England's top rugby clubs are
finalising plans to wrest control of their commercial destiny away from the Rugby Football Union (RFU),
The Guardian
reported today.
The owner of the Saracens Nigel Wray said all 12 premier league teams had decided to act together after being frustrated by months of delays and disappointments in their dispute with the national body.
"We are forming our own plan essentially so we can get on with life," said Wray. He said the clubs would make their move "in the very, very near future".
He said: "The end of the week would be too soon but in a few weeks absolutely definitely.
"We are not in negotiations with the RFU. We have called a halt to it all. There comes a time, after nine months and God knows how many final dates, when you have to ask yourself: 'Do I want to be in business with these people?'."
Wray said: "A breakaway should not be necessary. The premiership clubs have created arguably one of the best English sides of all time which is obviously generating great support for the game.
"What we need is for England to support us as well. At the moment the RFU are making record profits and we are making record losses. There must be something wrong somewhere.
"We will wait and then all the premiership clubs will act as one. We are formulating a plan, it will be decisive, positive and we will run our own destinies."
