OFFICIALS of the Scottish and Irish Rugby Unions responded positively yesterday evening to the English Rugby Football Union's move to create a new team of negotiators who will attempt to settle the TV dispute which resulted in England's expulsion from the Five Nations Championship.

John Richardson, RFU president and Cliff Brittle, chairman of the RFU executive committee, will spearhead the new talks on July 23rd.

Tom Kiernan, Irish chairman of the Five Nations Committee, said: "If the RFU, in their wisdom, suggest from their point of view that other people should represent them, they will be coming with a different viewpoint on behalf of their committee.

"But I would be delighted to meet anyone. I welcome discussion and hope to find the solution. l will be delighted if our talks resolve the issue. But I have had no problems with any personalities in the RFU only the policy."

Alan Hosie one of Scotland's representatives on the Five Nations Committee, said: "Any initiative that can improve the situation has to be welcomed.

"No one wants England to be excluded from the Northern Hemisphere championship if it can be avoided. It is not the same thing if England were not there like it would not be if any other country were excluded."

Hosie added: "A Five Nations championship means what it says. But there is this principle of broadcasting rights to be sorted out and we will discuss it sensibly. We are all rugby friends. but we disagree about this issue - so far."