RFU sees new breakaway threat

The prospect of a breakaway by England's Premiership clubs raised its head again last night with the election of Graeme Cattermole in place of Brian Baister as chairman of the RFU's management board.

It was seen as a victory for rugby's rank and file against the interests of the elite clubs and seems certain to lead to a period of further turmoil in the troubled relationship between the clubs and the Union.

The backing of former Lions manager Fran Cotton was significant in the election of Cattermole, given Cotton's continued stance against ceding the clubs more power and financial resources.

Baister had been in the post since 1998 and had the backing of the RFU council to serve a fourth and final year. But his high-profile support counted for little with the electorate at the RFU's AGM in Birmingham.

Cattermole, the management board's chairman of finance, won the vote 301-199 but fewer than 25 per cent of the potential electorate voted and attendance at the NEC was less than 200. Cattermole's victory came despite Baister claiming before the election that the long-awaited agreement between the RFU and Premiership clubs had been resolved.

'I always felt there was a need for change,'said Cattermole, a member of bothWasps and Harrow RFC.'I've played the game, been involved with junior and senior clubs, I'm on the RFU's management board and have been involved in negotiations with the Premiership clubs, so I feel I'm well suited to the role.'