England the loser as split threatens

The clubs responsible for providing England's squad of potential world-beaters were forced back on a war footing last night.

More than 150 junior clubs are demanding yet another special general meeting of the RFU, a move engineered by the so-called Reform Group, an organisation rooted in the old amateur game and likened yesterday by the Premiership clubs' chief executive Howard Thomas to The Monster Raving Loony party.

The small clubs, furious over the financing of the professional game by the RFU as proposed in a 10-year agreement with the Premiership clubs, will try and sabotage the deal before the Union's full 1,900 clubs sometime in April. It could lead to an irrevocable split between the professional and amateur games with serious repercussions for the national team. With the top clubs drawing up contingency plans in case of a split from the Union, the availability of their international players would become a major issue.

'If the clubs allow themselves to be hoodwinked by five per cent of the membership it would be a very sad day for the game,' said Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler. 'They are basically saying:"We don't want you involved in the running of the game.î In that event we will need an alternative plan to put into operation if necessary.' Wheeler, whose position on the RFU's management board gives him a foot in both camps, also challenged Fran Cotton to clarify his position on the political issue. As well as being a major figure on the management board and chairman of the Club England committee, Cotton is president of the Reform Group.

'Fran always stands up to be counted,' said Wheeler.'It's time he made it clear exactly where he stands.' In calling for the SGM, the fifth in England in six years since the game went professional, Reform Group chairman Martyn Thomas said: 'Clubs are incensed. The RFU is proposing to give control and vast sums of money away to the corporate coffers of the Premiership clubs.

'The agreement, if signed, will sound the death knell for rugby in England. We have no wish to turn back the clock but consider that the RFU has manifestly failed to adequately meet and manage the challenges that our game has faced since professionalism. One of the gravest aspects of this proposed agreement is that 50 per cent of the television money from the autumn internationals is to be given away.' Newcastle manager Rob Andrew, speaking at the launch of the European Professional Club Rugby Association at Heathrow, described the call for an SGM as 'nonsense'. He said: 'It's up to the management board of the RFU to get on and manage the game. It has a responsibility to the professional game which is funding the rest.' Thomas added:'The Premiership clubs are developing a very young, skilful England team. English rugby as a whole has to decide whether it wants to be successful on the club scene and the international scene. If the Monster Raving Loony party, otherwise known as the Reform Group, calls an SGM it will have a severe impact on the development of club rugby across Europe.'