Leading English rugby clubs today announced new plans
for the running of the domestic game aimed at stopping player burn-out but stressed they did not want to break away from the RFU.
After months of argument between the RFU and the professional clubs about how the game should be run, the top division clubs said they were setting up a new company together with the leading players called the Premier Rugby Partnership.
The new venture includes a series of welfare initiatives including insurance projects to protect players during and after their careers.
The venture plans a maximum of 32 matches in the season for players. International players will be released for 10 games per season and the new organisation controversially plans to campaign for the Six Nations to be played in six-week bloc.