RFU chiefs close to agreement

Rugby Football Union chiefs and the England players are near to agreeing a ground-breaking deal to solve the image rights crisis that threatened to blight the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Standard Sport understands the two sides are very close to a final deal that will only leave one area of concern for the England squad as they prepare to head Down Under next month.

The remaining issue is the amount of money they are paid by Premier Rugby Ltd - the umbrella body for the 12 Zurich Premiership clubs - for taking part in international matches.

The image rights row between the players and the RFU followed the World Cup triumph in Australia when the commercial clout of the squad reached an all-time high. They will now be given due financial reward when their image is used by the RFU and this replaces a deal put in place when the sport first went professional in 1996.

England's leading players were on duty in London last night for the Professional Rugby Players Awards dinner where Bruce Reihana, the Northampton full-back, won the Player of the Year title.

Bath fly-half Olly Barkley was Young Player of the Year with World Cupwinning captain Martin Johnson receiving a special merit award. Harlequins' Andy Dunne picked up the Try of the Year prize.

Meanwhile, Matt Dawson's move from Northampton to Wasps could be sealed by the end of this week. The England scrum-half, who has to regain fitness to play on the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, is understood to be clarifying aspects of the deal and will then sign for next season.

With flanker Paul Volley already heading to Castres next season, Wasps are preparing to lose centre Mark Denney, who is expected to follow the same path to the French club.