League: We'll fight RFU to the death

England's plan to round up a posse of Rugby League players headed by Henry Paul prompted an angry response yesterday from the poachersturned-gamekeepers of the northern code.

In the wake of Clive Woodward's Manchester meeting aimed at signing Paul on a five-year contract worth £1million, League's director of rugby Greg McCallum warned of a 'fight to the death'.

League, initially sceptical of a report last month which detailed the RFU's plan to recruit Paul, Wigan's Kris Radlinski and several younger players, is now genuinely fearful of a complete role-reversal between the codes on the traffic of players.

McCallum said: 'In the RFU's strategic plan, it clearly states that they are targeting teenagers from traditional Rugby League areas. We are talking about young players we've developed. They've been registered with us and they are being tempted away from their contractual obligations.

'If people don't think that is serious, what's the game coming to? I am prepared to fight this to the death.' One League player, Neil Baxter of Salford, is currently on Union duty with England at the Junior World Cup in Chile, while Wasps wing Paul Sampson resumes his bright season with England's second string against France on Friday.