England chief warns row may hit World Cup preparations

ENGLAND’S Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron has warned England’s hopes of defending the World Cup will be jeopardised unless a peace agreement can be struck to end the civil war with Premier Rugby Limited.

The RFU and PRL, the umbrella body for the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs, are locked in a bitter power struggle over the divisive issue of elite player management - who controls the England stars and when.

An interim agreement has been reached for training days covering the autumn internationals but nothing beyond November 30, which means England head coach Andy Robinson cannot plan for either the Six Nations or the forthcoming World Cup.