Rob Andrew, forced into a political U-turn by the RFU's failure to enforce his plan for a joint Union-clubs scheme, said: 'The England players are a very responsible bunch and they want this sorted out once and for all. This time, there has to be an agreement.'

As the RFU considered its next move in respect of the players' contracts, leading agent Mike Burton raised doubts over their legality.

'These contracts are not valid,' he said. 'In all the cases I have come across, the players concerned were not told that by signing that document, they would make themselves ineligible for England and the Lions.

'Therefore, pre-contractual misrepresentation existed and in those circumstances the contracts are null and void.'

Dallaglio, who the RFU had hoped to make its first fully-contracted player three years ago, denies the allegation. 'The contracts were presented to individual clubs and players were left to make up their own minds,' he said.

'We are not being used as pawns. We simply have a responsibility to our clubs.'

Their action is fully backed by the Professional Players' Association, whose involvement in the new company would give them responsibility for paying England squad salaries and improving players' welfare, not least better insurance cover.

Damian Hopley, chief executive of the players' union, said: 'The players have taken everything on board and made positive decisions.

'There is one group in the game who have put £150million into professional rugby and another group who cannot agree a deal with the players. That's a very clear indication as to which group is fighting the players' corner.'