JOHN RICHARDSON, the president of the English rugby union (RFU), has indicated in a newsletter to the union's clubs, constituent bodies and divisions that the RFU intends to persist with the deal it has agreed with Sky Television.

I hat deal, which includes the sale of the live transmission of England's home matches in the Five Nations championship to Sky, has put England's future participation in the championship in jeopardy. Their deal with Sky was done contrary to long established procedure and without the consent their partners in the championship.

The contents of the letter and its nature and timing have drawn a vigorous response from Syd Millar, one of Ireland's representatives on the Five Nations committee and International Board. Millar, who is also Ireland's representative on the television sub committee of the Five Nations committee, said: "Bearing in mind the content and insensitive timing and nature of the sentiments expressed in that letter, it does not in any way give confidence that the English Union is willing to take the steps necessary to resolve the present difficulties. Perhaps we are just wasting our time dealing with them, trying to solve the problem they created.

The letter, a copy of which is in our possession and the text of which appears alongside this article, is dated August 8th. Very significantly, that is the very same day that the other nations met to consider the proposals submitted to them by the English Union in an effort to bring about a resolution of the dispute.

The letter from Richardson refers to the "strains that are being placed upon us by the Home Unions". While he says every effort is being made by his union to resolve the dispute, the letter serves as a call to arms.

"I find it quite extraordinary that such a letter should have been written at so sensitive a time, on the very day we were meeting to try and resolve the problems caused by England's attitude and actions in ignoring their partners," says Millar. "The English Union, their secretary and president have most certainly not helped the situation. One must ask if there is a realisation in England that the rest of the unions are also faced with exactly the same kind of problems that England face - except our way of trying to deal with the challenges is not to do so at the expense of our long standing partners.

"Bearing in mind the changes that have taken place, surely it is a time when unity of purpose is absolutely crucial. If we all did what the English Union has done, we would have even more chaos. Their president talks about getting the other unions to change their stance. It's another case of England knowing what's best for the rest of us. The change of attitude must come from England. I would have thought that this has been made very clear to them.

"The terms of that letter do not seem to me to indicate a willingness on England's part to have the difficulties solved in a manner that is fair and satisfactory to all. Maybe we are really just wasting our time trying to get the English union to do what is right."

It was announced yesterday that, beginning in 1997, England will play Australia annually. on a home and away basis, until 2003. England will visit Australia every July and Australia will play England at Twickenham in November of each season. Perhaps that is part of the alternative arrangements to which Richardson refers.

Meanwhile, as reported in this newspaper last Friday, the IRFU has agreed to forego one of the six matches scheduled for Australia's visit here in November so that Australia can play a match in Wales. Ireland have received a match against New Zealand next year in an exchange with the Welsh Union.

The IRFU is prepared to cancel the match against Ireland A, scheduled for November 26th, and move the date of the Munster v Australia match to that date from the 23rd. The Australians can then play in Wales on the 23rd. It would also mean the Leinster Australia match being moved forward a day, from the 20th to 19th.

Now, however, there is a suggestion that instead of those arrangements, that Ireland change the date of the international from 30th November to the 23rd so that Wales can play Australia on 30th November.

As this stage it is extremely unlikely that the IRFU will be able to comply with that request as it would mean a major disruption of the arrangements that have already been put in place.