Rugby: RFU deny raid on league players

The Rugby Football Union have denied allegations that they are planning a raid on rugby league.

They insist instead that they are prepared to work closely with the rival code.

Francis Baron, chief executive of the RFU, has responded to a stinging attack by Rugby Football League director of rugby Greg McCallum.

McCallum accused former Great Britain international Joe Lydon of engineering a raid on budding rugby league talent.

Former Wigan ace Lydon, who quit as RFL performance director last summer, is accused of masterminding the pillaging of young league players and development officers in his development role with the RFU.

Lydon played a key role in the RFL's success in securing a £4.5million grant for their world-class plan from Sport England before joining the RFU in September as England Under-19 coach.

McCallum, who has written a letter of protest to Sport England, said: "We have become increasingly aware that, besides targeting existing top-class rugby league players, the RFU have been approaching both up-and-coming rugby league stars who have been identified within our world-class plan, but also making overtures to our development officers.

"The RFL is most concerned about these developments and the potential pillaging of both potential top class players and administrative staff.

"Probably of greatest concern to us are worrying reports that a former RFL employee has been leading this element of the RFU initiative."

Although England coach Clive Woodward, who gave an international debut to former Wigan winger Jason Robinson earlier this month, is a known admirer of leading league players, Baron flatly denied McCallum's claims.

"The RFU has no policy or budget regarding the recruitment of rugby league players," he said.

"If individual players seek employment in rugby union, that is a matter entirely for them.

"It is RFU policy, however, to work more closely with rugby league and there are a number of joint initiatives from which both codes could benefit, including a proposal for a joint academy in Manchester.

"The RFU is committed to developing its relationship with rugby league and its provision of Twickenham to host October's Rugby League World Cup fixture between England and Australia and the Silk Cut Challenge Cup final in April underlines that support.

"Finally, we are not going to comment on speculation regarding employees of the RFU, other than to say that they are fully briefed on RFU policy."