The dispute between the IRFU and the IRUPA over a tour fee for the forthcoming tour of South Africa and the ongoing dispute over match fees and win bonuses looks set to rumble for another few days after the two parties failed to resolve the issue yesterday.

After the increasingly bitter exchanges of recent days, one notable change after yesterday's meeting was an apparent commitment to tone down the public slanging match.

The union chief executive, Philip Browne, commented: "The situation is that we had a meeting today and we'll have another meeting again very shortly."

Neither he nor the IRUPA chief executive, Philip Browne, however, could divulge when exactly the next meeting would take place. Asked whether he was optimistic the dispute could be resolved, Browne merely stated: "I hope so. I agreed with Niall that neither of us would say any more, as it would be more beneficial if we didn't negotiate in public."

According to Woods, "talks will continue for a few days". As to when the next meeting will take place, he said, "hopefully in the next 48 hours. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned and the players are concerned."

Meanwhile, a foot injury has ruled Clive Stuart-Smith out of the young, experimental England team for Sunday's non-cap match against the Barbarians at Twickenham, coach Clive Woodward said yesterday.

Leeds player Stuart-Smith, who is to captain the England side at next month's under-21 world championship, was expected to start at scrumhalf on Sunday.

"I'm absolutely gutted . . . It was the biggest call-up I've had," Stuart-Smith said yesterday.

Prop Iestyn Thomas has withdrawn from the Wales tour of Argentina and South Africa next month with a shoulder injury, the WRU said yesterday.

The Llanelli player aggravated bruising to his shoulder and will need to avoid contact for at least four weeks. He has been replaced by South African-born Newport Dragons prop Rhys Thomas.

Australian officials are hoping to persuade top rugby league player Andrew Johns to switch codes.

Johns's management team said yesterday they were planning to meet officials from New South Wales Waratahs to discuss a move.

"He's interested to the point where he wants me to find out what (they) want to talk about," Johns's manager John Fordham said.

Johns, who plays scrumhalf, is regarded by some as possibly the greatest league player of all time but had never shown any interest in union until he watched last year's World Cup.